Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1883-07-03
The Tax Commission.
Chatter about Mason-W1at He Pro
poses-oefeet of The coasmtss,on.

EFromt Wheeling Register of June s0-l
1tds time the senseless clatter about
Mason being.on the Tax Commission
should ceases his capacity and pecu-
liar fitness for the work is unuues-
toned. 1t is admitted he will render
efficient service and nobody cares a
rush for the motive that has induced
him to accept task, which IL sue
reessfrlly performed will be worth full
twenty years of life and progress to
our young State.
1t makes no difference who orig
mated the Commission, the idea is a
good one; it is a move IA the right
direction and the better it is under
stood the more popular 1t win be.
There is something wrong some
where In 1860 our taxable wealth
was SIG, oOo, 900, and with a taxrate
of 40 cents on the 500, we contrib
uted s625, 900 to the revenue of old
Virginia. Our wealth has doubled,
1t is probably three times as large as
it was, and yet, with a tax rate of
thirty cents, our Treasurer receives
only $3.50, GOO. Comment is unne-
cessary. The present tax rate should
yield revenue of at least one million.
There is an evil greater than this.
Not only are the receipts at the Trea-
sury much less than they should be,
but it is believed by well informed
persons, that three-fourths Of the
present revenue is paid by less than
one-half of the property, and things
have come to such pass that the list
furnished to the assessor is not con-
sidered in estimating the wealth of a
citizen, unless he enjoys an excep-
tional reputation for honesty and per-
sona1 integrity 1t is the duty of the
commission to find out what is the
matter and to suggest remedy.
There is another, a different and
still more important task committed
to these gentlemen They are to re-
port information that will promote the
development of our resources. The
coal and timber lands of West Vir-
ginia do not sell for one-tenth of the
market price of similar property in
the adjoining States, and if this Board
is able to expose and remove the OBJ
stacles that hinder our progress, many
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 prac-
tical, and whatever treasures are
locked up shall not be kept in nap
kin 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 be equal
to its duty, but its task is fairly with
in the reach of study and intellectual
exertion, and we do say, that being a
move in the right direction, these gen
tiemen will receive the aid and en-
enlargement of every man whose con-
Germ for the welfare of the State is
greater than his desire to aYenge
some fancied private grievance or
crafty some petty personal pique.
The report of the Commission will
find in every county an audience COM
petent to consider its suggestions
without reference to the private quar-
rels OF individuals. this is a matter
addressed to the practical, business
sense of each citizen the Commission
will be measured and judged by its
work, and those actuated by some
personal motive, who now seek to
dIscredit the enterprise, will certainly
fail of success. The Commission has
already firm hold on the people and
cannot be broken down by vague and
unfounded insinuations. The aver
age reader readily distinguishes be-
tween loose inuendoes and fair
statement of facts. The day has
passed when newspaper can manu-
facture q false public opinion By
publishing vague insinuations, which
deceive only the uniformed and mis-
led only the unrefiecting. The aver
age reader fully discounts those de-
vices of modern journalism intended
to suppress the truth and to misrep-
resent the facts. The circumstance
that MIR. Mason is the legal adviser
of movement to adjust such part of
the Virginia debt as should be paid
by this State does not prejudice the
commission. Everybody is acquaint-
ed with his position. The facts
about this movement were published
last winter and it was apparent to
the Legislature then, as it is apparent
to every sensible person now, that
there is no possible connection be
tween the commission and the
claims represented by his clients.
No one has suggested, and no one
can suggest any conflict between his
duties as a commissioner and the
wishes of his clients. tits absolutely
impossible for this Board to do any
thing that will even have tendency
to increase the rate of taxation, and
if Mason, Bell and Bennett were the
sole owners of the certificates, their
efficiency for the work before them
would not be affected in the slightest
degree In truth, when the CHATTER
is sifted nothing remains but the
statement that Mason has two distinct
propositions: LIST 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 purpose,
and if he applies himself diligently
and fearlessly to this task, and if he
is instrumental in making the State
prosper, nobody cares what motive