Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-06-30

Qept q tRakywnfCn fauWu5e6essfuIlv ne,
fofined viii be worth fun twenty yea,
oil life and progress to our young STATE
1t makes no difference who ORIGINS
ted the Commission, the idea il a 81
one; II Is q move in the right <more
and the better it is understS
popular il will be. wrong some
There is soRur taxable wealth was
where. In and with q tax rate of 40
Sll6,9h the 81. We contributed S625,
Sd, to the evenue of old Virginia. Our
/ wealth has doubled, it is probably three
times as large as il was, and
vet, with a tax rate Of thirty cents, our
Treasurer receives only S630,0O0. Com
ment is unnecessary. The present tax
rate should yield a revenue OF at least
one million.
There is an evil greater than this.
Not only are the receipts at the Treas
ury much less than they should be, but,
it is believed by well informed persons,
that three-fourths of the present eve
nues is paid by less than One-half OF the
property, and things have come to such
a pass that the list furnished to the as.
SCISSOR is not considered in estimating
the wealth of a citizen, unless he enjoys
an exceptional reputation for honesty
and personal integrity. 1t is the duty
of the commission 10 find out what Is
the matter and to suggest q remedy.
There is another, q different n still
more important task committed to
these gentlemen: They are to report
information that will promote the de-
velopment of our resources. The coal
and timber lands Of West Virginia
do not sell for one.tenth OF the market
price of similar property in the adjoin-
ing States, and if this Board is able to
expose and remove the obstacles that
hinder u progress, May millions will
be at once added to our taxable wealth,
and we will attain a present prosperity
which otherwise may not be reached
for half a century. This age is intensely
selfish and practical, and whatever
treasures are locked up shall not be kept
in a napkin for the fourth generation
that is to follow; We ourselves want the
full benefits of these treasures and we
want them now.
The Commission may not he equal to
its duty, but ITS task Is fairly within the
reach of study aud intellectual exertiOn,
and We do say, that being a move in the
right direction, these gentlemen will re-
ceive the aid and encouragement OF
every man whose concern for the wa
fare of the State is greater than HIS de-
sire to avenge some farTSd private
grievance or CRAFTY ,Jme petty per-
sOnal piIue.
The reUe,Cs Of the Commission Will
find il every county All audience COM
! ,etenI to consider its suggestions with
out reference To- the private quarrels OF
individuals;thiS is a matter addressed 10
the practical, business sense Of each citi-
zen the Commission will be measured
and Judged by its work, and those
actuated by some personal motive, who
o seek to discredit the enterprise,
will certainly fail OF success. The Com
mission already has a firm hold on the
people and cannot he broken down by
vague and unfOunded insinuatiOns.
The average reader readily distinguishes
between loose inuendOes and q fair
statements of facts. The day has passed
when a newspaper can manufacture a
false public opinion by publishing vague
.inSinuatiOu, which deceive only
the uniformed and mislead only
the unTetleCting. The average
reader fully discounts those devices
of modern journalism intended
to suppress the truth and TO misrepre-
sent the facts. The circumstance that
Mr.. Mason is the legal adviser of a
movement to adjust such part of the
Virginia debt a. should be paid by this
State does not prejudice the commits
sion. Everybody is acquainted with
his position. The facts about this
movement were all published last win
ter and it was apparent TO the l.egisla-
ture then. a. it Is apparent 10 every
sensible person now, that there is no
possible connection between the cont
mission and the claims represented by
his ClientS. No one has suggested
and no one can suggest any con-
tlict between his duties ~ 4 COM
missioner and the wishes Of his eli
entS. Ii il absolutely impossible for
this Board to do anything that will
even have u tendency to increase the
rate of taxation, and If Mason, Bell and
Bennett were the sole owners Ofthe GER
tiiicates, their efficiency for the work be-
fore them would not be affected in the
slightest degree. Ia truth, when the
clatter is Sifted nothing remains but the
propositions: lst To make the State
prosperous enough to carry any debt
she may see fit to assume. He could
not, if he would, use his position on the
Board for any other and it he applies
himself diligently and fearlessly to this
task, and il he is Instrumental in
max ng the state prosper nobody
csrS what motive actuateS
him to render this valuable and impOr-
tant public service, he will certainly
receive every assist lnce. The second
proposition, Ia induce some future Leg
iS,ature to a part of the Virginia
debt, = not now before us and ne
rever come before us. Whenever it i.
presented the people of this State will
do exact " rs they please. This is the
view that Vas taken by the Legislature
and by Governor Jackson and must
strike every one as sensible and entirely
satisfactory. The intelligent por-
ton of the community will not tolerate
n Senseless CHATTER.