Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1864-03-05
The Late sessIOn OF the Leglslaturo.

Thursday, was 10 session forty Eve days
beiOg exactly the period prescribed by III,
Constitution. Besides resolutions, they
passed forty.eigbt acts. AS ouE readers
would like to know what has been done
We propose TO notice some of these acts
though our account of them must neces.
sarily be hasty aud imperfect.
The question of taxation just now is a
very interesting one TO our people. By
the act imposing taxes, passed February
20, 1854. all real and personal estate, in
GLIDING money, bonds, notes and credits, are
to be taxed at the rate of thirty cents on
every hundred dollars of the assess led val
uatiOn, for general State purposes, besides
ten cents on the hundred dol.
lars. the State tax for free schools.
a capitation tax of one dollar is
alsO to be paid by every male person,
(whits or black,) OF the age of twenty zone.
The taxes on licenses. seals, civil pro.
cesses, &C., were fixed by a law passed du-
ring the session ofls63; aud this law, we
believe, has not been changed, except in
relation to Insurance and Express compa.
nies. A separate act requires such COM
PAnies, whether foreign or domestic. TO
make returns of their business to the Au.
ditOr, under oath, semi-anuualIy, within
tWenty-One days after the frat day OF Au.
gust and February. The Insurance Com.
panieS are to return 'the amount of pre-.
miums on all assurances made or renewed
on their behalf during the six months i'm
msdiately preceding the said first day of
August or February, including as we'll the
premiums uncOllected as those which have
been paid" The Express Company is to
return "the amount of receipts, and I'M
collected charges aud freigbts, accruiDg
to it on account of money, goods and mer-
ehandiSs forwarded or carried within
this State during the said six months ~
These returns are enforced by adequate
penalties; and on the amounts SO return
ed, they are TO pay q tax Of three per cent,
aud are then to be exempt from county
lsVies, School tax, or any State tax, be-
sides thatimposed by this law. We know
some of our patrons to whom this piece of
information will be interesting.
While on the subject of taxation, We
may mention that by an act passed January
2s, ami amended February 8. the supervi-
SOrS Of every county are authorized, from
time to time, during the war, to borrow
money for the support and relief of SOL
disrs' families, and the payment of bountles
to soldiers who have volunteered or may
hereafter do so. The act gives the super
VisOrs ample powers to provide for the
payment Of such loans by county levies.-
The authority thus conferred has already
been literally exercised in many parts OF
the State, aud we are happy to say West
Virginia will not be delinquent in her con-
tributiOn to the armies of the Union.
Several laws were passed relating to the
collection of taxes. One of these 6xes the
compensation of sheriffs, for collecting the
revenue tor 1868, at seven aud half pei
cent. on the amount of taxes with which
they are ChArgeAble; and when that amount
does not exceed ten thousand dollars, an
additional two and half per cent. on SC
much aO they pay into the treasury within
the time required by law. Another Law
authorizes the Governor, Auditor and
Treasurer, or any two of them, to allow
for the collection of taxes in certain coun.
ties where the business is difficult or dan.
gsrOuS on account Ofthe war, an Increased
rate Of commission, not 10 exceed, how.
ever, in any instance twelve aud a half pei
cent. over aud above the usual commission
By third act, the Auditor, with. the ap:
ProVal of the Governor, lie authorized to
appoint assessors IN counties where none
have been elected and where there are nc
boards of supervisors. AND 20 allow such
assessors, if necessary. double the ordinary
rates OF compensation.
From the tax bills, We naturally proceed
to the appropriations. which, as We 6Rur,
them up, amount to $2Os. 1855; nameIy.,ir
the general appropriation bill $50, 1865
and In other laws $4,000. But this in.
cludes the uusxpended balances of the ap
preparations Of last session; all Of which
with a single exception, are drawn back ts
the general fund aud then appropriated
over again. 10 this way, the amount an.
priated is scarcely test OF actual sxpep.
dItnre.
Making our own classification of III,
appropriations, We would place them IN.
der the following heads
6
Jnatetal. .s............... SSOOt
criminal 15eOC
ecunHei including civil eonkinE fa6d... IS IOt
Military expenses, including the pro uEipg Of
arms 100
Printing ttneludtng the acts and iouFnals OF
asa eees on .................s......j 5000
Revising AID cotif lying the lANG.......... 3 600
Public health tVAeeinltion) -........ 100
fanatics including hr construction q Asy-