Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-04-24
the EXEMPTION LAWS.
The Action of Governor wilson
Raises Quite a Hubbub.
The Matter the Talk Of the Town Yesterday
Opinions Pro and Con on the
Subject, as Gathered by
Reporters.
General Talk on the Subject.
VARIETY OF VIEWS.

A VARIETY or VIEWS.
The long special dispatch printed IN
Yesterday mornings REGISTER, dated at
Charleston, and conveying to our readers
exclusively the text of Governor Wilson
request to Auditor Duffy to instruct assess
ors to exempt personal property from tax
alton, as provided for in section 43 OF chap
Ter 2g OF the Code, thereby reversing the
law undsr which the assessors have been
acting Tor the past four years. cauaed more
talk in the city among politicians, man
uractureys and busiaess men, than any
thi6g that has transpired since Governor
Wilson's election. Although there has been
come correspondence by assessors in vari
Gus parts of the State with the Auditor on
the question Of Ex-Governor Jacs5ous as
sessment order, no one dreamed that
the Governor would take decisive action,
and the issuance Of the order took the
large majority Of people By complete sur
prise, many RGGlSTCR readers p>ruAng
their papers yesterday morning with teei'
Jugs bordering oa amaZsment.
The expressions OF opinion upon the
street by those Interested IN the neT order
of things, whether "a politicians, manuiac'
turer5 or business nen, were varied, AZ a
matter OF course. Among Republicans
the majority looked upon the staud taken
b7 tie Governor with satisfaction, their
feelings being partly prompted By the idea
that the turning over OF a Gsw itat in the
mater Of taxation could rot bu. lnnre to
their benefit BE- com plicating the Ststs ii
nsnces, weakening the treasury balance and
creating feud in the Democratic ranks aud
partly By the fact that the Executive
idea was in harmony with the grouad here
tofore taken by the Radical leaders Dem
ocrats were divided in tbeic expressions,
the majority holding to the belief that the
Governor position WAS rot SQUAD, and that
The exciting system of taxation was deci'
dedly the best for ali concerned. These
entlamen argued with some warmth that
Mr.. Wilson had opened the wsy 10 endless
complications between ths Safe and lsrge
taxpayers and corporations, woo, having
paid taxes ducing the past several years on
property exempted by Sec. Is OF Clap % oil
the Code, under protect, would now call
upon the State to refund sit money col
lscted under suCn protect, with the result
that the State would b. put TO great straits
for money whereWith TO properly carry on
the various department aud institutions
No, ONLY that. but the income from taxes
this snd succeeding years would be very
materially reduced, ana the end would be u
new valuation OF property or largely 10
creased rate Of taXsrion, Or both. OPpon'
ents Of tue Governors course also picked G
number of flaws in his statement of tbs
position taken By the Supreme Ccart in
the case of the Chesapeake u Ohio Rail-
road GoupCny vs.. Miller, Auditor. they in
sis.iag that the decision of the Courttouch'
ed the very marrow OF the matter, while
the Governor in referring to this case and
the cause OF Buchanan, Assessor, va Mil.
Ter. lodged the first IN an extremely neat
way, and quoted only the decision in the
last named cause.
Those gentlemen who favored the groand
taken By the Executive, referred with sd'
miratiou to the interview had with him
Thursday night by q REGISTER correspond
ent in which be said:
Both the Constitutions OF 1863 and
1872 provide that taxation shall be equal
and uniform Throughout. the State, and ali
property, both real and personal, shall be
taxed in proportion to its value, 10 be
asnsptsippd "a diPaa,ed tv law In ascer.
tanning how property should be taxed in
proportion TO its value, the Legislature
enacted section 43, chapter 20, code 1868,
exsmptiDg from taxation for a single year
certain property therein named, Gnd that
section withOu: change has remained the
Law OF this State to this day"
tois they regarded as q strong point in
support of his position, and claimed that
the Governor course would be received
with enthusiasm By the people Of the State
at large.