The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-02-21

believed that all property should be
taxed alike. No taxation was Justifi-
able except upon the ground of protec.
ton to the property so taxed, and as all
were protected alike 80 should all be
taxed alike. There were but two broad
principles contained in the proposition
assumed by himself and others, and
these were that taxation should be
equal and uniform" and based upon
"just valuations"
Farnsworth spoke for two hours in
favor of exemptions, and if ever any
man had a diarrhea of words, he had
it today. find it utterly impossible to
give an ineligible report, because he
said nothing ineligible, except to
criticize the member from Randolph
for being opposed to exemption OF farm
products, and to announce that unless
such a provision was adopted he would
stump the State against the Cons1itu'
ton. =,
Mr.. Harding, OF Randolph, replied.
He thought he was fully able to repre-
sent his people and was conversant
with their wishes, and he promised
the gentleman that if he came to his
county to speak against the Constitu-
ton he would climb as many stumps
as the gentleman dared to. In regard
to exempting turnips (Which Farms,
worth had referred to-, he was happy
to inform him that they were all usu-
ally eaten up before the assessor came
round, and they had, in his section, to
fall back on ground hogs. The gentle
man from Upshur put him in mind OF
an incident that occurred last spring.
He was out hunting with friend, and
after they had separated he heard his
gun fire, and halloed over and
asked him what he had killed. He
replied he thought it was a deer when
he shot, but by the below he believed
it was a cal"
Mr.. Wilson thought this was one of
the most difficult problems to solve tha!
would be before the Convention. 1t
was, however, not an original PROPOSE
ton, but one on which we had the light
of the action of past generations 10
guide us. He believed that the prln.
ciple of ad va!orem taxation was sub
siantially true. In Virginia 22I years
ago the subject was considered. IN
1915 the Legislature Of Virginia passed
an act reciting that, "whereas, the
anncient and usual taxing of all people
of the COLONY by the pole, equally, hath
been found inconvenient and Is become
insupportable for the poorer sorte to
beare. This assemble having taken 1t
into considerations have for their rellefe
hereafter thought fit to alter the same.
Be it therefore enacted that all publick
leaves and county leaves be raised by
equal proportions out Of the visible
estates in the COLONY.
This remained in force for three
years and after that time, up to ll55,
was frequently changed, but since then
the principle has been recognized almost
without question. While he was as
much a friend Of the poor man as any
gentleman upon the floor he could see
no Improperly in compelling property
to pay its just proportion OF the taxes:
The wisdom OF the fathers had indorsed
it, the experience Of the past had dem
onstrated its utility and it was but sim
pie and exact justice. While he did
not object to the exemption OF church
or public property, he was opposed to
any further extension Of the privilege.
He did not object to the Legislature
having the same power now exercised,
but any further grant would be lnJudi-
cious in his judgment.
During the consideration OF the sew
e-al amendments the Convention adj
journed.
1t seems now likely that notwith-
standing the opposition, a large class o.
property will be exempted. | can but
think this is suicidal policy. In all
governments so much revenue has to
be raised, and if one class or species OF
property be exempted, the natural
and inveritable results are that the
others are taxed so much the greater.
In Virginia this matter has undergone
a great deal of discussion and been the
subject OF a great deal of legislation on
many occasions. Prior to lob the
taxes for the support Of the Government
were raised by poll tax. In that year
the statute cited 10y Col. Wilson in his
argument was passed, levying the same
upon the property ofthe citizens. This
was repealed IN l74S, and for more
than a century the taxes were again
laid upon property, and 1t has gener-
ally been SO since that time. 1t Is true
that under the Constitution OF 1880 and
of 1868, the Legislatures Of the two
States assumed to and did exempt prop
erty from taxation, but their action was
clearly unjustitiable. loRIcK.
Debate on the Method OF Voting
The Ballot against Viva VOce-
Jackson, OF Wood. versus Farms
wOrth-A Compromise Agreed
Upon.
CHARLESTON, February ii.
Yesterday afternoon the much vexed
question OF the manner OF voting came
up. The report of the committee
favored the ballot, while minority
reported in favor of the viva voce sys-
TEN. The minority report was taken
up and considered as a substitute for
that of the committee. This PROPOSE
tinn elinitnH neneral discussion and