Rensselaer Republican, Volume 26, Number 32, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 April 1894 — THE RAILROAD TAX CASES. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

THE RAILROAD TAX CASES.

Argument Begun Before United States Supreme Court. The Indiana railroad tax cases came up before the United States Supreme Court at Washington, Tuesday. John M. Butler, for the Pennsylvania system, made the opening argument, speaking for two hours. He was followed by AttorneyGeneral Smith, for the State. Mr. Smith spoke till 4 o’clock, when the court adjourned. The Attorney-General made two now points. In Mr. Butler’s argument ho said that the railroads were taxed on their property which was located in other States, and never entered into Indiana He said this was done because the board had calculated the amount of rolling stock to be taxed in Indiana by dividing the total value of the rolling stock in all other States by the number of miles of road in all States, and multiplying that average per mile by the number of miles of road in Indiana. This, Mr. Butler said, brought into Indiana for taxation vast amounts of rolling stock located in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Illinois, which never came into Indiana. Mr. Smith utterly exploded this by showing the court by the record whore the railroads themselves had adopted this very method in the sworn returns which they made to the State board of tax commissioners, showing the rolling stock on which the roads themselves said they ought to be taxed in Indiana. The Attorney-General tfy* ij, showed by the record that the railroaSs were stopped by their own sworn return from taking the position they now take in the Supremo Court. Mr. Smith also showed that the railroads were endeavoring to have their property listed at 60 per cent of its value, while all other property in the State had been raised 46 per cent, in valuation by Slate Tax Commissioners. Arguments in the Indiana railroad cases were concluded before the Supreme Court, Wednesday. Attorney-General Smith finished his argument in behalf of the State, and was followed by Mr. Dye for the railroads. In the course of his argument Mr. Dye dwelt on the poverty of one of the roads of the Big Four system. He was interrupted by Mr. Beveridge, of counsel for the State, with the request that he cite the evidence from the record in support of his statement. Mr. Dye stated there was no evidence. During the latter part of his argument,which was a well-sustained legal effort, Mr. Dye was occupied almost entirely in responding to questions asked by the court Mr, Ketcham closed for tho State, and, though his time was very limited, he presented a lucid and necessarily concise statement of the State’s contention in the cases. The March term of court ends April 23. and no decision is expected before the last Monday of tho term.

Plaintiff in the famous Pollard-Brecken-ridge breach-of-prom iso case now on trial at Washington, D, C. The Supreme Court of Colorado, Saturday, rendered a decision holding that Gov. Waite had the right to remove the Fire and Police Chiefs of Denver as he did and appoint their successors, but that he had no power to call out troops to install them. The Governor was reported to be Very angry.

MISS MADELINE POLLARD,