The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-12-12
Tax Returns in the city of Wheeling.
ClarkSbung NeWA

ClaTHDufB NeWA
The municipality Of Wheeling Is having
high old time in getting proper returns
Of tlepersonal property Of taxpayers One
daily paper heads long article on the sub
ject, "a hollow moCkery is the appearance
OF wealth In this city" Tie Board Of
Equalization, whose duty 1t Is to examine
the Assessor'sreLurns, judge from the listed
personal property that the reputed dia-
nonds OF their citizens are but "pastc," as
none arc returned; and that such an affair
az chunk account" is unknown, and
every depOsitor must DO overdrawn, rs no
cash Is returned. That Of all the banks,
but one makes proper return, the others
having converted their wealth into U. s.
currency for day to get rid Of paying their
honest taxes All of which leads
us to ask the question II much Of this
evasion Of paying taxes would not be
ayerted II the law were repealed exempt
ing greenbaCks from taxationp In fact, is
not the exemption Of any class OF bonds
, or notes Of currency, from taxation, simply
Offering premium on classifying the tax
returns? Diminish the temptation to per-
Jury and roguery and the State will get her
dues. The Taxpayer with the elastic con-
science will either make as square return
as his on-elastiC.conscienc neighbOr, or
be criminally liable for perjury and fraud,
which, under the present law OF exemp-
ton on certain species OF personal proper
ty, this class Of evaders avoid, and 1t
Is next to impossible to punish them.
The NtrS does not seem to DO aware that
the courts have decided over and over
again that the investment Of money in
United States bonds or greenbacks for the
purpose Of evadng taxation Is fraud and
will not hold against assessments. The
question Of evasion is to be determined by
the facts in each case. II man invests
money in bonds few days prior to the
day on which property is to'be listed un.
der the law February LIST in this state)
and converts the said bonds again into
money u short time after the day, 1t is
deemed by the Courts n prima facie case
Of fraud, and he is obliged to explain the
transaction to tho satisfaction Of the Asses.
sor or the Court. The same thing Is true
in regard TO changing National bank notes
into Greenbacks in the shape OF depos.
It's. The United States Courts hold
that all such transactions ore illegal and
void as regards exemption from assess
ment
oieourse there are bona fide cases where
persons having money on hand prior 10
the list day Of February, and not having
any especial use for it, conclude to put II
into Government bonds until they do find
Use for 1t. One Of the inducements to in.
yestin said bonds may be 10 escape taxa
ton. This motive is not in such case
matter Of fraudulent intent, and is not so
held by the courts, Many persons convert
their spare meansinto Government bonds
because they arc exempt from taxation,
preierring a low rate Of interest to any an
noyance in regard 10 taxation. The pist
Of the matter is the intent Of the investor.
A man who invests In Government bonds
as a bona fde investment, be the time long
or short, Is not an evader Of the law In re-
gard to assessments, but where, rs so often
Is the case, parties invest in said bonds
short time prior TO the let Of February and
sell out short time afterwards, there is a
primd tdcis case against them, and the bur
den Of proof Is on them to show that the
transaction was not Intended as m evasion
Of their proper assessment And inasmuch
as proof Is difficult in such case, and i'm.
possible in many cases, an appeal court
can simply put the party upon bis oath
aud force him either to commit perjury or
fectiiy his return.
The United States securities were never
intended to DO convenient medium for
fraud, and the United States Courts have
ruled very strictly on this subject. And
AZ for the suggestion Of the News that Con.
gress should repeal the exemption Of ma.
tlonal securities from taxation by or under
the authority Of any State, county or city,
we presume, be impossible, for
The United States Supreme Court has de-
clded long ago, in tho days Of Chief Justice
that to allow any State TO tax a
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