Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1894-04-19
The New Assessment Law.

Many of our people are interested
to know the force and effect of the
amendment made by our last Legis-
lature to the assessment laws of West
Virginia, whereby Indebtedness exist
ing on certain personal property may
be deducted when such property is
assessed. The following letter from
the Acknowledgement to Auditor
Johnson CONSTITUTES and explains the
matter fully, and we publish it for
the enlightenment of our readers
WHEELING. w. VA, March 81, 1894.
Hon. 1. V. Johnson, Auditor State OF West
Virginia, Charleston-Dear Sir-Your letter
asking for construc ton OF section 6s OF chap
ter 80 Of the Acts Of 1893 received. The part
OF the section to which special reference is
made Is az follows:
"the namber OF horses, mules
| asses nd jennets, and the value thereof; the
number of cattle and the value thereof; the
number of sheep and the value thereof; the
number OF hogs and the value thereof; the
value OF farming and garden utensils and
implements, of agricultural products, and
products ofanimals not exempt from taxa
ton, deducting from the total value OF such
horses, cattle, sheep and hogs, vi ensls, i'm
PIGMENTS, agricultural products, and pro-
ducts OF animals not exempt from taxation,
any Indebtedness due upon the same or
81, -
farming upon above enumerated property
wnich total Indebtedness shall he drawn In
another column, aud recording In addition
to the value thereon and the indie Otedness
thereon the SUN shown (after delucung
said indebtedness) In another column, which
net amount shall constitute the am unit to
be assessed by said assessor 50 far a. tuis
class Of property is concerned, AZ against
each person 81 listed Tor the purpose OF taxa
ton"
Tn provision that ems L. he f. doubt a.
to it's proper construction 10 the one which
refers 10 the class OF Indebtedness To be de-
Quoted from the value Of The above euum-
Grated property, viz: "any indebtedness due
upon the same. or arising out OF co rductins
the business OF farming upon above enum-
-
AS IL might have been made but am OF IN
opinion that the evident intent OF the Leg
islature Is that the party whose property Is
being assessed is entitled: First-to de-
duction from the valuation OF the above
enumerated property any sums that may
be due on account OF purchase money.
Second to 4 deduction OF what he may owe
If anything, for labor performed or money
expended in caring for or producing said
property; but such deduction must be con-
fined TO debts that the party assessed actu-
ally owes for the above purposes on the nrst
day OF April; and that debts he may owe for
any other purpose or money already PAID
for labor or care In producing or raising
said property cannot be deducted, nor can
any deduction be made for his own labor or
those under his control. The deduction
must be confined to debts which he owes
on the LIST day OF April, incurred In produc-
ing or raising the above enumerated proper
ty and no other. For instance-if he has a
hundred head OF sheep anC has employed
labor to take caro- OF them or purchased
grain to feed them which he owes for on the
nrst day OF April, such amounts should be
deducted from the value OF the sheep, but
should he not owe for such labor or grain on
the first day oil April, no deduction should
be made on account thereof. 1t should be
borne in mind that no deduction should be
made on account OF debts other than those
incurred in purchasing, raising or producing
the above enumerated property, and that
such debts must be In existence on the first
day OF April. or course debts incurred on
any OF the ABOVE mentioned property that Is
exempt from taxation under section IL OF
chapter % OF the code cannot be considered.
Very respectfully yours,
T. y, RILEY.