Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1893-03-11
DELEGATES ON TAXATION.

Ii piC 'oOhooO i1OICSdUC llCC
bill III. B. No. 81 fixing the
school levy at Is cents and the
levy for general purposes at 20
cents on the 500 valuation came
up for consideration on it's second
reading. Delegate Alexander
Parks took the floor and moved
to amend the bill to make the
general levy % cents instead of
20, and spoke at length upon his
motion. He could not believe
that it was seriously proposed to
reduce the general levy in view
of the present extraordinary de-
mands upon the revenues of the
State. A reduction in the rate
of taxation would endanger the
credit of the State. He found
that the revenue of the State
would amount to $S70,O00 for
each of the ensuing two years
and the expenses as provided in
the Appropriation bill and other
sources would exceed that sum
by 100000. A reduction of 5
cents in the levy would increase
the deficit to 100000. Senator
Peck, speaking upon Mr.. Parks
amendment, made plea for the
free schools in the poor counties.
He stated that farmers are
emigrating to the West, where
their children are afforded more
efficient schools. In some
counties of the State, longer
terms are secured at Is cents
than in other counties with a
local levy of $3.50 on the 500
valuation. President Wiley
(Senator Gall in the Chair,
spoke against the bill and in
favor of the amendment. He
was informed from a reliable
source that the increase of 20 per
cent. in the school tax would pay
only $40 to each school. Would
that secure longer terms? Gen
eral Watts opposed the amend
ment but did not discuss the in
crease in the school levy. He
quoted from the Governors mess
age and thought the recommen-
dation to 20 cents in the levy for
general purposes should be
carried out. The people were
already overburdened with
taxes. Senator Tarr followed
Gen. Watts with similar argu-
ment. Senator Whitaker made
an excellent speech in support of
the amendment, in which he
gave clear and concise state
ment of the financial situation.
Replying to Senators Watts
and Tarr, he said no man had a
greater respect for the Governor
than he, but he ventured the
assertion that if the Governor was
writing his message to-day, he
would not make the recommen-
dation to reduce the levy. He
read extracts from the Auditors
report and showed that the esti-
mated receipts for 1884, were
$110,000 less than the disburs-
ments for the two preceding
years. He regarded the past two
years as a safer guide than the
estimates for the ensuing two
years. With no practical good
reason it was now proposed to
cut down the revenues, with the
probability that a deficit will be
found in the Treasury. 1t was
not clear to him, as member of
the finance committee who had
considered the matter carefully,
that the State would be enabled
to reduce taxation. Mr.. Parks
stated that he intended to offer
another amendment to reduce
the school levy to 10 cents, leav-
ing the levies for school and gen
eral purposes as at present. Mr..
st. Clair made a strong speech in
favor of the bill. He held that
the public schools of the State
should never be maintained by
local taxation. They were the
property of the entire State, and
should be maintained by the
entire State. The only instruc-
tions received by representatives
of the rich counties was from the
wealthy citizens of those count
les. The poor people, if given an
opportunity, would vote for an
increase in the school tax.