Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1886-04-29
From ne Wheeling Registsr
THE EXEMPTION LAWS.
The fiction az Governor Tflson Raises
Quite a HubbUb.

The Action az Governor UttSOH AN"'Sco
Quite a HubbUb.
The long special dispatch printed in Fri
day mornings p,Qig.r, dated at Charles
ton, and conveying to our readers exclu-
siyelv the text of Governor Wilson's request
to Auditor Duffy to instruct assessors to ex-
empt personal roperty from taxation, as
provided for in ion 43 of chapter % of
the Code. there .eyersing the law under
which the assessors have been acting for the
past four years, caused more talk in the
city among politicians, manufacturers and
business men, than anything that has trans
pired since Governor Wilson's election.
Although there has been some correspond
ence By assessors in various parts Of the
State with the Auditor on the question of
ex- Governor Jacksons assessment order,
no one dreamed that the G. vernon would
take decisive action, and the issuance OF the
order took the large majority of people by
complete surprise, many Register readers
perusing their papers Yesterday morning
Win lttlll1c boiACiluE WI tlAtsbA-iAlNtA-s
The expressions of opinion upon the
street by those interest IN the new order
of things. whether rs politicians, manuiac-
turers or business men, were varied, as a
matter of course. Among Republicans the
majority looked upon the stand taken by
the Governor with satisfaction, their feel
ings being partly prompted 10y the idea that
the turning over of a new leaf in the matter
of taxation could not but inure to their
benefit By complicating the State finances,
weakening the treasury balance and crea-
ting a feud in the Democratic ranks, and
partly by the fact that the Executives idea
was In harmony with the ground heretofore
taken bv the Radical leaders. Democrats
were divided in their expressions, the ma
iority holding to the belief that the Gov
ernor's position was not sound, and that the
existing system of taxation was decidedly
the best for all concerned. These gentle
men argued with some warmth that Mr..
Wilson had opened the way to endless com.
plicatiOns between the State and large tax
PAYERS and corporations, who, having paid
taxes during the past several years on
property exempted by Sec. 10 Of Chap. y
of Che Code, under protest, would now call
uDon the State 10 refund all money collect
ed under such protest with the result that
the State would be put to great straits for
money wherewith to properly carry on the
various department and Institutions MOI
only that. but the income from taxes this
and succeeding years would be very mate
rally reduced. and the end would be a
new valuation OF property or largely IN
creased rate of taxation, or both. OppO-
utnts OF the Governor course also picked
number OF flaws In his statement o. the
pos lion taken by the Supreme Caurt IN the
case OF the Chesapeake IL Ohio Railroad vs..
Miller. Auditor, they insisting that the de-
ci>ion OF the Court touched the very mar
row of the matter, while the Governor IN
referring o. this case and the cause of Buch-
anan. Assessor, rs. Miller, lodged tie frs.
in an extremely neat way. and quoted only
the decision In the last usmed cause.
Those gentlemen who favored the ground
taken by the Executive, referred with admi-
ration 10 the interview had with him Thurs
dav night by Register correspondent in
which he said:
Both the Con. itutions of 1853 1872
provide that taxation shall be equal and
uniform throughout the State, and all prop
erty, both real and personal, shall be taxed
i'm proportion to its value, to be ascertaned
as directed 10y law In ascertaining now
property should be taxed in proportion TO
It's value. the Legislature enacted section 43,
chapter %, code 1868, eXempnng from tax
atiol for a single year certain property
therein named, and that section without
change has remained the law of this State
10 this day"
This they regarded IS q strong point in
support of his position, and claimed that
the Governors course would be received
with enthusiasm by the people Of the State
no large.