Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1886-04-29

of the Court was on the general principle
that all exemptions not in the Constitution
are void, but it only applied this to the
Chesapeake and Ohio road as far as was
necessary-in other words, the railroad ex-
emptien was void because all exemptions
not in the Constitution were void The
Governor takes the wrong view. He would
disregard the decisions of the court until,
one by one, it had gone over the whole
ground, notwithstanding the principles laid
down in one case are clearly applicable to
all. There can be but one view of the mat
ter taken by lawyers.
Attorney A. J. Clarke Il always thought
the assessment right; manufacturers and
farmers ought TO pay the tax.
Assessor Robt. Phillips-The law has
been running along for four years now, ev-
erybody has got used to it, and were salts
fed with il. Now the whole thing Is I'M
done. and we will have to go back TO the
old order of things. 1t will make big dlt
ference in the property returns. The fall
ing of in Ohio county will be about $780,
600. and in the State from 100000 to
So 600 900. 1t will throw me back about a
month in nv work. Fortunately, none of
the manufacturers have yet returned their
blanks. and I suppose none will return them,
now. until the Auditor sends official notice
of the change. Large taxpayers have al
ways returned property coming under the
legislative act under protest, ana suppose
they will now take steps to recover from the
State. The inevitable result OF this order
will be the enactment of a new assessment
law by the Legislature at Its next session.
Another gentleman, VINO requested that
his name be withheld, said the acton OF
the Governor would result in laying addi-
tional burdens in the way of taxation upon
the farmers and real estate owners. Under
the regime of Governor Jackson, there was
an attempt to take the burden Of taxation
off the shoulders of the poor man and place
it on rich corporations and manufacturers,
who were able TO pay what was required.
Now, inevitably, the falling OF In revenue
would compel the Legislature TO increase
either the valuation or the rate OF taxation.
and in either case, the burden would fall
upon the farmers and landowners. the vast
majority of whom had little outside of their
property. I'm Ohio county alone halt to
three-quarters of a million dollars OF prop
erty owned by rich manufacturers would
now escape.
4 member of the last administration
wanted to know what the Board OF Pebble
Works had to do with the matter anyway
1t was an affair for the Auditor and Gov
ernor TO settle between themselves. If be
we're Auditor he would refuse to obey the
Governors instructions.
One well known Democrat said Governor
Wilson has pleased the Republicans beyond
measure But it will raise all sorts OF dis
sensions among Democrats
Another remarked he thought it was the
shrewdest move the Governor could con
ceive Of and it would he worth 5000 votes
to the Democratic party Of the state
Another, prominent lawyer, said II
suited him because that's the way he looked
at it before but ne very much doubted the
ACCESSIBILITY of such procedure.
Hon. G.. w. Atkinson, late Republican
Marshal 1t was brave thing for the
Governor to do. His action will be receiv-
ed with deep satisfaction by farmers and
manufacturers throughout the State.