The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-02-15

there were other counties in which the
lands were not valued as they should
be. Harrison was not valued too high,
under the provisions of the law, but
| others were too low. When he went
home last spring he had assured his
people that while a revaluation would
| be likely to put their lands higher, it
would not increase their taxes; because
\ there would be a corresponding in
crease all over the State; and the rate OF
taxation could thus be reduced. If the
House refused to adopt some measure
like this resolution, he should have to
| go home and tell his people their taxes
had been increased fifty per cent, while
in the large majority of the counties
there was little or no increase, and that
there was no reduction of the rate at all.
1 Mr.. Bee thought the new assessment
was not as unequal as the old. It was
| true lands in some counties were as
sessed a great deal higher than in
others; but those lands had greatly in
creased in value. Slavery had been
abolished, manufactures were coming
in, and minerals, oil, silver, lead, &C.,
were being developed, The old assess
ment was very bad one; and 1t would
| be bad policy TO go back to it.
MIR. Ferguson was satisfied there
| were great inequalities under both old
and new assessments-a fact made
| very apparent by the statement of the
1
inequalities, but he concurred with the
| gentleman from Doddridge that the
| new assessment was not as equal as
the old. There were but few counties
in which there had not been an in
crease. He proposed to have this years
assessment go on under the new valu-
alton and follow it by some measure
to correct the valuation. For this pur-
pose, he was for appointing the Audi
tor, in connection with some other OFF,
GERS, State board of equalization, and
/ giving them power to re-aSsesS the
lands where in their opinion too high
or too low, and have the assessment
made by some person not citizen of
the county. Then, next year, if. the
lands in any county are found to have
been assessed too high or too low, the
| deficiency should be charged or the ex-
cess refunded the following year.
Mr. Burke was satisfied with the re-
valuation as made in his county.
Mr.. Bee withdrew his motion to lay
on the table, and moved to indefinitely
| postpone the resolution.
Mr.. Boreman said it was somewhat
singular that the member had all at
once discovered the inequalities of the
| former valuation. There had never
been any special complaints of it be-
fore. The inequalities of the new val
uation appeared to him very great
| greater upon examination that he had
/ =
aiming the Doddridge county books
received by the Auditor this morning,
and found the average valne of lands
\ in that county was between 81 and 50
Per acre. In Tyler, adjoining, it was
S6.6l. Tyler before was 1884. Ran
dolph, under the old valuation was 66
cents, and under the new "A cents. If
he wanted to enact any measure TO cor
rect the valuation, it would not do to
indefinitely postpone, for then they
could not act upon the subject at the
| present session.
Ferguson re-stated the measure which
he would propose to equalize the yalu-
alton.
Mr.. Fleming said his only objection
to that was that it would still be re-
During some counties, his own among
the rest, to pay large amounts OF
money year in advance. He thought
1t was enough for them to pay their
share when called on-aS they had al
ways done, without asking any exemp-
tons or releases.
Mr.. Boreman further called attention
to the county of Writ, whose valuable
oil lands, he said, were put down Mt
81 to per acre; and to Wood, in which
there was city, the terminus ola rail-
road, two or three turnpikes and rich
oil lands, put down at only 50 81.
On the motion to indefinitely post
pone, Mr.. Fleming demanded the ayes
and noes. The vote stood:
AYEs-Messrs. Ballard, Bee, Billmy-
er, Borgess., Burke, Caldwell, Cooper,
Cracraft, Ferguson, Gibson, Hartman
Heermans, Hibbets, Hiser, Johnson
kincaid, Little. Lockhart, Mann, Nc
Cartyt McWhorteE, Neel, Payne, spen-
Hanson and Workman-29.
NoEs-Messrs. Armstrong, Beeson.
Blckel, Foreman, Bowyer, Brown of
Ohio, Cunningham, DAVIDSON, Fleming.
G4oh. Crosse, Harris, Hoffman, KeIlar,
hoonce, Lamb, Lane, Lightburn,
Marshman, McQuilkin, Smith of
Brooke, Smith of Berkeley, Snider.
Taylor and PinnelI-25.
So the resolution was defeated.
Mr. Lamb called up the registration
bill, and offered a substitute, which
was ordered to be printed. The bill was
made the order of the day for Wednes-
day next.
Mr.. Lightburn offered n Joint resolu-
ton relieving Capt. VIM. d. Hall.
late of the 10th w. Va. Volunteer In,
tantry from all disgrace and disability
attaching to mis- unfortunate dismissal
from the service by n court martial,
other officers of this State.
Gen. Harris explained the circum-
stances of Capt. Halls offence and dis
missal. 1t occurred at BEVERLY He
mad Just returned from long expedi-
ton, worn out and out of health, and
was ordered TO report for another expe-
oltion IN half an hours time. He |
failed to do so, and was tried by n |
court made up from an Ohio regiment,
incapable of doing a West Virginia
otncer Justice. They all felt his dis |
missal to be great outrage at the time. |
out military law was memorable and |
could not be questioned. Gen. Harris
spoke in terms of praise of Can't. Halls
integrity and patriotism.
zen. Llghtburn knew nothing about |
the circumstances narrated by General
harris, but he fully endorsed all he said
as 10 Capt Halls private character, who
was citizen of his county and well
known to him.
adopted
Mr.. Kincaid called up the bill to mako
an appropriation to rebuild the bridge
over Gauley river, and addressed the
house in favor of the measure,
Mr.. hoonce moved to indefinitely
postpone.
Mr.. Ferguson said he was satisfied
tnat no Dill ofthis kind would be pass
60 ana TO enable him to prepare a bill
70 turn over the James River and Ka-
road, on which this bridge is
heeued, to the several counties through
whlch the road passes, he moved to Law
1t on the table. Agreed to.
MI. Lane called up the bill to author
lze the authorities of Hampshire coun-
" to use the Jail of Hardy, and il was
ordered to engrossment.
Mr.. Beeson called up the bill author
zing the Council of the town of Fair
mont to subscribe to the Regency of
he West Virginia Normal School. or ]
SanlZed at that place. The bill had !
been reported back by the COMMITTEES
IN Education, with the recommended
ION that II be referred to the Special