The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-01-29
NORE PARTISANSHIP
Introduced in the Debate on the
Reassessment Bill.
DEMOCRATIC MEMBERS WANT
of Assessment Commits
sIoners Madc by the Auditor.
Redistrictins Bill Makes
But Slight Changes.
Special Di'pa.es to he I'.e.Itoenoer.


Special Dl,p4se4 to Ae Inse.!taaop.
CHARLESTON, W. VA, Jan. 2s,-Almo
the entire time of the House to-day w
occupied in discussing amendments
the re.assessment bill. As offered,
provided that the Auditor should With
thirty days after the act takes effect, b
and with the recommendation OF Ii
county courts OF the State, appoint or
Commissioner for each assessment di
triCt to reassess real estate therein. Th
may appear innocent enough at fiji
sight, but 1t seemed to have similG
effect TO red rag before an angry bn
with some Democrats, aud in the dll
cussion that ensHed, politics came TO th
front more than once. In the mornln
Mr.. Welch offered an amendment
strike out all relating to recommend
atoms by county courts and detende
his position briefly, assisted by Fel
guson, Garlic, Thomson, White, an
Sias, with HaneD, Miller, OF Jackson
Smith, and. Lynch opposing. Pendinl
debate recess was taken and this after
noon the trouble began anew. Mi
Smith opposed the amendment, claim
ing that the people should have thei
wishes respected in the appointments q
much as possible, and the county court
would understand their wishes bette
than the Auditor could.
Judge Ferguson said he had had SOM
experience with county courts ant
hadn't found them such immsculat,
bodies as his friend from Tyler seemed
to think. Besides, he doubted the con
stitu,ionality ofthe county courts havlnl
anything to do with it.
At last Judge Ferguson movsd to 10y
the bill on the table until the Senate re-
assessment bill came up, which was car
ried; but few minutes afterwards Col
White called it up again and the House
went into Committee OF the Whole to
considerit.
Mr.. Hahen, in regard to judge Fergu'
sons claim that recommendation oi
county courts was unconstitutional, pro
ducsd the act OF 1873, on the same cub
jeCt, showing it to be precisely the same
de objected to the amendment, because
in leaving the appointing power in one
mans hands alone, 1t would give poll
tiCiaus opportunity to have their heelert
appointed to further their own political
interests. With the county courts re-
commendation the farmers would have
an opportunity 10 have a word in the
matter. The farmers were interested in
it and II they didn't stand together they
need never make the attempt again.
Mr.. Welch said he was glad his Re.
publican friends had at last arrayed
themselves on the side OF the farmer.
He hoped they were sincere, but after
robbing him for years by the perniciouF
system OF tariff he doubted II farmera
would appreciate their friendship now,
He believed the Auditor should appoint
He was a JaCksonian Democrat. A ma
jority OF the County Courts of the State
were Republican. To the Victors belong
the spoils. The Democrats have the
State. The Auditor is an honest man.
Let him appointthe commissioners The
matter should be taken out OF politics as
much as possible. but Republicans
wanted to drag it in. The secret Of their
opposition was they wanted the Repub.
lican County CouIts to appoint.
Mr.. Hole said the County Commis'
siouers were supposed to be representa-
tive men. They were competent to at
tend 10 the business OF the county, levy
taxes and Thousand and one other
things, but whenit comes to recommends
ing Assessment Commissioners, It ssemt
they are incompetent. Why is this
There are no politics in this thing. all
he wanted was honesty in appointments
and competent men appointed, DO they
Democrats or Republicans.
Judge Ferguson said he didn't care
two straws about the politics Of an as
sessor of lands, but he did not believe II
was constitutional to allow the county
courts to appolat directly or indirectly
and didn't believe in giving the county
courts 80 much power. The result
would be that large land owners, dissat
lsled with valuation, would carry th'
matter to the courts, and the Lord only
kneW y where the end would be.
Mr.. Hauen asked him Why there wa
no such trouble as this over the feaa
sessment act OF 1873. He replied, be
cause these people were satisfied will
the valuation OF 50 cents and 81 on thei
lands. There never was a Legislature
| in this State that passed so much orud
Liquidation as that Of 1879, and Ve dom
want to pattern after 1t.
Mr.. Pugh, OF Hancock, favored th
amendment, and was the only Republi
can who did. he has voted with tn
Democrats several times lately, and hi
Republican friends feel very much lik
taking him TO task for 1t.
Col, White moved that the Board
| Public Works be substituted for th
| Auditor. Mr.. Welch opposed this, 9
did Judge Ferguson. Mr. CLARK was ]
favor OF It. Col. White RRld he didn
believe in one man power. =,
Mr.. Finley wanted to amend by add
ing that no one should be appointe
unleca be had a pstition signed by 9
leSst fitty people.
This did not meet with general apprt
val. Judge Ferguson said: "Anybod
who knows anything about petition
klcws that anybody, no matter ho'
mean he ia, can 60 around and get fit
petitioners Without any tFophle. A ma
| who is competent for position will %
so demean himself as to go around wit
a petition forit,"
Several others said "me too" and II
amendment was defeated.
Mr.. Young offered substitute tc
section /, providing that commissioner
4 should bs elected by voters OF each q
sessment district at the May school ele,
ton. He said this was the tairest wa
that could bs devised.
Mr.. Young's amendment was lost b
strict party vote, as usual, except NJ
Pugh, who voted with the Democrats.
Mr.. Smith moved to amend by addtr
that commissioner should be Rspubl
cans in Republican counties and Dem
Gratis In Democratic counties. Lost aga
by 9 strict party vote. il,
Mr.. Hanpp moved TO add that Il
commissioners should all be Democra
In full communion With their part
Mr. Young moved to add, "witho
reference to the politics Of appotntee
Lost apain by a strict party vote.
Finally, Colonel Whites amendmei
reading IS follows was adopted; "rhel
snail be appointed by the Board OF Pu|
~ M .i.Et -, ~. tafCra Nav 1901 nj