Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-08-01
FARMERS VIEW
Of some OF the Reassessment Heresfes.
To the Editor of The Register.

Of Some OF b Be0s8eeemenb 1cfesAcos
To the Editor of the Register.
BsAxros CouRr HOUSE, July 25.-In the
Wheeling Evening Journal of July 18th, We
see an article purporting to be written
from Bra1ton G. a., giving among many
complaints q few items OF news OF interest.
We agree with our chronic complainant
ins prospects of q bountiful harvest.
Wheat Is much more than an average yield,
corn looks splendidly, cereals OF ali kinds
promise o good yield, and we will have
enough fruit to supply the demand
The Journal correspondent speaks OF an
interview with one of q farmers concern
ing the listing of personal property under
the Constitution as construed BY the Court
of Appeals Of this State. We question
very much whether any such interyieW
was ever held except with the correspond
ept himself, and il it ever was it was with
a farmer like himself who does no " a
foot of land nor never cut q hay stack In
his life. He exhibits the usual howl and
spirit of the Republican shyster OF today.
he does not know that Governor Jackson
0L " acted in a ministerial capacity when
he charged the assessors TO list all
personal property, including the
farms, products, &c ms constluc'
ton Of the Constitution is meeting
with almost universal approval, not only
with Democrats but with the more wealthy
and e~nterprisiDg Republican tarmers- a.
first the matter was not understood, but
now all classes, who are open to just con-
yictions, see the justice in it and say 1t Is
ali right. We have just interviewed the
County Assessor, and he says that there is
no complaint among the farmers on TINS
question, except with a few, who, like this
wise 90 correspondent, think the decision
of the Court Of Appeals was an act OF the
Legislature Of 1883.
Let us look al facts and see where we
stand. Taxation is a constitutional meas
ure and any tax imposed on a people con-
trsry to constitutional provision is In oppo-
sition to our form of government. By ref
erence to article s, section l OF the consti-
tuition adopted by the Republican party,
and Incorporated in the code Of 1868, and
comparipg il with article 10, section l OF
tie constitution of 1923 adopted by the
Democratic party. we find this diRerenee
under the Republican constitution all
property both real and personal shall be
taxed in proportion to its value" Except
~sproperty used for educational, literary,
scientific, religious or charitable purposes"
Uud er the Democratic constitution Of 1872
Z, "All property, both real aRd personal,
shall be taxed in proportion to its value,
Except property used for educational, lit
ersry, scientific. religious or charitable
purposes" (and) 'all cemeteries and pub
lie property" Then the only difference
is, farmers, the Republicans taxed the 81
lent mounds Of your sacred dead,
and the Democrats make 1t too sa-
cren to be forfeited for any price.
Now, where is your Democratic measure?
Let us look again. Suppose you have 800
in money above your debts and Liabilities on
the lst day of January. Don't you have TO
paw tax on it? Then is IL not Just as rel-
sonable to ply tax on SlC) worth OF hay
Are they not personal property! And now,
Mr.. 'Complainer," how can taxation be
equal and uniform without taxing both
alike? 1t cannot be the invalid CORES
pondeut in the JDurnGl goes fairly into
hSsterics over the extremely HIGH rate OF
reaiisted valuation in this county we
have taken the trouble to make the cGlcu
lation and find the average valuation o.
real estate per acre in this county Is $ %.
ooh! Jonah, Why didst thou swallow the
whale?' As to our farmers not cutting
more hay than they will consume neXl
winter is easily explained. Grazing pays
better than feeding and is much easier
| heard one farmer land, by the way, a
Republican, say he had go much grass that
he could not get hands TO cut 1t. That
farmer, who has thirty stacks of old nay,
| does not live in EraxtOn; he does not own
I a foot of our Soil-no, not even a silent
place in our cemeteries. =
Next the Journal man brings his great
mind to bear on the financial condition OF
our county. He says: The County Court
met a few days ago and made the county
levy ninety. five cents on the d~oliar-higher
likely than any other county in the State.
Well, this is true as to the levy; but his
! exhaustive researches did not carry hin
back TO the fact that B-axton county has
lust built a $4,000 court house,
aud is appropriating $1,000 to
the improvement OF the Weston
and Gauly bridge turnpike, $1,000 on other
county roads, anaking in all S2l ,OC) to be
pgid, and must be paid by taxation. This
IS no political issue, except perhaps, with
the journal man. AS TO the political status
of Braxton, il Is. Democratic. The party is
becoming more united every day. l had
the pleasure to read the article in the Jour-
nal to a warm Republican, and was not a
little surprised To hear him condemn it as
false and chatly, and he said that the
writer might do for a dry-goods box poll
tician but would not suit to lead Virginia
Rrpublicans." He went on 10 say that be
belonged to Virginia, that the F. +. VS.,
or first families OF Virginia, were those OF
energy and enterprise. and that he was
proud of being the descendant OF that
stock. hat he did not make his living by
running down his W country.
FARMER.