The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1883-03-31
Repuh.ican Thunder An


swered.
The Republican newspapers Of the
State are harping upon the fact that
the last Legislature increased the
State tax five cents, making it TWEEN
ty five instead Of twenty cents, and
hope 10 make political capital out
of it.
These newspapers seem to forget
the fact that the State tax was always
twenty-five cents under Republican,
rule, and that it was cut down to
] twenty cents after the Democratic
party came into power, and remained
at that figure for some ten years. The
increase Of five cents is necessary now
to pay for building the Capitol, fin
ishing the Insane Asylum, enlarging
the University, and completing the
Penitentiary. All Of these public
works cost large sums of money. and
the tax at the old rate did not AFFORD
sufficient revenue to meet the de-
mands upon the Treasury caused by
these public Improvements.
The people are not fools; they IN
derstand the State of affairs fully;
they know that not one dollar Of the
peoples money has been stolen, nor
has remained unaccounted for since
the Democratic party came into pos
session of the State government.
The State tax was not increased
hafnpn for ha fhof
thought the State was growing i'll
wealth and population, and that this
would increase the revenue sufficient
" to meet all Of these extraordinary
charges upon the Treasury. This ex
pectation has not been realized, and n
debt of some two hundred thousand
dollars incurred. This sum was Dor
rowed from the school fund, and in
terest paid on it at the rate of six per
cent, per annum.
1t was good, safe investment of
the school fund; in fact the best that
could have been made. Had the
fund been invested in L. S. Govern
ment bonds, not more than three per
cent, interest would have been real
lied as it is the fund draws double
that amount, and the schools are ben
Gifted to that extent. The people
know these facts, and are satisfied
with the management Of State af-
fairs, and they will say so at the
polls whenever an election comes off,
that will afford test Of the matter.
Another fact that our Republican
friends seem to have overlooked
while harping on the increased tax,
is that Senator Dawson, the leader, Of
the Republicans in the last Legisla,
ture, wanted the tax raised to Forty
Cents. The people will understand
from this that if the Republicans had
been in control Of the Legislature and
State Government, we would now be
saddled with tax of forty cents in
stead of twenty five.
The Republican party is now, aud
always has been, the party of high
taxes. They love to see full treas
ury from which to draw for campaign
purposes. They believe in taxing the
people heavily, and squandering the
money freely after the taxes are paid
Look at the Federal Treasury, full to
OVERLOOKING; a surplus Of one hun
dred and fifty millions, inviting all
sorts Of jobs and populations.
The Democratic party believes in
economy, and is opposed to raising
any more money by taxation than is
just necessary to carry or the public
business. The record Of the Demo
cratic party on this scoreis unassail
able. During the four years they had
control of Congress they saved :he
people more than one hundred mil
lions.
Our Republican friends are wei
come to all they can make ont Of the
tax Question.-Mountain Herald.