The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-01-16
CITY TAXATION
More Important than Some Other
Pending Measures.
A CITIZENS VIEWS EXPRESSED
In Plain English-rho Delay us to the
Building Inspection Ordinance Calls
Out the Comment city Assessors should
Have Longer Terms and the Charge on
Delinquent Taxes sheald he Reduced.
Other Matters.
To the rdItor OF tho 1ntellLgencor.

sIr:-1f our present council would dis
play n little more energy In enforcing
its authority over It's committees and
reproye them for the slothfui attitude
they assume in dealing with the city's
interests, It may yet make for itself a
good record. 1t Is now six or eight
months since there was a committee ap-
pointed to draft rules for the appoints
ment OF a building inspector, where Is
that law?
4 A simple ordinance could be formu-
lated at one or two sessions OF the COM
mIttee, that now takes months for Its
construction. The one proposed Is I'M
practicable. It will only create more
taxation by the appointment OF such
officer without any expectation fmater-
ial benefit TO the city. II the appoint-
ment OF n building inspector would i'm
prove the houses, or make cheap mater
ial and loose construction do for solid
work. the appointment would be praetl-
cable and necessary, otherwise the office
would be nm Imposition on the taxpRy-
ers. as this kind Of deception couldNnot
be very well prohibited as long as COM
petition has no limit.
The foundation or basis for building
Inspector should be constructed In the
state legislature, and IL properly COM
pleted would be q sure guide for munich
palities to follow.
A law suit decided for damages
against the owner OF a building that
would collapse through unsound mater
inl or careless workmanship, for the life
of any person killed by such building
would be worth dozen inspectors.
Ordinances or municipal laws without
a state basis are easily punctured and
do not, on many important questions.
stand the test, as being valid and con-
stItutional.
Wouldn't It be wise policy for our
guardians to turn their attention to
something more interesting to the clty's
weifarSs-the law governing our asses
sor. for instance?
This law is a farce and should be re-
pealed or amended. 80 as TO have one as
SCISSOR for the city, make the position
permanent at n reasonable salary, with
headquarters adjacent to the city col
lector's office. The present law Ia about
as loosely constructed rs II II WINS
framed for tho guidance OF the Fulton
pugiiIstlc arena Each OF the assessors
is paid salary OF three or four hundred
dollars to assess the real and personal
property OF the city once year After
the round OF the district Is made each
yenr, the books are returned to the city
clerk and finance committee to examine
and then turned over to the city collec-
tor to battle slnEle-hnnded with tax
payers on the yeXed questions OF al
legged over-valuatlon. transferring and
division OF real estate personal proper
ty and numerous other questions aris-
ing from this source. II the position Of
assessor was permanently established
all OF these vexed questions would be
promptly adjusted.
There Is a wide field open for improve
ment in the method we have for levying
taxation, and It Is surprising that there
was not an effort made to alter II before
this time II In the near future this law
be amended the term OF Office for an as
SCISSOR should be not less than four
yenrs, as this Is one OF the most Import
ant positions in the gift OF the council.
II II is guided by equal justice and hon
esty. A person seeking the position re-
quires special qualifications.
He should be as quick to gauge with
the eye as to Judge with the brain. To
assess the stock or contents OF n jewelry
store, chlnaware or other similar mer-
chandise at sight requires ability 20
compute from few articles what all
the others would be worth. An over
valuation Is MS injurious to the tax
payer Us an under valuation ID to the
city. Any person may attempt to
guess the valuation OF an article, n lot
OF ground or building without knowing
the merit OF the article. the number OF
feet In the lot, the cubic yards In the
walls or the number OF square feet OF
boarding In the building. II every man
that owns real or personal property
were honest In giving q true statement
OF what property cost them, to the as
cial would not be so much required.
but unfortunately such Is not the case.
Another matter OF vital Importance
TO Taxpayers, and one that needs the
immediate attention OF council. ia the
enormous rate OF interest charged on
unpaid city taxes after the first OF Mo-
vember each year until paid. The state
law says that per cent Is the legal In
terest charged. and then by act OF leg
islature gives the right to the council OF
the city OF Wheeling to charge 10 per
cent interest on all real estate and
school taxes outstanding as above. II
our council would make move In the
right direction and innuRurate n
scheme 20 change this system OF usury
that, MS n general thing. falls upon the
poor people, who nre least able to bear
1t, they would gain an enNiable rcputa-
ton. The city ordinance grants per
cent discount to those who pay their
taxes during the month OF October each
year.
The state, county or city cannot af-
ford to prepare voting booths, print
ballots and pay election officers without
the financial assistance OF the voters.
We have citizens who loudly boast OF
their smnrtness In evnding the pay
ment OF the head tax. II they were
prohibited from casting their ballots on
election day they would raise II howl OF
Indignation that their rights and free
dom were trnmpled under foot by vile
politicians. Men wishing for the rights
and freedom OF American citizens and
refusing to maintain those rights and
privileges by payl9g just taxation
should be compelled either by public
opinion or some other means to do no:
CITIZEN.
Wheeling. Jan. IL.