Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-08-08
GIVING POINTS.

Inc euiLOr OF tue UtClbgeItcSgb u
smart young lawyer, undertakes to give
Zone man" Of Peasants eounty-as he
elegantly puts it-some "points," as a
constitutional and statutory lawyer, to
aid him in preparing case with which
to go before the courts to ascertain
whether his grain is property" and
subject to taxation. Here are the
"pOints":
1.-THE Zone man" of Peasants means
fight he might plant himself on Section
l of Article TX of the Constitution
"Tne voters of each county shall elect
one and not more than two
Assessors, who shall hold their respec-
tive offices for term Of four years"
The act of February %, 1882, "to pro-
vide for the re-assessment of the value
of all real estate within this State"
gave the Auditor power to appoint
one Commissioner for each assessment
district in the several counties of
this State to re-aSSeSS the
Va lue of all real estate therein" The
Commissioners were so appointed.
They were to. take the place "for this
time only" Of the assessors. The Su-
preme Court ought to be given chance
TO say whether the Intelligent major
ity" OF the Legislature did succeed in
whipping the devil around the stump,
and whether after all the Constitutional
prov isiOn has been lodged.
Then we have another point. These
commissioners" were appointed under
the act To "re-asSeSs the value Of real
estate" but the Auditor, carrying out
the party policy, sent them off on an
other hunt for personal property that
had been exempt.
After the tone man" Of Peasants, If
he means business discovers, that ''Tne
voters of each county" did "elect
one and not more than two Assessors"
at the last election held therefor, ac-
cording to the constitutional provision,
and that the Assessors have continued
to discharge the duties prescribed for
them by law-also in accordance with
the constitution was to make
an annual assessment Of the personal
property and Of the new Improvements
placed upon the real property; he will
discover that the point" given him by
the astute lawyer of the Intelligencer
is as pointlesS as the rump end Of fog
bank.
1t has not been deemed the duty of
assess or re-aSseSs the real estate, but
that duty has been provided for in
another way.
The act of February IS, 1882. met the
appreciation of such Republican law
yers as Hon. w. p. Hubbard and others
who were members of the House, and
their votes are so recorded.
This act provided for the appoint
ment by the Auditor of Commissioners
to re-assess the value of the real estate
of this State, and this they did and
nothing more. They were not, as the
editor of the Intelligencer ignOrantly
says, "to take the place for this time
only of the Assessors" Nor did they
do so. The duties of the Assessors Of
personal property, who are elected by
the people, are entirely distinct from
the duties Of the Land Commissioners
whom the Auditor was authorized by
lava law enacted without distinction
of party-tO appoint.
We imagine the Supreme Court would
be puzzled to discover in what way
"the devil was whipped around the
stump" IN this transaction. We are
disposed to give Hon. W. Z. HUBBARD
credit with sufficient brightness of mind
to have discovered any such slight-of-
hand among the Democratic members
ofthe Legislature, if any such thing had
been attempted. But in this case we
are able to include him as one of the
Intelligent majority" referred to.
"Then we have another point"
says this profound lawyer-editor.
"These Commissioners were appoint
ed under the act to re-asseSs
the value of real estate; but the Audi
tor, carrying out the party policy, sent
them off on another hunt for personal
property that had been exempt"
That's news
We fear if the lone man" of Pleas
ants, or the army of Republicans who
are to join in the HHtelligcRcer's gem
eral contention" place reliance upon
this "point" it will prove a weak sup
port. And for the simple reason that
the statement is not true.
A man who assumes to instruct the
public ought himself to know what he
Z. 49, -