South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1877-03-30
Lstpsr from Washfbsson.


wAsnnurUH. b. c.. March 81
Ma HARfxn IA rooene aec1sios Of
the District SuprsIe Court kas brUulht
good deal Of satisfactfon - Dang az
our citizens. Who have uaf16d 1ouS SSf
relief from tie oppsesulsa and xfbiit6re
acts OF the Bossd or Public Works which
carried things with such high hand for
the term OF four years il was Supreme
in District Affairs. Special improve
ment taxes we're levied upon all propes,
~ on streets improved. Tho method OF
assessing was purely arbitrary. The
pretended authority being found Ia NJ
rious acts or the territorial lsgislatsre
which were passed at tie dictation OF
the Boart Of Public Works. Tho .uusll.
room officinl laughed In your face n ask.
cd FOR an itemixed bill, and there was
no redress. Some property was wholly
rnined. being buried up TO tie caves or
LETT on bank twenty feet in the air.
No abatement on these accounts were
ever allowed unless the owner happened
TO he member OF Congress or was mo.
netarily, officially, socially or otherwise
person OF more than ordinary consi,l-
Grafton Many pieces of property were
actually sold for sums fur less than SUN
ced TO pay the taxes. Against all pro-
perry thus assessed, where tho taxes
were not promptly paid on rendition OF
the bills. tax.lien certificates we're issued
and were largely held by tho lst Ma.
tional Bank OF Now York, whici, hail
advanced the money for the .'ispprove
ments." In the CASE under consi,iera.
ton no taxes had ever becn paid. The
authorities sought 70 enforce payment
~ sale OF The property and the court
inalIy granted perpetual injunction.
Among other points made by the Judge
rendering the decision. were the follow
ing: that the law OF the. territorial lie.
gislature permitting tho levy was itself
illegal. and in conflict with laws male
by Congress for tie Government or the
District, that the assessments were
wholly arbitrary. unjust and opprcss.
i've; that the bank advancing :he loan
did so with a full understanding or all
the risks ordinarily attaching to tax
bIiis, and that rs no good could come
to the Government from forcing pay
ment OF the tax no considerations Of
public policy demanded it.: and finally.
IN substance. that it was not the busi
ness OF the Court TO enforce an illegal
claim against citizens by oppressive
processes, at the demand OF nominal
corporations, which had advanced the
money with full knowledge Of the
doubtful character of the collateral. In
this connection allow me to advert 10
another great hardship of which this
Board OF Public Works was guilty and
Which has converted many OF our citi
zens into strenuous advocates Of the
Taxation Of church property. M taxes
OF this kind were permitted. and by the
method adopted. it often happcned that
very few citizens were forced to pay
The improvements in front Of half 10
zen churches. On G.. Street from 9th
to 18TH the Catholics have church.
parsonage. convent. and a church SCHOOL,
the property with the grounds attached
amounting TO very nearly two squares
occupied OH both sides ofthc street by
chnrch property. In addition there il a
large Congregational Church, an Epis-
copal Church and Methodist Church
with pastors house All this property
was assessed on the property owners.
lmost Of them barely able to live. and
hardly any of them wealthy, 1t has al.
ways been held to have been a high.
handed outrage and when the question
OF the taxation of Church property is
submitted to the residents between the
limits named there will be pretty una.
n1mous vote in the affirmative; and
wealthy Church members will have their
greed to thank for the righteous limo.
vation. KNOX.