Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-01-13

the past three years, nothwlthstand.
the large appropriations made by the
last Legislature, every demand upon
the treasury was met without borrow.
ing, and we were able at the same time
10 discharge tue so-called State debt,
which aggregated S1S4, 511.4S. The
/ public buildings of the State are about
completed, and less hereafter will be
required for public improvements. I'm
less, therefore, it is deemed advisable
10 inaugurate new and extensive
schemes of State government, the
/ present rate of taxation will yield more
revenue than the necessities Of the State
will require. l therefore recommend
that the rate OF taxation be reduced.
am of the opinion that 20 cents % the
500 valuation will produce sufficient
revenue for general State purposes 2
WEST vIRGINIA's DIRECT TAX GAM
I do not feel that the treasury De-
! partment at Washington has been cen
/ sistent in IFS actio1(or has dealt justly
with West V6glnia in reference to what
/ is known as the direct tax claim Of this
state When the proper records and
lpapers were presented and payment
was requested of the amount due this
State under the Tax Refund Act OF the
National Congress, the Comptroller OF
the Currency claimed that that part Of
the Appropriation coming 10 this State
should be applied upon a debt due the
General Government from the State Of
Virginia contracted prior to the erec-
tiOn of the State OF West Virginia. This
position was resisted, and the matter
was referred TO the Department OF JUS
tice. The Attorney General, after hear
ing oral arguments and considering
briefs filed, sustained the position of
the Treasury Department, and accord
ingly S153, 97S.75 of the amount due this
State was so credited upon the indebt-
edneSs Of the State of Virginia TO the
General Government. This course was
In direct conflict with the action Of the
same department ia 1868 and 1869, when,
after careful consideration and upon a
similar state Of facts, there was paid out
OF the Treasury Of the United States to
the Governor OF this State large sums Of
money due this State for munitions of
war. Either the department erred then
in its decision, and wronged the FEEDER
al treasury, or, being correct then, our
State is now wronged by being deprived
Of money Justly due her. Since the &C
tlon Of the Treasury Department was
taken, the Senate of the United States,
by unanimous vote, has passed joint
resolution directing the Treasurer to
pay this State the sum Of money so ap-
piled upon the Virginia debt, which res
Olution is now pending in the House Of
Representatives.
The decision Of the Treasury Depart
ment above referred to did not, Of
course, affect that part of the direct tax
appropriation intended to repay 10 the
citizens Of Jefferson and Berk ley cOun-
ties the amount of direct tax collected
from them before those counties be-
came a part OF the territory OF West
Virginia. The taxes so collected from
the citizens of said counties aggregated
S27. 32S1S, aud the Treasurer Of the
United States paid TO me this sum about
August %, 1891. The same was paid
into the Treasury Of the State, and the
Board Of Public Works, as required by
Joint Resolution No. 10 of the Acts of
the Legislature of 1891. took steps 20
ascertain to whom the same shou be
discussed. Upon investigation. how
ever, it was found that in 1867, Hon.
Joseph A. Chapline, now deceased,
under authority OF law, drew from the
Treasury Of the State ST, OSLO, for the
purpose of repayng to the citizens OF
) efTerson and Berkeley counties the
djrcst taxes so collected from
LuUW, ana uudI tuu ou--sE o''------e-
deposited by said Chapline in
the Peoples National Bank at Martins
burC. through which bank SEC, 539.71 Of
the amount was paid to persons entitled
thereto, leaving S54l39 undisbursed.
This balance was, in December, 1891,
paid by the said bank into the treasury
OF the State. Any further payments to
citizens of said counties on this direct
tsx account, will, under said joint reso-
Luton, be paid from the State treasury