Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1882-03-25
A Word to the Public.
Eds. Independent:

myself before the public Suppos
ing my silence might b. misconstru-
ed by some, | ask the use OF your
columns AS an opportunity 60 ex-
plain. and AT the same time. defend
myself against what ] regret to say,
looks now Though not so considered
by M originally like a eodnton and
malicious misrepresentation,
The Herald in it's issue of March
l1th, commenting upon the Senate
amendment, to the Evans hill,
amending the charter of our town.
took occasion to say: "Mr. Gettingpr
secured Il petition in favor of head
tax" AS though there had neUer Teen
"A corporation head tax and convey
ing the idea that | was endeavori ng
to have one imposed. | did no
then consider this "A aCantOn misrep-
resentation, because when | called
the EDITORS attention to it he insist
I'd that the head tax we bad been
paying WAS only to the State, and
not until | told him | had lived here
twenty-five years, and had paid d
head tax to the corporation, all the
while, did he yield the point. This
showed conclusively that he had
been mislead or imposed upon, by rs
he said, honorable gentlemen"
upon whose statements he claimed
To be- justified in making the charge
against me. In his paper of last
week, instead of acknowledging the
wrong and repairing it in a manly
way he makes sta ement or several
of them, which add insult to injury,
aud, 10y fnuendO-the most cOntemp
tible way of expressing All idea
misrepresents mt more than before;
hence, l am forced to consider il
tD1ntOn and malicious.
Now Messers editors what are
ne facts in this Case :? | Will en-
d -avor to give them. briefly as | cal
to make myself i telligible. ! he
that only those who have paid all
the corporation taxes assessec
agains them, for the current yeaI
Can vote at any corporation election.
Mr.. Evans had bill passed in thu
House of delegates, striking ou'
that recruitment, which would Civ,
every one II vote without paying any
taxes. Personally, | had 10 Objec-
ton to The law as it is, for til
IL easier to pay one years taxes, tina
tlUo at The same lime, and besides, as
ID business proposition, 1t will pay
any one to be prompt, as long as th,
corporal ion deducts three per cent
for prompt payment, and charges
interest alter a certain time. QUITE
Il number of respectable gentlemen
with myself dared 10 differ only
slightly with those tavOring Mr.. E..
dill, and sent d petition signed by
about ITO or 100 mot quite 81 ID,
stalled at the Court house meeting)
to the Senate aS follows:
eve citizens and tax payers of
the town of Martinsburg, respectful
ly and earnestly protest against the
passage in its present shape, OF
House Bin --amending the chaI
ter of MarIinsburg, and ask that the
Bill be amended SO DIS to require TIN
pigment of the poll or head tax ~
ST. ~ "A prerequisite to voting"
hear no objection nor made ~ y
to Mr. Evans Bill, as far as it Wen
tor as the law now Is, II sometime
happens that very worthy men ulaN
be deprived of a vote because 1t MAJ
not be convenient To pay their t0hOie
taxes At the same time,we thou& t
w saw All objection to striking at
out and asked the legislature 10 re
Quire that the head YAK atone Of ),
Sh0uld be paid before voClug. luas
much as this head tax must be ptid
by eUery good and worthy cluZ-h
poor or rich. III whichever form tf'
bill may pass, whether he woes o.
not, we THINK that the class OF our
ciUiZrns who contribute n0ttlHg {"
the support Of the corporation, I
whom, | regret TO say there IS a lar
ger number than generally supposed,
both white and colored, especially
the later, should at least, be willing
to pay their head tax OF ST., II they
cltim 10 have all equal voice
SAYING how the taxes rilsrd ON
others, shall be expended ~ a,,o
believe It better that this 81 aioui
be paid bJOre voLing, for TIN worthy
cItZrn eau pay it then as Wellao not,
and me uRtCortty Will moi al oil uu-
less before voting. hesldcs, AS t,ot rs
A. d.. t.fT IN
the corporation and tHal nUcd of
every one else's taxes \ grrat deal
has been said about corruption. IA
cleo ions, by means 3" unrCrupuluuS
Candidates manipulating tne d~Un-
quent lists and payunL men S axes
to secure then Votes, etc tIaut
that lhls may Ue So, Ii thear same
Candidates could uUJ yet tnsit Vut5
by loGning them 81 lv la} 'u"l dtdd
tax. Lut+V would loan Then q hOif uU