Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-10-07
POLITICAL FREEBOOTER.
House Journal ofls75, page lOl.
N. -o4,or of NJ Hutchinson.


On motion of Mr.. Hutchinson:
Pesolred, That the Auditor of this State
be required to ascertain, and report to this
house, rs soon as possible, the value OF all
the real and personal property held In this
State by trustees or other persons for re-
ligious uses, eithera rs places OF worship or
and such rs is exempt from
taxation under the laws now in force, and
said officer shall also report what amount
of revenue for State purposes would De
produced by taxation OF aid property at
the rate filed by law.
As we promised in u issue of yester-
we print above another very interesting
little extract from the legislative record Oh
the Hon. JOHN A. HUTCHINSON, OF WOOD
county. who was lately honored (?) by q
the Republican nomination for Congress IN
the 4th District. Whatever else has been
urged against Mr.. HUTCHINSON, we have
never heard q word against his thorough
and consistent republicanism. When he
offered the above resolution, he was a rep
r~esentative, elected by the Republicans OF
Wood county, and the leader Of his party
in the House of Delegates.
1t took a bold man to offer such n reso-
luton. Fortunately the gentleman ws
member of Legislature which was Demo-
cratic in both branches and his resolution
made to "sleep the sleep which knows
no waking" The Democratic party makes
no hypocritical p~retensiOns, and never
claimed excessive morality or holiness IN
its members, but it was not one OF Its
number who felt called upon TO initiate
this new m,thod of raising revenue. The
acknowledged leader of the radical minor
ity invented it.
Let the good religious people Of the
Fourth district ofall parties consider we'll
before casting a vote for q man who would
tax the houses of God and the residences OF
his servants and ministers. There was
but one possible object in offering the
resolution. 1t strikes all religious people
alike. The church o'the Catholic and the
residence Ofthe Bishop or Priest, the church
of the Presbyterian, EpiscOpalian, Metho-
dist, Baptist and every other denomination
with the abode of the pastor would he sub
iected 10 taxation, if Mr.. HUTCHINSON OF
Wood could have impressed hi| ideas upon
a Democratic legislature. \ Democratic
governor issued the supplemental assess
ment order, in accordance with his view
of his duty under the constitution, and
every radical Republican in West Virginia
including the Hon. J. A. HUTCHINSON, lifted
ND his voice il denunciatiOn of such taxa
ton. But no revenue measure OF any
Democratic executive or legislature could
begin to compare with this atrOciOus prop
OSition in the foregoing resolution. We
are glad that no Democrat ever conceived
the idea of taxing the sacred edl-
fees built by the contributions OF
the pious, with the widows mite as well
rs the rich christians generous gifts. We
are more than rejoiced that no Democrat
so far forgot himself as to think of taking
that property which represents the pious,
generous impulses of the best men and wo-
men of the state. We ask the church peO-
pie of the 18th District, if they desire to
send to Congress a man who could enter
tain the sentiments indicated by this reso-
luton. His election would be a r~atiiea-
ton of his previous legislative course and
would expect him to represent the
District in Congress by in~venting
measures of National legislation for raising
revenue on property consecrated to pious