Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1884-10-04

|
THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED AND NINETY
FOUR DOLLARS AND sEvESTY-FIvE CENTS,
or 1851 1850 per annum, almost mil
| lion dollars MORE paid by the taxpayers
of West Virginia under a Democratic
administration than under a Republican
administration, and during the same
length of time and under circumstances
that reflect greater blame upon the DEM
ocratic administration.
REvALUAT1oN OF REAL ESTATE
The aggregate value of all real estate
in 1872 was S65, 800. 89S.02; revaluation
in 1874, Sill, 074. 1923. 90; making total
increase since 1871, when the Democratic
party assumed the administration of af-
fairs of $22, 1928, 242.30. Can any sane
man believe that the real increase in
value in eleven years amounted to one
fourth this sum, especially when we con-
slider the fact that nearly one-fourth of
this time covered one of the severest
commercial panics known in American
history?
RATES OF TAXATION.
At the organization of West Virginia,
the rate of taxation then existing in the
old State was 40 cents on each 800 val
uation Of taxable property. This was
continued one year by the Legislature of
the new State. At the second session of
the Legislature it was reduced so cents,
by Act passed February 27, 1884, Chapter
90, Acts 1854. On the 9th of March, 1868,
Chapter 1876, Acts of 1868, the rate was
again reduced from 80 cents to 20 cents.
In 1888, Chapter "a, page 81, the rate was
increased to % cents, where it now re-
mains. Both reductions were made by
/ ,C1o +,.r @I,as
was made by Legislature overwhelm-
ingly Democratic.
AMOUNT OF MONEY TURNED OVER TO THE
DEMOCRATIC ADMINISTRATION.
On the 4th day of March, 1871, the Re-
publican administration, that had engin-
eered the affairs of the State through
difficulties that appeared insurmounta-
BILE, that had devised and put into execu-
ton one Of the wisest and best free
school systems that was ever adopted by
any State, and that had the courage to
tax its citizens for its maintenance and
perpetuity, passed the affairs of the pub
lie over into the hands of a Democratic
administration. The amount of money
| in the Treasury turned over at that time
(see Auditors report for 1871, page 26).
was S243, 015.64 and an irreducible school
/
and the State did not owe cent and
this amount of actual money was trans
ferred. 1t should be remembered that
the irreducible school fund forms no
part of the assets of the Treasury, and is
only mentioned here to show the amount
in that fund turned over to the Demo
Gratis. Besides the amount of cash in the
Treasury there were delinquent taxes,
paid in 1871, due from Sheriffs and Col
lectors amounting to $50, %. (See
Auditor s report for 1871, page 27.) These
taxes were delinquent for the year prior
to 1870 and properly form part of the
Republican assets. Added to the above
cash turned over, it amounts to the sum
of 1929, 544 SO as the amount of cash
aside from the irreducible school fund,
turned over to the Democratic admins
tration on the 4th day of March, 1871.
But the above amount of delinquent tax
es was not paid into the Treasury until
after March, 1871, and the Democratic
administration reaped the benefit of it.
The entire amount of taxes delinquent
prior to 1871 and paid over to the Demo-
cratic administration amounted to con-
siderably over 100000.
ABOUT THAT DEFICIT.
A few Democratic partisans, who do
not take the trouble to investigate the
facts, boldly charge that there was a
deficit in the school fund of 100000
(some Democratic partisans whose check
is only equalled by their ignorance make
the amount S92 ,000) at the time the
Democratics assumed power in 1871. The
charge is untrue, every part and parcel
OF it, and is only made by few bitter
men who will scruple at nothing to
maintain their power. The only scintilla
of evidence that can be produced in sup
port of the charge is the fact that Re-
publican Legislature anticipated Hos
pital tax levy and paid an Insane Hos
pital appropriation of $50, 900 before the
tax levied for that purpose was paid into
the Treasury. In 1870 the demand upon
our Insane Hospital far exceeded the
accommodations. The county jails were
filled with the unfortunate insane and
the hospital was crowded to its utmost
capacity. From every quarter of the
State came the demands for additional
accommodations at Weston. The Legis-
lature of 1870 had levied Especial Insane
| Hospital tax Of 5 per cent. on the 800,
but it was not available until after the
Democrats assumed power in 1871. The
Legislature of 1870, in order to continue
|
relieve the overfowing. jails of the State,
appropriated $50, 900, and the Treasurer
paid it, ahead of the collection on the tax
levied to meet it, in order that work on
the building might not be interrupted.
If the Democratic leaders in the Legisla-
ture of 1871 had counted the five cent
hospital levy as Republican asset,
which they were entitled to by every
consideration of commercial honesty,
the silly and untruthful charge would
never have been made. If any further
evidence was wanted to stamp the charge
as partisan lie it is found in the action
of the Democratic Legislature of 1871.
A majority of the Finance Committee of
that Legislature, prompted by the parti-
san bigotry that animated some men, so
distorted the facts and figures as to
make it appear that deficit existed, and
30 reported to the Legislature. The
minority of that committee denied it and
brought in report charging upon the
majority duplicity and falsehood. The
following is an extract from that minor
| ity report: The majority of your
committee on finance have endeavored
to 30 controvert truth and fact by ingen-
ious figuring as to create the impression
that there is at this time deficit in the
treasury, which we, aIUer cdre1ul
examination of the record of the offices
charged with the finances of our State,
and part of which is herein mentioned,
utterly deny-and to the contrary assert
that the finances of the State never have
been in healthier condition than at the
present moment. This minority report
tods adopted by that Democratic Legisld-
t1re, By a call Of the ayes and noes, and
a majority of the Finance Committee of
the Senate of 1871 were stamped as falci-
fiers by their own political associates.
This action settled the charge forever,
and no respectable, intelligent Demo
GRAFT has ever presumed to revamp it
since only cranks and ignoramuses now
indulge in that practice.
| The amount in the irreducible school fund
| turned over to the Democrats on the 4th day
| of March. 1871 was &2n2 HNn-yxhich amonnf unu