Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-02-09
THE STATES FINANCES,

/ that will support a liberal anu progress
sive policy in the management OF ell the
/ interests OF the State, and enable It TO
maintain a standing for thrift and enter
mise ia the Union of States. Mere
stint is not economy. Nor are our peo-
pie so mean or beggarly as to desire
10 starve the institutions and cripple
the industries OF the State by withhold
inc revenue commensurate with the
needs OF the State. There is class
which will grumble at all taxation, how
ever small it may be, but the mtelli-
gent, thrifty population OF State will
hold party responsible which lacks the
courage TO ask OF the people revenue
sufficient TO maintain the dignity OF the
State. They want to know that there is
noextrayagance; no injudicious expend-
djtures; no profigacy in the use OF the
revenues; they want TO know that there
is prudent economy, along with broad
and liberal administration OF the affairs
of the government, and they will back 1t
up with their cash.
But the features of our financial con-
dition, TO which we refer, rather enforce
a misery and injurious policy in State
affairs.
We have to face the fact that in the
last decade, while our population has
increased within a fraction OF 10 per
cent; while the expenses OF the State
have naturally increased with the grow
ing population; while more money is
every year being demanded for the en-
larged dimensions and increasing neces.
sites Of all the institutions OF the State;
and while We have thus been spreading
out in every direction, We collected
less percentage Of revenue, in some de-
partments, in 1850 than in 1870.
For examples, since the Democratic
party came into power, the tax of five
per cent. imposed for public buildings
has been cut oil, reducing the rate from
o5 TO 20 cents on the hundred dollars.
More than this, the very singular fact
appears that while in 1871, the value o;
the personal property OF the State as
sessad for purposes Of taxation was, ac-
corIing to the Auditors report, $40, 6i2,-
g6I.5I: the value OF the personal prop
erty upon which tax was collected in
1850, was only S34,622, 500, or over SIX
millions OF dollars less in 1880 than in
1871.
Or in other words, although the pop
ulation Of the State has increased near
lv 10 per cent. since 1870, the State de-
riyrs tax from six million dollars less
Of personal property in 1880 than in the
former year.
No one supposes for moment, that
with an increase OF 10 per cent. in popu-
lation, we have had decrease in the
value of personal property, but never
theless we have large decrease OF rev.
enue from this source. We do not VEN
ture TO give an authoritative reason for
this, but it 10 natural to conclude that
either the dishonesty OF the people or
the assessors who make the returns, or
both, are responsible for it.
That does not, however, relieve the
public treasury. The fact remains that
the revenues at the present rate OF tax
alton or by the present mode OF assess
ments are not sufficient to support the
government. Either an increased rate
OF taxation or an improved mode OF as
sessments, must furnish an increased
revenue.
1t is a matter OF great credit to the
Democratic administrations Of the past
ten years, that we have been able to
meet the expenses OF the government,
with an increase Of 100 per cent. in some
of the charges against the State treasury,
while at the same time avoiding an in
creased taxation. But as the State con-
tinues to grow and develop, the expenses
Of the government must go on increas-
ing, and it will be impossible for the
government TO maintain itself upon the
amount of revenue now returned. Ii
may be, and we think it probable, that
an increase Of revenue can be obtained
without an increase in the rate OF taxa
ton. We do not know that increased
taxation is necessary, or that it is not.
We present the plain fact that an in
crease must be had by some manner or
means.