Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1881-02-05
COMMUNICATED.
RAILROAD TAXES.

Mr.. Editor-We send you the fol-
lowing from the Spirit Of Jefferson of
this week, and would simply add that
the parties making the statements set
forth are reliable and intelligent men,
with no motive, except to have justice
done to the taxpayers of The county.
This question of RENTED taxes to the
Baltimore az Ohio railroad, can be
thoroughly overhauled and investigated
without any COST TO TIE COUNTY On
LESS a RECOVERY is MADE 1t is a duty
that those who are clothed with the
prerogative of having this question in-
vestigated, owe the people or rather it
is duty the people owe to themselves,
to hold meeting and appoint Gas sug-
gested) a committee of intelligent bust
ness men to collect the facts, make them
public and redress the wrong, il any.
We would suggest that public meet
ing be held at the Court House in
Charostown, on Friday, February 18th,
at 10 o'clock. b.
Editor of Spirit-The following letter
upon a subject of the greatest interest to
the county of Jefferson, has been written
to gentleman of this county by friend
now in Wheeling, who knows whereof he
speaks. Please publish, and l do hope
that we have enough men of public spirit
10 take this matter in charge and apply
the proper remedy. There should be a
meeting of citizens, irrespective OF party,
at once, and committee appointed to in
veStigate thoroughly this subject, and
their report published, so that the facts
being known intelligent action will be
taken. @
Extracts from letter:
1.-The legal assessment of the 3. q o. X.
r. was in 1879, $5l5,7s3 10. This was re-
duced in 1880 by the Board of Public
Works to S47l ,43S 60. The Auditor sent
this assessment To our County Court. 1t
was the duty of the Court to apportion
this amount according to the number OF
miles Of road in the different school dis
tricts. and to inform the Auditor OF the
school assessment for each district.
This was not done, and consequently
we do not receive as much school tax as
we should, and the road goes free.
''The law requires all Railroad Taxes to
be paid directly to the State, but the Au-
N!lpE lIiOII!s iue lIdI li' IL ~ We -
they have 4 SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT with
the COUNTY COURT OF JEFFERSON about
our county taxes.
GAS a matter Of course, the Court has
no AUTHORITY whatever to make any 'AR-
KANGEMENTs,' and something is wrong
somewhere.
.'lf was all right, it is natural to sup
pose that the road would have obeyed the
law and paid its whole tax to the State
directly.
again, quite recently, the road paid
81 ,760, a municipal tax levied by the town
council of Martinsburg and certified TO
the Auditor, and if our Court had certl-
fled our levy, the railroad would have
paid the taxes which have been avoided.
"Again, the Shenandoah V. Railroad
pays all State taxes, but does not pay
county or county school tax, for the rea-
son, rs the court says, 1T being yet in the
hands of the contractors, it is not bound
to pay but it is evident if the road pays
the State, it is bound to pay the county
taxes, and will do so if our officials do
their duty"
In conclusion, the county of Jefferson
has lost, and is losing very largely by
these illegal arrangements between the
county court and the roads, and it will
be true economy, as tits the imperative
duty of our leading men, to sift this mat
ter thoroughly" Il.