The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1868-12-17
>t'hesIiua Re9lster.
Thursday --.Deccmser ~,
That Taxation Petition.

fees of city assessor and collector, INT
transfer of their duties respectively Il
re county assessor and the Sheriff, ar(
the reduction of the Sheriff's fees, al
hy law which shall be operative only
IN Ohio county. The petitioners fur
,hrr nSk that the Board of Supervisor!
az Ohjo county be required to make and
ruh,i,h regular and detailed state
,,.pt Of the receipts and expenditures
of the county. s.-. --
W,do not now for the first time ex
.-s. onrselye, in favor of the abolition
af,IIus,lcss offices, the simplifcatior
orthe pab,ic business, and the redac
,,,o oftle expenses thereof to the low
49,, rps,ib!c poiut, not overlooking the
f,rr that the services of competent men
n fair prices are cheaper in the end
than the services of incompetents for q
sang. To these points of public policy
We cheerfully renew our pledges, and
heartily agree to cooperate with any
movement that aims at the promotion
Of the public interest through the ac'
complishment of these objects.
We regret to say that the movement
represented by the petition referred to,
does not fully come up to our views OF
reform in our State matters, Indeed 1t
is possibly open TO criticism as stroke
of partisan policy, having more refer
ence to the future of the Radical party
in Ohio county, than to the material in
terests of the taxpayers. For several
wears the Republicans had full control
Of our county matters. During that
tiMe. the fees of the Sheriff were no
less exorbitant than at present; the
offices IF city assessor and collector no
less extensive. Nevertheless, it was
only when Republican incumbentS
ceased to till these stations that the Re
publican party became interested in
reducing the fees Of the first and abol-
ishinr entirely the last. Remembering,
too. that among the last acts of the
Republicans of this county before
retiring from power, was to
procure tn. passage OF an act by the
Legislature increasing the salary OF
Prosecuting Attorney of this county,
plainly for the benefit of a Republican
expectaut, we have abundant
yrouud to douht the groi faith of the
Republican missionaries of reform In
Ohio county: We have no reason TO be-
liryr that they would not, i'll case they
could return again 10 power IN the
comfy, procure the repeal of the very
special legislation which they are now
advocating.
Notwithstanding this, We are pre-.
pared to advocate the passage of gem
eral law which would give to all coun-
ties similarly situated, the benefits
profess. dly sought TO he conferred upon
ONO county. Ifthe proposed scheme IS
. ,ooI one, let all share It's benefits. II
bad. Ohio county should not suffer
alone. II is true that in no other coun-
Il 80 the offices of city collector and
assessors exist as in Ohio; nu5 these,
We imagine, are not so obnoxious rs are
the i; fees paid the Sheriff. IL is grave
glr.tiop whether the affairs of the
c.iy and county should not always be
arp: distinct, aud whether the blend
iug Of the two in the manner fore
,hldowcd (for the plan is sadly indetin-
itc) would not in the end, cost more
than a dozen city assessors backed by
i, many collectors. Such is the fear OF
maug whn profess to know. But this is
by TO means the leading point in the
case. and if the others could be agreed
upon. it could be readily settled.
The m.in purposes are to reduce the
fee, of the Sheriff and have the Board of
Supervisors make proper reports. Let US
suppose that these are objects worthy the
attention of the Legislature, and that
their attainment would promote the
lax payers interests. Why is Ohio
county alone, to receive this benefit !
Why should the Sheriff of every other
county save Ohio continue to draw the
same fees a, 1t PRESENT. Why should
not the Supervisors of other counties
report to their people concerning their
manner of doing business If low
lee, and Supervisors reports are a good
thing for Ohis county they are good
for other county. Let us have no
special legislation. 1t lacks permanence
it is too readily repealed. Give us a
general law, retrenching and econo-
MIXING for every body, and then you
interest the State in continuing it upon
the statute books.
Doubtless the Sheriff7s fees in Jetier-
son. Berkeley, Harrison, Wood, hana'
VIA, Mason and Marshall would bear
reduction. Let us have legislation that
will also save the taxpayers of those
counties. Doubtless the people of every
county in the State would like to hear
annually from their Supervisors. Don't
limit the privilege to Ohio county. In
brisf, make this retreAchment general,
Mr.. Int,lIigeacer, thereby assuring us
of your gool faith, aud we will do our
hsmble best TO further the work, and
have no doubt that the Democrats o.
the L gislature will be so well pleased
with your new born zeal that they will
uot only aid you in cutting down fee:
all over the State, bnt will vote to give
YOU the State printing again at hall
Your present rates, thus leaving you, q:
you know, fair compensation.
We are glad to see our neighbor en-
listed in the work of reform. Waving
al question of his sincerity we ash
him to aid, not merely in cutting dowl
the Sheriff's fees in Ohio county, but IL