Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1881-02-12

JEFFERSON, Inc AuullOr say 80 10 Coh-
trary notwithstanding. The taxes of
the +. & o. r. r. for 1880 were az
sessed by the board of commissioners,
who were appointed by the board OF
public works for that purpose, and
even sent directly from the Auditor to
the Sheriff of our county only few
days ago for collection.
Again, HIS Wheeling friend says,
"quile recently the road paid s1,760-a
municipal tax levied by the town coun-
Gil OF Martinsbnrg, and certified to the
Auditor-and if our Cont had certified
our levy, the 3. e o. r. r. would
have paid the taxes which have been
avoided" What levy? The Court has
no authority 10 make a levy on the b.
& o. II. Il. The Act of 1879 forbids
the County Court from making a levy
on the Il. Rs. and since the passage OF
that Act the Court has not done so.
Now, why did not HIS Wheeling friend
state who certified the municipal taxes
of Martinsburg TO the Auditor? Be-
cause it did not answer his purpose, for
he knew full well that the County Court
Of Berkeley did not certify it, but that
the Recorder of the town OF Martins
burg did, for there has been no County
Court in Berkeley very recently.
Again, HIS friend says, "that the
Shenandoah Valley Railroad pays all
State taxes, but does not pay county or
school tax, for the reason, the County
Court says, it being in the hands of the
contractors is not bound TO pay"
Where did HIS friend get his infor-
nation? Certainly not from the rec
ords of the Court and | ask him TO
state. A greater falsehood was never
uttered. The Court has never been
notified by the Auditor, or any one else,
that the S. V. II. II. had been assessed,
and no such assessment has ever been
reported to the Court. The writer
says. ''the law requires the Z. r. tax
to be paid TO the Auditor" What,
then, haG the Court TO DO with the S.
V. Il. II. taxes. Now, let me ask, did
HIS friend aid the Auditor TO place in
the hands of the Sheriff of our county
the county and school taxes assessed
by the commissioners on the S. Y. X.
X. as it was his duty to do, if not paid
to MIN by the goth OF January? If so,
why did not the Sheriff collect them?
lie had no authority from the Court
not to collect them, and if he had, he
was not bound to obey it. l positively
state that the Court has never issued
any such order, and l defy the Sheriff
or any one else to produce it.
1t is not the r. r. tax that "ll" and
his friend is so much concerned about
as it is their own Announcements, by en-
deavoring to elevate themselves in pub
lie favor by casting unjust charges
against the Court, to which they arc
opposed for treasons bes. known to
themselves. Every order made by the
Coult must be recorded to give it force
or effect. Now, why did not "H' give
the public copy Of the orders upon
which he based his charges, which are
devoid of justice and truth?
If the secretaries OF the boards OF
education have failed 10 do their duty,
by not reporting to the Auditor the
amounts levied tor school purposes in
their different districts, thereby exhon-
Grating the railroads from taxation, why
blame the Court?
So far as | am concerned, and I be-
ieve l can say for every member of the
Court, we desire this matter fully sitted
openly and publicly, but not under iic.
ticious signatures, with pcrficious in.
tent, by false statements, although gu
says these statements were made by his
friend in Wheeling, who, he says,
"knows whereof he speaks" yet not
consistent with truth.
ROBERT w. BAYLOR