Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-02-18

best interest TO invite and encourage capitA
to come into our State, and all honorable
efforts thst can should be made toward that
end. But If our system Of taxation be I'M
Just and discriminating it certainly Will not
commend itself to the favorable considers.
ton Of honorable men and capitalists Of
other States. Men may accept Of priv
ilege granted to certain classes OF property
by unjust legislation, but they would hold
10 contempt the makers of such laws, and
hesitate to invest their capital in State so
unjust, lest the same unjust principle be
turned against them, aud their investment
be made the victim Of similar legisla.
ton. Therefore we hold that It is
wise and Just to treat all citizens
and property alike, and that no injustice be
done to any. No doubt there will be some
difficulty (asis claimed by some) in gettinga
true list and correct value Of notes, bonds,
or evidences Of valuable personal property
of q like nature. but those who are not
willing to give true list and seek TO screen
themselves behind an unjust principle should
be forced, If possible, to pay their share OF
the taxes of the State. How shall an as
SCISSOR FIX value upon such property just
as he would on any other class Of property.
For instance: A has four head OF cattle,
one is worth $50, another $40, another $40,
another $5, all amounting to one hundred
dollars. B has four notes; one for 500
worth its full face value, another for 500
worth 500. another for the same amount
for which B would take SIS, another note
for the same amount worth $40, or one
tenth itsface value, making it ell for taxa
able purposes, $lS5. / do not see that
there would be any more difficulty in the
one case than the other. In both We must
depend upon the honor and judgment OF the
assessor for true list and honest valuation
of the property. Let il be listed as house.
hold and kitchen furniture is, in bulk, ard
not itemized. cannot see how there could
be more cheating in the one case than the
other. In either case a just or unjust as
sessment may be made 1t would be i'm
possible to make an assessment law that
would act Justly upon all the taxpayers OF
tie State, if the assessors are corrupt and
willing to prostitute their Office to fraud and
injustice. / hope to see the present Legis-
lature adopt Just and equitable assess
ment law, one that will do justice to all
classes Of our citizens. If the law be Just
it will commend itself to all honorable
men and meet the appreciation OF the citi.
zens of the State. In the REGISTER Of the
18th is a synopsis Of Messers. Caldwell and
Hubbards views on Exemption" With
due respect to these distinguished gentle
men, permit me TO say the fallacy Of the po-
sition they assume is so transparent, that any
any one can see through it. They compare
The taxes Of Pennsylvania and Ohio with
West Virginia. What is the State tax in
these three States2 Pennsylvania manu-
facturers pay 30 cents on tie 800 to the
State. West Virginia pays 30 cents State
tax. ] would ike to know the difference
between them2 think, perhaps, the solu.
ZION may be found in the words local tax,
a question with which the State has nothing
10 do. lf these learned gentlemen are anx-
ious to arrive at the true inwardness Of the
cause Of the failure OF Wheeling and West
Virginia to prosper as rapidly in wealth and
population as some other sections, they could
find q more potent reason than that OF
| ttxation Persons sDmc times attempt to
connect causes and effects which have no
| relative connection whatever with each
{ other. II Pennsylvania AMI Ohio should
'orce ole class Of their citizens 20 pay all
he taxes and let another go tree, it is no
reason why West Virginia should do great
wrong TO her citizens also.
That class OF business that will not yield
an income sufficient to enable the investors
to pay the taxes upon the same, certainly
cannot be classed among the desirable in
yestments of the State, and if the business
and sperity Of the State is to depend up.
on such investments for its future wealth
aud prosperity, certainly West Virginia's
future is dark and gloomy. With such in.
vestmenis West Virginia has already been
cursed tCo much, for they generally end in
bankruptcy and ruin TO all who are connected
with them. The absurdity Of an attempt to
raise revenue by an increased valuation OF
the non productive lands Of the State is so
apparent that it needs no argument 10 de-
feat it. II these lands cannot be developed
at the present rate Of yaluation-if they are
a dead weight upon the owners hands, en-
irely unproduciive, how will they ever be
developed il you increase the taxes upon
rhem? Increasing taxes on the land is
a very poor way TO encourage immigration
to our State, and death-blow to our coal
and mineral industries How will you tax
wild lands higher and not increase the tax
on farm land according TO the rule Of value
ing lands. A. A. ROCK.