Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-02-03
A REMARKABLE BILL,
Introduced by the House of Delegate
YastArdAY,

Introduced by the mouse VI OoAVB"SO0
Yesterday,
Mr.. Laidley (by request) intro 1uced the
following bill in the house ofDelegateS yes
terday,
Whereas, The general depression Of bust
ness, not only in the State Of West Fr-
ginia, but throughout the States and Terri
tories of the American Union, has become,
in many sections, so intense as to approach
a panic; and,
Whereas, This general depression is daily
adding thousands to the unemployed labor
ers of the country, which is ofitselt, an evil
of such magnitude as to become matter
of deep public concern; and,
Whereas, The existing state OF things
finds no adequate solution in the alleged de-
fects IN our National revenue system, which
has in its general provisions, with recent
slight modification, been in operation for
more thau twenty years; and,
Whereas, The financial legislation oil the
general government, during the last eigh'
teen years, has bad no tendency to avert or
ameliorate existing evils, and those which
are threatened in the future; and,
Whereas, The'monetary condition OF the
people of West Virginia will likely be found
the average condition of the whole people
of the United States, and which can be as
certained in this State with near approach
to accuracy by a slight increase in the du-
ties of assessors, directed of any inquisl-
torial featune, if the proposed inquiry be
made on the same day throughout the State,
for the condition on that day would not re-
late to either the preceding or any following
day; therefore, be it enacted by the hegis-
lature of the State of West Virginia,
]. That the Auditor shall hereafter add
two additional columns to the persona
property books now required TO be furnished
by him to the several assessors ofthe State
one TO be headed IT. S. Notes. Bank
Notes, etc" and the other Metallic
Money"
>. it shall be the duty of the Assessor to
include in the column az. S. Notes, ETC.,
all United States Treasury notes, usually
called "greenbacks," gold and silver certih-
Gates Of deposit in the United States Treas
Ury, which circulstes as money, and pass
from hand to hand as such, ard all the Ma
tional bank notes; and under the head me
tallic money" all gold, silver copper, nickel,
and other coins, at their UNCONVENTIONAL par
value.
3. The cashier or other accounting officer
of every National, State or private bank OF
discount and deposit in the State; secretary
or managing officer of every savings, insur-
ance or loan institution, and every
association for accommodating, loan
ing and disbursing or keeping
on deposit money; and every receiver,
general or special commissioner, or other
trustee or agent, having the custody OF
money belonging to himself or to others
shall on the 3lSt day of December next, or
in case that day shall fall on Sunday, then
on the 3Oth day of the same month, and on
the same day in each succeeding year,
make an entry or memorandum of the
amount and description of money-such as
described in section two of this act-at the
close OF such day, and shall furnish an &C
curate and faithful statement of the same,
under oath if required, to the assessor of his
or her district, when called upon for list
Of taxable property, or at any other time in
the discretion Of such assessor, who shaIl
make faithful entry thereof in his personal
property book under the proper head.
4. The several provisions of sections two
and three shall apply to the head Of every
family. whether male or female, resident or
doing business in this State; and to every
firm or association of individuals, and to
every boarder or ledger in any hotel, board
ing house or private family, and to every
manager, clerk, agent, or lsborer male or
female receiving or earning wages, or hav'
ing possession of money, without regard to
age, on The day mentioned in the third sec
ton Of this act
5. 1t shall be the duty Of the Auditor au'
nualy to certify to the Governor the aggre,
gate sum or amount of money in this State
as ascertained under the provisions of this
act.