Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-04-04
UNLAwFULENE TAX
I'M WEST VIRGINIA.

NnLAWftL AEhfEIoNSF1On Ia
IN WEST VIRGINIA.
An Ohio county farmer writes to the
REGISTER for "some light on dark
subject" he says:
The County Assessors are on their second
rounds in their respective counties, listing
everything from the sucking pig up.
Heretofore, all live stock under one year
old on the first of January, was exempt,
along with all grain and hay raised and
saved the harvest before. What We desire
to know is, when, and by what means, was
this unpopular change brought aboutf IL
is like springing some new revenue law on
the agriculturists OF West iirgisia that
they DO not understand; and following so
closely the increased valuation Of realty,
they are Justly indignant. II this late
measure is not Satisfactorily explained, it
will cause US the. loss OF good many votes.
The Republicans in the country will take
advantage Of il and make q great deal OF
POLITICAL capital out OF il. regret 1t very
much, coming as it does at this time, when
the people are so sensitive on the tax
question. Please look it up and give US
the information.
The subject in point is the circular of
instructions to the assessors Of the State,
directing them to revise their work and
place upon their books for taxation GER
tain personal property that had been
excepted from taxation under an act of
the Legislature passed in 1881.
Among the items Of property that
had been exempted under this act and
now required to be assessed, were Gag
rieultural productions and the products
and increase of live stock" The fact
that the Assessors were going through
the State assessing this kind of prop.
erty very naturally stirred up debate
among the farmers as to the legality of
the proceeding, and some demigOgicsl
newspapers have taken advantage Of
the new departure to fire the mimi of
the farmer with the idea that Demo-
cratic administration had singled out
the farmer to make him bear the chief
burden of taxation, and that "every
living creature, except dogs" that the
farmer owns is to be brought into the
tax schedule-dOwne even to the sucking
calves, the pigs and colts that gambol
upon his meadows.
The idea sought to be conveyed, and
which has made some Roadway, is that
all other exemptions named in the act
referred to, were to remain free from
taxation, while only the exceptions
which the act made in favor of the
farmer, were to be taxed.
The truth of the matter is that all the
exemptions named in the act of ISL
not only farm products, but "the pro-
duce OfmInes, salt wells and oil wells, and
all manufactured articles and products
Of mechanical skill and labor,"-have
been declared by the supreme Court of
Appeals of West Virginia to be unlaw-
ful. They are not only unlawful under
the Democratic constitution Of 1872,
but under the Republican constitution
of 1856.
There is no new deal or new de-
parture being made in this matter Of
assessments, save to comply with and
PnfOre the law as it has existed from
the formation of the State. But the
step is one of Importance to every tax
payer of the State. 1t is especially i'm
portant and advantageous to the poorer
class of farmers. 1t is a step that,
when properly understood, will be en-
dOrsed by the whole people, not ex-
cePting the oppressed and taX-ridden
farmer" as the demagogues are want
To name him.
1t is step that should be understood,
and we are anxious to have it under
stood throughout the State. When a
proceeding is right, there can be no rea-
son forsupprcssng agitation or discus
sion in regard to il: it is only when it is
wrong that its supporters are anxious to
keep the public quiet and in the dark.
We, therefore, desire to present the
matter fully for the benefit of the read
els OF the REGISTER, and aS but few be-
side the Assessors will see the circular
in question, we give it herewith in full,
and will follow it up at another time
with such eXpla latiOns as may seem
pertinent to a more complete ventila-
ton of the matter. The following is
copy of the circular ISIS ued to the asses
SOrS:
A,.r,r,r' nr.rcg