Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-09-28
THE TOBACCO TAX.
The Correspondent Rakes the Law and Its
Makers Fore and An.
IN tks rSii,oy of "A, Po1iSer,

| The Correspondent Rakes the Law and L.
Makers Fore and An.
To the Editor Of the Register:
LEROY, Jackson County, w. Va. Sept q
Please allow me space in You
valued paper TO ask tn,
question what .is the State Additional
Tobacco tax on retailing it in its manu-
tpred form. have waited to hear an ex.
plantation from some other part Of the
State. 1t is question that needs an ex,
PLANTATION, so the people and voters Of tho
State of West Virginia may know wha,
this tax isior, and what disposition i.
made of the peoples money. The legisla.
tion of West Virginia passed an act during
the winter ot'Si and 80 to tax the Mer-
chant or whoever may handle tahacco, in
its manufactured form, three dollars pei
year for the purpose of additional money
To deiray State expenses which is neceSSa.
~ and right and constitutional q ccording
to the Statutes Of West Virginia, that
the Legislature should levy
the proper per cent. on every 'one hun
dred dollars to meet the necessary expenses
Of the state government economically
administered. What is this
additional one dollar paid to
the assessors for? What is this additional
30 cents paid to the clerk of our common
courts? Only six per cent. go to the
Sheriff and his deputies for collecting this
state tax whilst We pay to the assessor
81 % for travelling over the country to diff
ferent business places collecting his one
dollar and leaving state tax license and
receipt, sticking that one dollar of the
peoples money in his pocket The people
of the several counties i'm this state elect
assessors and pay them q salary for their
labors in serving the people. Then add
this 30 cents which goes 10 the clerk of our
commissioners courts or common courts)
and see what discrimination of economical
state administration we have. Why
not place this tax in the
hands of the sheriff and let him collect it
at the per cent provided by the statute of
West Virginia, and not rob the people of
their money, to pay these little money
suckers, Office holders who seek such op-
portunities to prey upon the people. Why
should this state tax cost more to collect
than the L. S. Revenue tax, which is only
-. 40 with II cents register fees to send
the tax money TO the revenue collector at
ParkerSburg, or any other designated point
in the State? If the people of West Virginia
will examine the Acts of ~ and 'S5 Of
West Virginia, they will see what the law
ful per cent is for collecting this State tax.
Ii might be inferred that |
am one of the interested parties.
But nevertheless expect to defend the
PRINCIPLES of the mass of the people ut
large when see such frauds and eXtraya-
gimce, pushed and executed rs this matter
Of collecting the State tax. | have no
tights to make against the good citizens
who were elected and acted in the House
of Representatives of this State when this
measure was acted OF by the members of
the Legislature during the session of 81
and 50. If / should they would offer
such excuses rs might satisfy an inquiring
mind. am satisfied To challenge any
proceedings of that body would be- a high
crime. When and where is there the man
who is in business in this State would at
tempt TO think of going before any court
Of justice or tribunal imploring mercy at
its hands, asking for special tobacco tax
license under the convictions oiimmorality.
That honorable body passed an act at the
close of the session that no man should or
could retail drugs or tobacco unless they
be the acme of morality and man who
has never cracked the COLDER bowl of our
fathers or eaten the forbidden fruit. Be
6RT6batGT rbh%E@jttfacte qaS"p,aplW
business. What is the meaning Of this
tobacco morality? Was it brought before
the house conformity with the drug license
or was it an oversight in those whom we
send to represent us in the Legislature?
The voters of West Virginia should be Oh
the alert j. r. HARTLEY.