Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1882-09-03

4 Every new railroad completed 0noS 70 t0'
duce rates by giving competition. Let rs,
prise to come within our borders, and
! when they do come let US encourage them
4 to stay by encouraging friendly relations
with them As we'll as with those already
here. Much of the increase Of our popula-
| ton in the past ten years is owing to the
few railways We have, and with an increase
/ Of railroad facilities We have great future
1 before Us. "A r. 30
| RePublicAn State Address.
A short time ago Mr.. G. W. Atkinson,
Chairman OF the Republican State Commlt-
tee, and United States Marshal for this
State, issneu aniAddress to the voters Of the
State, some portions Of which will notice
| more at length before finish.
He starts off by saying:
| 1.-THE first Monday in October next you
| will be called upon to cast your ballots, "
/ &c. The State Constitution requires our
| elections 10 be held on the second Tuesday
of October, which, this year, comes on the
10th.
He next refers to the right Of petition,
and says: mot fewer than 10000 of our
| fellow citizens petitioned for an amend
| ment to the Constitution 10 prevent the
| manufacture and sale Of liquors" In the
| first place no one opposes the right Of peti.
| ton, and in the second place am credibly
informed that the number was l2.OOa, in.
| stead of 10000.
| He next refers to the re-aSseSsmeut OF
| lands. This is just as important to the
| State as the census is to the United States
every 10 years, and it tends to equalize
| taxation.
As 10 His Next Charge,
| have already shown that the irreducible
| school fund has been greatly increased, and
is now well protected, under Democratic
| rule 3D..
He then says: I'VE also charge that the
| Democratic party legislates in favor OF
| capital as against labor 1t is conceded
| fact. that the tendencies OF the Republican
| party is the encouragement OF monopolies
| and concentration of labor. =
Next, as 10 his charge OF paper railroads.
Without charters, of course, We could have
no railroads, and il only one out OF every
ten railroads chartered is built the State Is
that much better of. ..., +.
As to the new Senatorial district, as popu.
lation increases, the number OF Represen-
tatives must also, and, therefore, il was
necessary to have a new Senatorial district.
The Re-DistriciinE Of the State
| is next mentioned. The U. s. Constitution
requires the State to be rs-dstricted after
each census. IL it makes change in the
representation. Under the recent appor.
tiOnment bill We are given an additional
member Of Congress, and the State, conse.
ouently, had TO be re-districted.
have expressed my views on the tariff
question, and can only add that all the
parties substantially agree as 10 how our
State should stand and that il has no bear
ing on the politics of the State whatever.
Finally he says that they call upon the
people, without reference to former politi.
cal affiliations. to cast their ballots for the
Republican party and its measures. This
is in keeping with the Malone, Chalmers,
and Greenback compacts Of their party.
II will be noticed that Mr.. Atkinson, OF
whom / think well personally, is the chair.
man tho signs this address. He is also an
United States officer, and is paid by the
government for his services.
Prohibition.
The question of the prohibition OF the
manufacture and sale OF liquor is assuming
considerable importance in this and other
States While il does not enter, strictly
speaking, into this campaign, yet ii is
question which has been and is now agi-
tating the people, and ! believe candid
| discussion of any question upon which PEG.
pie differ is always best. Wise men, good
and great men, have for long time and do
now differ widely as to the proper policy TO
| be pursued to counteract the evil OF in.
Temperance, and public opinion and the
| people must eventually decide the ques'
| ton.
In this connection, | will say, however,
| that have always been an advocate Of and
| a believer in, the right of the people 10 pc
tition. Wherever respectable number oil
citizens ask for redress, their petitions
should be given respectable hearing, and
| II the eople OF this State desire that this
| question should b. submitted 10 them for
| their consideration, ! think their wishes
should be granted. For my part I am will
| ling, and believe al, the parties are. that
| the people who see the practical workings
| OF this question should act both rs judge
and Jury in the matter, and we should bs
perfectly content 10 abide by their deci-
sion.
Reinforcement Of Lands
Our political opponents endeavor to
make a point on the reassessment OF lands
ordered by the last Legislature, and say it
is done 10 raise more money TO run the
state government and that il is now In
debt some 100000. As TO the re'assess-
ment question, the answer is plain. West
Virginia is q young and growing State, and
AS the recent census shows. IL has made
more rapid average increase in population
than the majority Of States In some
places the increase Of value has been large,
while i'm others il may have deprecated,
and the rate ought to he equalized. Where
property has increased in value the taxes
should be raised in proportion. and where
II has deprecated in value they should he
reduced. This j. only netting out exact
Justice to all, and complying with the Con-
stitutIon, which says taxation shall be
euua! and uniform.
As to the expenses IL is but compare
lively small matter. There have been two
re-assessmeuts since 1860, one In 1866, IN ade
while the Republicans were In power, OF
which hsve not the figures and cannot
speak, the other in 1875, the cost oil which,
exclusive Of blanks and printing, vas but
Sl1,771.49, while the aggregate increase IN
value over the previous assessment was tlZ,.
1920. The estimated cost OF the present
re. assessment is 20,25O. Competent and
honest men, citizens Of the State, have
been designated to discharge this duty. and
| have no fear but what they will set prop
erly ana cunscientiously and return your
property at only such valuation as fair
ness and justice would dictate.
state school Fund.
Much HIS been said about our having
borrowed some money from the school
fund TO be used for State purposes. As 70
that question, the old prOyerb OF People
who live in glass houses should never
throw stones" IL applicable. When the
Democrats came into power in 1871, IL was
fonnd that the reports Of the outgoing Re-
publican officials did not agree, and Judge
J. NJ. Jackson, OF Parkersburg, and myself
rs Chairman Of the Finance Committees OF
the two Houses, investigated the matter
We found that there was al actual deficit
of the general funds. on October 1T, lSlO.of
s92, $50. l6 OF which there had been taken
from the school funds, $50 52s3i. and there
were Of former appropriations remsinins
unpaid, s32 o23 50.
The principal difference that ] can seebe.
tween the two parties in this matter Is that
while the Republicans took the money
without law or authority from the school
fund in 1870, paid no interest ON II, and
made no return for IL, and
kept II concealed until investigation
brought II TO light. the Democrats, uatsr
authority OF law make public and pay In
terest on the small amOlnt they have Dor
rowed.
Keysev Conyeuttos.
regret the Congressional Convention
Which met here (Ksyserl few days since
divided, and two Gentlemen we're nomina'
n -H 49,.