The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-01-24

carried oul, will yield TO The State an an
nual reVenue Of at least S9OC,OOO:
II must he remembered that the law
was at frst violently assailed by the deal.
era, and every effort made TO PREVENTS
execution. There were consequently
great embarrassments attending 1t in
many parts OF the State. This opposi'
ton, however, has, l am pleased TO say,
measurably subsidized, and ! think there
will be no further difficulty In regard TO
tits proper to say that the net revenue
for the first year must be necessarily
small, and afford by no means any critic
rion BY which to Judge Of the future.
Thus: The SO paid for the register, in
cluded In the gross receipts OF the year,
has been refunded to the dealer. So the
rebate in the specific tax has also been
allowed as q credit in his account. The
former allowance cannot occur again, as
the registers have now been supplied, and
! respectfully suggest that the law be so
amended as not 10 allow hereafter any
rebate in the specific tax. There Is no
more reason for such an allowance than
there il in any other case where 3 specific
license tax is imposed.
/ venture 10 suggest a further amend
ment 10 the act, which is that all persons
licensed under the Mofiett law shall be
allowed commission on their collections
and declared 10 be collecting officers OF
the revenue. This would require all
payments made 10 them by their custom:
ers to be paid into the Treasury IN Kind
under your present statutes. As the law
now stands a dealer collects in money 500
OF tax for the State; and from that iden-
teal fund thus collected lie can anil does
purchase, at the present rate Of discount,
The 800 in coupons at from $40 TO so
in money, thus enabling the dealer with
the use Of money Ehieh belongs 10 TIE Stdte
10 pay his taxes at a discount oil about
twenty-five per cent, This surely ought
not 10 be allowed. =.
The same result could be arrived at
perhaps in a manner more satisfactory by
recurring all licenses TO be paid IN money.
License ia a privilege 10 be granted at
the pleasure Of the General Assembly,
and upon such conditions as it may see
ct to impose. To require that all per-
sons who apply for license shall as a con-
dition precedent consent TO pay the same
in money seems 10 be altogether within
the scope OF legislative authority. |
would prefer that such au amendment
should be made in our revenue laws, $ 1t
would apply 10 all licenses, and relieve the
Treasury OF a very large amount usually
received in coupons at those periods oil
the year when the revenues are not COM
ing into wit, in the spring and fall.
Icannot close this report without allud-
ing to the instrument itself. In the com.
mencement OF the work many Of the reg
listers were, from the necessity OF the
case, imperfect. These have, however,
In all cases, been substituted by Mr.. John.
son, the contractor, with perfect ones,
and at present / hear Of no complaints.
They work well. / cannot speak too
highly Of the zeal manifested by Mr..
johnson to make the work a success, and
! take pleasure in saying that his whole
course has been marked by a liberality
to the State, and by u willingness to do
all in his power TO promote its interests,
that is in the highest degree commenda-
bic. l am, very respectfully.
WILLIAM F. TAYLOR,
Auditor Public Aeeouab