The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-04-17

lris not surprising that the managers OF
the Democratic party in West Virginia are
dsirous Of diverting the attention Of voters
in the Third District from State issues.
Republicans can well afford TO meet the
Democratic party anywhere and every
where on National Issues; but the Demo-
cratic party in this State, its composition,
It's record and its aims must be taken as a
whole, and the whole Is a fair matter Of
review at all times, particularly when the
polls are opened for an expression Of opin.
ion.
At this writing the State administration is
being severely criticised for another assess.
ment, this time taking in certain items OF
personal property which heretofore have
escaped. But here the State administra-
ton falls back on decision ofthe Supreme
CourofAppeals. True, the Court is Solid"
every member Of it's Democrat, but Its
decisions are law, and in this particular
matter Of taxation the Democratic party is
courageously determined to steer It's course
by the law. A little Of this spirit Of strict
construction applied to matters OF finance
and taxation which require no Supreme
Court decision would have been more
praiseworthy. For example, there is the
handsome sum OF sl27,OOO taken from the
ineducible school fund in defiance Of law,
and used for general purposes.
The Constitution forbade it, but the
Democratic party took it and holds onto
it, The money was not stolen; 1t was
merely borrowed on indefinite time.
Under Democratic mismanagement the
State ran behind, 30 that at the last show.
ing It owed to a Wheeling bank $4,000,
on which 1t pays interest and some day 1t
must pay the principal. Wehaye therefore,
iu these two items debt Of S267 900, part
OF which was unlawiully created and all OF
which is carried in open violation Of the
Constitution. The aim Of this political
necromancy was to delude the people into
the belief that 1t costs very little to govern
the State under Democratic administra.
ton.
In the same vein and with the same view
was the act Of the Legislature OF 1881,
which ordered a new assessment, when the
Constitution expressly providesan increase
OF the tax levy. The assessment made, real
estate screwed up to yield a greater revenue
though It had not increased a dollar in
value, this chloroiorm process Of extracting
taxes proved failure. Something else had
to be done, and was done by the Legisla.
ture otast winter-to the extent Of five
cent increase in the tax rate. Even this
was known to be insufficient, but the
Democratic party hoped to make it suffice
for the present by taking no account Of the
debt Of S267, 90 and taking the chances on d
further deficiency. 4
1.-THE people Of West Virginia care any.
thing for the law, II they respect their Con:
stitutiou, II Is their duty to rebuke these
aigrant tr1nsgressions. To this end these
matters ought to be discussed. And ifthe
case as Republicans put 1t is not correctly
stated, there is the record for the other
side to appeal 10. The Third District has
the dnt opportunity to administer re-
bnke; aud while the election Is not to fill
aSate office, a flood Of ballots adverse to
the party which is responsible for this NAL.
administration will be well understood at
headquarters. Let US have the flood and
the whirlwlnd.