The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1883-09-01

giving certain instructions to the as
SCISSORS as to their duties, and have
charged that these officials have acted
arbitrarily and without comforting
with leading members of their own
party. We happen to be in q condi-
ton to give few facts in this con
nection not heretofore published, and
which, in justice to these officials
should be known.
After the decision Of the case of the
Chesapeake and Ohio Railway VS..
The Auditor, &c., in which the Court
of Appeals held distinctly that all
property, not exempt from taxation
by the Constitution, should be taxed,
and when it was apparent that unless
the revenue was increased there
would not be funds sufficient in the
Treasury to meet the appropriations
which the Legislature had already
made, the Governor called together
in conference the leading Democratic
members Of the Legislature, includ-
ing the Chairmen Of both the Senate
and House finance committees. He
made known to them the Importance
of increasing the revenue, called their
attention to this decision of the Su-
preme Court, and suggested that the
law should be made to conform there
to. Most of those present approved
this suggestion, but thought that at
that time in the session proper bill
could not be passed, while some
thought that in view of the decision
of the Court of last resort that further
legislation was unnecessary. They
all, however, approved Of the sugges-
tion that the Governor should address
such letter as he afterwards wrote
to the Auditor, and that the Auditor
should issue circular to the assess
ors, instructing them to assess all
property not legally exempt from tax
alton. Three of the Judges of the
Court of Appeals were consulted as
to the scope Of their decision, and to
them were submitted the letter and
circular, which they examined, revis-
ed and approved.
The Constitution requires that all
property, both real and personal, shall
be taxed in proportion to its value,
and provides that property used for
educational, literary, scientific, relig-
ious or charitable purposes, all Gene
teries, may by law be exempted from
taxation" The Legislature has no
authority to exempt any other prop
erty. Now, the law, in utter disre-
gard of the Constitution, exempted
from taxation agricultural produc-
tons and the products and increase
of live stock produced within the
State during the year preceding the
first day of February and remaining
unsold on that day in the possession
of the original owner or his agent;
the products during the same time
of mines, salt wells and oil wells re-
naming unsold in the hands of the
producer or his agent on the first day
of February; and all manufactured
articles and. products of mechanical
skill and labor produced in the State
during the same time and remaining
unsold on the first day of February
in the hands Of the producer or his
agent. This statute thus, in viola
ton Of the fundamental law, relieves
from taxation large amount Of prop
erty in the hands of the wealthiest
farmers, graziers and manufacturers,
who are the most able to bear the bur-
den oftaxation, and increases largely
the taxes of the less wealthy and la
boring classes. Will any farm minded
man assert that such law, after hav-
ing been decided by the Court of Ap-
peals to be unconstitutional, should
be executed?
If the enemies of the present adj
ministration are in such straits fol
complaints that they can make nc
other charge against it except that
it stands by the Constitution, takes
care that the laws as they are ex-
| pounded by the highest judicial trib-
unal are faithfully executed, and
looks to the interests of the masses,
the State officers and the Democratic
party can stand it.-Greenbrier In
dependent.
The republican brethren who