West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1893-11-02

e Wv <h"Hto "uc impressed
with the fact that the resignation
OF Mr. Leroy Shaw. as Sheriff, was
case OF "much ado about Moth
ing" and thus impressed it did
not propose to lend itself to Mr..
Shaw in his comedy of errors. ,,
But after carefully reading Mr..
Shaw's reasons for reslgning, the
ARGUS is led to believe that the
Sheriff has good grounds for his
vigorous kick and threatened reslg-
nation. 1t is maxim THAT right
wrongs no man." and when the
Sheriff is right the ARGUS will not
hesitate to uphold him. The ARGUS
is not hide-bound, politically, like
its Repu blican cotemporaries. It's
vision is clear and it proposes to
discuss public questions In an i'm.
partial manner.
| Let us review the reasons for Mr..
Shaw's resignation. First, his
health has given away. We trust
the Sheriff will regain his health.
for without health it necessarily
follows that he would not be a sue.
cess in roaming around over the
hills and valleys in search OF es-
capped prisoners and violators of
the law.
Second, the "Act of the Legisla-
ture disqualifying Sheriffs as their
own successor" is one which we
heartily endorse. We believe that
it is to the best interest of the tax
payers and saves many Sheriff
from going into bankruptcy. Many
Sheriff, if permitted to succeed
himself, would be slow to enforce
collections lest he might offend
some one and thereby loso vote.
This would be seized upon by those
who dislike to pay their tax, and if
scientifically manipulated could be
returned delinquent" If Sheriff
Shaw IS in favor of Shcriffs succeed.
ing themselves the ARGUS is square
ly against him. HIS letter is not
sufficiently clear on this point to
indicate where the Sheriff stands.
The ARGUS is opposed to the Coun
ty Court refunding to the Sheriff
the two and one half per cent which
is allowed as discount to those
paying their taxes at specified
time. If this discount is refunded,
what is tho necessity of allowing it
In the first place? What profit
would ft DO to the tax payor to
allow him two and one half per
cent. and then make him refund
it? The County Court has no
money only as 1T collects it from
the tax payers by levy. We ven
ture to say, that if every tax payer
in Preston county would pay his
taxes within the specified time
which allows the two and one half
per cent. discount, you would never
hear of Sheriff "breaking up"
But the order of the Court ssre-
curing the Sheriff to endorse all
county orders when presented,
making the interest payable by the
county," is one which cannet be
too severely condemned by the tax
payers of Preston county. There
is no mistaken the intention of the
order. 1t was passed for the pur-
pose of beneiting the moneyed
men, and 1t is the duty Of every
honest tax payer to insist that the
present County Court rescind the
order forthwith. The order ia a
money making scheote and a double
burden upon the poor tax payers.
a sample Of its working will con-
vince any one. A poor man has
county order and he takes it to the
moneyed man. The moneyed man
processes that he don't want the
order, but to accommodate the poor
man he will cash the order IL he
will take it TO the Sheriff and have
it endorsed and accept a certain per
cent. discount, usually from ten to
twenty per cent. Thus the poor
man, as a tax payer, is doubly rob
bed. First, he accepts discount
OF ten or twenty per cent. and af-
forwards has to help pay che inter
est on his discount order.
Sheriff Shaw alleges there are now
some t'cenfy thousand Of these en-.
dorsed orders outstanding. Placing
them at $500 each, which is a low
oofirnafo tuo,,1J ,..t. an ooe,