Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1890-11-29

S-fhH AaiACQ q tGN lOOtO dUu
fanatics in the New England states
said that slavery was crime against
the laws of God, and should not be
suffered under flag claiming to
float over the land of the free and
the brave. If all were free and
equal, it was then unconstitutional.
By a little reflection in that direction
it will all be fresh TO your minds.
Fools aud fanatics, it they were,
kept forging at the Shackles that
bound ii downtrodden and enslaved
race until the people began to see
in he future the flag they loved so
well floating over a nation whose
people are enjoying the blessing of
freedom aud equality. So in this
case, if fools and fanatics ale at the
head of tax reform, the time has
come for the real estate owner, the
farmer and mechanic to grasp the
helm of the state in this great work
for your protection. Ii you, in
body, work energetieally, the time
is not far distant when you will see
the flag of this great commonwealth
floating over a people enjoying the
blessing Of equal valuation and
equal taxation of all property for all
purposes.
The injustice done by assessors is
entirely too fragrant, not that mean
they do it Intentionally, but through
ignorance. In a district like this
what three of your best farmers
would be able to put a just valuation
on your real estate! Much they
know nothing about, probably never
saw it. 1t is simply o guess on the
valuation placed there by some for.
mer ignoramus. II it should be uu.
reasonably high it will be appealed
from, but if TOO low you will hear
nothing of it.
Then again there is no true basis
for valuation. The different districts
IN this county are valued on a basis
of from 100 per cent, down to as low
as 90 on the true value of the pro.
perties, and great injustice is done
in the amount of tax district is
compelled 10 pay for county purposes.
Make the farmers aud real estate
owners their own assessors. No
one knows so well what property is
worth as the owner and his neigh
bors.
The enumeration of taxes should
have the power to summon all pro.
perty owners OF school district IN
the township, or blocks or squares
in town before him on certain
day under penalty, for the purpose
of valuation. He should have power
IT, administer oaths to all persons.
The real estate owner should have
the right of deduction for all judg.
ments and mortgages against his
property, for he is not the owner of
the property, covered by such en-.
cumbrances.
Elect men who in the mason work
of this great State will see that not
stone will enter the foundation
that does not represent freedom,
equality, equal valuation, and equal
taxation, of all property, for all pur-
poses. The time is at hand for you
to fiaunt your manhood before the
world, aud say that you are the re.
representatives. of the wealth of this
State if not the actual holders you
are the producers. Float the flag
of equal valuation and taxation in
the face of capital, shout the immor-
tai words of Lincoln that this is a
State "of the people, for the people,
and by the people" To be that. we
must and will have equal valuation
and equal taxation of all the proper.
ty of this State, for all its needs,
both State, county aud township,
The ramparts of the State have
been bristling with the guns of cap
ital, ready at all opportunities to
send death and destruction into yoar
peaceful homes in the shape of shells
composed of unjust taxation. You
may have chance-their TANKS are
exposed charge the works, plant
the flag of just taxation on its ram.
parts, bring your enemy into camp
under the law of justice to every
man, woman and child in this great
commonwealth. Then you will have
done your duty and not till then.
Gettusbur0 COmDiler.