Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-03-05
Mr.. Gist presented the proceedings OF

| cation.
Alter a futile effort on the part OF Mr..
Butcher to take up the Senate bill cre-
ating a County Court and Board OF
Commissioners for Wood county, the
House passed the following bills:
To change and fix the times for hold
ing court in the Fourth Judicial Circuit.
To change and fix the times for hold
ing court in Hampshire county.
Providing for the holding Of the Coun-
ty Court of Peasants.
To amend the Acts of 1928 in regard
to elections.
A bill providing for State chemist.
To create an independent school dis
trict at Palatine, Marion county.
Mr. Fulkerson then submitted long
report from the Committee OF Confer
ence OH the Judiciary Amendment to
the Constitution, which was ordered
printed in full for the convenience OF
the members.
In accordance with the programme
reported by the Calendar COMMITTEE e
and adopted by the House, all House
bills on their second reading were taken
up and ordered to their engroSsment.
The better part OF the day was thus
taken up without the transpiring OF any,
thing worthy of note.
In the afternoon Mr.. llagans con-
ceived that something might he done to
improve this report or the order 1t in
stituted and moved To reconsider the
vote by which it was adopted, but the
House presumed To think differently
and refused to reconsider.
4 bill authorizing the redemption OF
lands forfeited TO the State by reason OF
delinquency or omission, coming up on
its second reading, was rejected.
At hali-past five the Republican mem-
bers tried to take a recess until I O'Clock,
but the Democrats desired to adjourn,
which the House accordingly dill.
HOUSE NOTES.
The appropriation bill and a fight
over it to-day at eleven.
The Republicans and Greenbackers
had lonely time of it last night, while
their Democratic brethren were in
caucus.
Scherr. of Grant, is the happiest man
in the House he has all his bills
through.
Butcher fought hard and bravely for
the normal school appropriations, but
the eloquence OF numbers was too much
ior him.
Reynolds, OF Taylor, is one OF the most
enthusiastic members in support OF
what he thinks is right.
\ delegation of Senators came i'll
during the noon recess To lobby for
their bills They think the House should
pass all important Senate bills first.
During the discussion Of the Assess
ment Bill. Mr.. Monroe moved To strike
out portion ola section, excmpting Ccr-
tain property. In support Of this he
made the following speech; "When !
made the motion to strike out, ] was
not aware that | was striking against Il
live hornets nest, but, hope, If ! can
get the attention Of the House, to hive
some OF them; neither did | expect for Il
moment to find opposition coming from
the farmers, | looked for it from an
other quarter. Mr.. Speaker, We are
now acting upon the most delicate and
sensitive subject that a Legislature
can touch, Il subject that the people are
more Interested in than any other upon
which we are called 10 act, one at
which they Vince, and trcmblc as
though YOU were touching the apple Ol
their eye. All taxation is species Of
tyranny, and can only he tolerated or
justified when demanded by the abso-
Lutte necessities Oi the State and the
good Of the people. Hence every duty
devOlving upon us admOnishes us to be
careful to impose the burthen equally
and fairly between all classes of our
citizens.
The provisions propose to strike out
are clearly in violation of the
10th article ut the Constitution, which
says that taxation shall hc equal and
uniform, that all property shall bc taxed.
Every citizen OF the State should bear
their equal proportion OF the burthenS
Of the State in proportion Ia the prop
crty they have. II this bill was constl'
tutional would oppose it because its
effects are unequal and unjust. Mr.
Speaker. do not propose tn play the
dcmagogue, but will say without the
fear of successful contradiction, that
there is no class that ls taxed as the
farmers arc-thcy have 10 bear the
brunt OF all taxations, for the land
cannot dodge. And ] am sorry Ia say
that while the farmer deserves all the
protection that can bc afforded, it ap-
pears that every species of legislation Is
rcsOrted 10 to oppress him. Where are
the bOasted Clansmen Ot the sons oi toll
who profess to stand here, like Pclopidas
anil Epaminondas, with their shields
locked in defense of their rights? Look
at the inequality, il You please, between
the toiing farmer and the money loancr.
The farmer, in many instances. If taxed
for what he hasn't got, and twice for all
that he has The farmer NAV owe for
his land and be- paving interest on his
debt, still hc i tarcd for the
land and CAnnOt escape IT,
while the money lender has many
chances to dodgc, and l. only required
Ia pay tax on his surplus, above his
liabilities.
The farmer pays tax on his land and
for all Young stock he keeps over a year.
that he grazcs and feeds. lie again pays
on the enhanced value of his stock for
ever spear oi grass, and every grain ni
corn they have eaten. The handy
woolsman who buys 100 acres pf land
for S2OO-gDes into the forest and wres-
ties with the giant oaks, clears
off his land. er,-rts house and
barn worth sl.OOD-the very next
wear his land is taxed at
$l2 an acre, thereby taxing his sweat
and toll, the very AK with which he
iells the trees is taxcl, aye, and even
the rags that cover his little ones, and
the mortar in which he pounds hiscorn,
are taxed. ! know that this thing OF
taxation j. the most difficult problem
that We can undertake; knOS that
there are inequalities and harlships
which We cannot rrmcly, but for
heavens sake don't Jet Us impuse addi-
tioual ones; let u not l." deceived 10y
speciuus and dccciiiul aTpearAnces. ]
tell YOU. Mr.. Speaker, the land has
to stand the brunt, anil every sub
jeCt Withdrawn from taxation aids
~ the tar on the land. il
takes a certain amount Of revenue 10
deiray the necessary eNpPnSsS Oi the
Government. and whenever one sT.eyic-