West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1883-04-21
VIEWS or A FARnER.
EDiroR ARGUS.

tendency of taxing The agricultural
and labcring interssts OF this country
out Of existence. think il will not
be denied that we, as class, are
made to pay under the now existing
system Of taxation far more than our
just share. We are taxed on every
acre of land, be it productive or not,
our cattle, horses, sheep hogs. house
hold and kitchen furniture, all our
farming imp.ements--in a word, We
pay taxes on everything we possess.
La addition to this, the powers that
be have subjected our lands in this
State to two revaluations in the short
time OF SIX year,, that II possible we
might be made to contribute still
more OF our hard earned funds, aud
besides this we pay FAR more than
our just share OF the internal revenue
tax on account o! our numbers, we
not representing anything like our
slare OF the wealth Of the country,
and taking it all together we are
to-day taxed TO an amount equal to,
and IN many cases far beyond, our
net income. Now there ought to be,
aud surely is, remedy for this very
great njistice for the constitution
OF our State declares in plain and
unuistaksble language that taxation
shall be equal aud uniform through
out the State.
1t will not be denied, | am sure,
that as a State we have increased
rapidly, both in population and
wealth. ii | am not mistaken, ac-
cor ling to the assessment our capita.
tion has increased from $1,000 in
he year 1870, to l25 600 in 1882.
The number Of farms has Increased
about 58 per cent. and our horses,
nules, cattle, sheep, &C., have in
creased about so per cent. within
tue last ten years. Within the last
Six years farming implements have
increased in value about f87 ,000a
in the face OF all this evidence OF
general thrift we fnd that the as
sessed value Of personal property has
| decreased IN the last ten years about
three million OF dollars (From the
above lacts we see that this great
falling off is not TO be charged 10 the
agricultural lntereet of the State)
We alec see that the value Of gold
and silver plate belonging to indi-
viduss has decreased in tie last six
years about $4,000, and we alpo
know that the farmer supports but
little OF this kind Of property. We
also fnd decrease in the amount
of money, credits and Investments,
not including real estate. in the last
six years Of about $498,0 900. We also
find a decrease in the amount Of
money or bonds and evidences Of
debt about one million dollsrs. More
evidence oI this kind might be pro-
duced, but is not this enough to fur
nisb food for thought ? and ought it
not to stimulate the laboring voters
Of every county in the Stale to look
well TO their interests in the future |?
| can assure you that if you do not
protect your own interests no other
class Of men will do it Tor you.
Again, il is evident that railroads
DO not bear their proper share OF
taxation within this State, There
are large amounts Of capital invested
IN this state in mining coal,in coke,
IN oil, in lumber, and in iron, that
do not pay any proper taxes as pro-
vided in our constitution, and all
these Industries have existed in our
State for the last eighteen years, and
all this time Our Legislature has not
seen proper 70 mske any provisions
for taxation Of these industries.
But they have 30 arranged legisla-
tion az to tax we'll and truly every
thing that pertains to agricultural
productions. To illustrate this as.
sertion, and if possible to add insult
TO injury, there has recently been IN
structious caused to be issued by our
Governor TO the assessors Of the State
requiring them TO 90 over their re-
cent assessments and require Of the
farmer to give in for assessment ell
The stock on his farm on the lst day
of January, regardless Of age also
the number Of bushels OF wheat oats.
corn, buckwheat, rye, and all other
farm products. Now il / am not
mistaken, the present constitution Of
our State in rolerauce TO the taxing
Of property is the same.witb but one
exception, a. the constitution Of our
mother State, and this exception is
that cemsteries shall be free from