The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1876-10-02
zggG5lia>n' zll :
SOME MORE OF III.
Democratic HsetsenCslnicnt
In West Virginia

FROM tue Preston county Jour1Al
Over $4,000 were in tho State
Treasury when tho Democratic party
came into power in 1870. Three
years after We have Jonathan NJ Beu-
nets laundering in the Scun;e that tho
State is bankrupt, mud the State at the
same time borrowing money OF Hon.
G. N. Bishop and the backs.
The figures in the Governors mes-
sage transmitted to the Legislature
that assembled III January, 1915,
show deficit III tho treasury Of 3d.
1!G, IL. Iu his message 10 the ad-
journcd session which convened ut
Wheeling last November, tie Cover.
nor said the expenditures we're SIS.
1871 more than the receipts of tina,
year.
\ few days before tho adjournment
Of the las, session. Nr. West, the Dema'
cratic nvtninee for Treasurer, said u
deficit Of $1,000 would show itself
at tho end Of this fiscal year. We
know not how that will bo, but we dc
know that tho S35,eO0 appropriated
a. the last session, 10 puy criminal
charges, was exhausted over u month
ago.
The Democratic party saw in 1873
that something must oe done, or OILS,
the State would be bankrupt, sur,
enough More money was necessary
and must lie had. There arc tire,
ways 10 accomplish that: First, in
crease the rate Of taxation second
increase the amount Of taxable properti
and, third, increase the value Of the
laxub!e property. 1t would have cos
nothing to have pursued the first tw'
methods; but, with its usual blind
ness, the Democracy decided to adOp
the latter merhod-a very costly Que
and they passed an act at the session o
iS72.3 providing for the re-ss.cssmen
/. Of ali the real cs,atc in the Sta,e. In
stead Of giving this job into tho hand
Of the regular assessors. whom tue pcO
pic had elected and who were acquaiut
/. Cd with the business. the act provided
that the Auditor should appoint u
. mauy Commissioners as there wero as
/ cssors 10 dc tbs work.
, We'll, what did thiI job cost the tax
payer? The last session Of the Lcgis
la,urc appropriated $50, $50 TO pay til
, Commissioners, mud the printing {
books. &c, &C.. will cost, at least
$40, 600 morc-so tho total COS: to tn
tax payers Of the State is not less thai
, S3U,OU0. But there was no call 70
. tho expenditure Of this sum-it was al
, soIuie!y wasted. The former valuatio
| Of tho real estate was nsde in 1865, "
believo-right in the time wheu price
, we've inflated. And sure it is that res
estate was worth more than it is now
considerably
Again: This expenditure was use
less because tho revenues could hay
been increased BY sIWply raising til
) amount Of levy. If the levy Of 3
cents en- the 500 valuation was nc
/ enough to run the State, it could hay
, becu increased to 36 ceutS without il
having cost the people $50. 300 10 do il
And why was III; the latter iuexpensiv
, method adopted? Simpl y because thu
would have been increasing taxatiO
directly, while to raise the value .! Ii
. urlicle taxed is 10 do i: indirectly.
. But what is the effect Of the 70 assess
/ :neut upon the revenues? ure they 10
crossed or diminished! The real csia,
, Of the State is increased in value b
r this assessment. to the amount {
I Sll,2l3. 4j7 81. The State lax s,an
has lie. ever since the State was OF
ganizrd, 80 cents on the 800, or
! mills on the dollar. AS the value I
s the real estate is increase
J Sli,2l3.l5 81, 81 de ilrsS are il,
. creased 10 the amount Of ruREEnUNDRE
. AND TnIRTY.Slx THOUSAND, FOUR rUS
DRIED AND THREE DOLLARS AND SEVENTY
. TWO CENTS, (S336, .iO3 ~
And remember, too, that this is sh
i. increase on the State tax alone. Thel
: are the county levy, the poor levy, uuC
the school loTy 10 be calculated yet ,au
not included 10 tue above.
II it was sectional and wicked. [