The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1896-08-28
.DA VVS0N|
Chairman Of The West Vir
ginia Republican Execu-
tive Committed Gives
His Views.
yus1 rAxEs Goa fARMsss
What the Republicans Contend fcr /
Their state platform.

What the Republicans Contend Tor In
Their state Platform.
Tn. splendid platform adopted BY, the
Republican state convention ut Horkers.
burg has worried the Democrat d great
deal. They finally, in desperation seized
upon the taxation plank and tried by
specious argument and assertion 70 make
it appear that 1t is scheme % favor
railroads or somebody else than: the
farmers.
Chairman Dawson Of the Republican
state committee. in reply to a. letter
from n correspondent ON this subject,
takes up the matter and discusses 1t in
the following peaceful and Intelligent
manner.
IN regard to the tax plank of the
State platform, it is follows:
eve are in favor Of perfect equality
before the law in the matter Of taxation.
We declare the present system OF fore
ing agricultural classes to pay taxes on
their debts to be manifestly unfair and
unjust. We demand that our present
assessment law be SO changed as to Ill
low farmers the same privilege which
are accorded to other citizens Of our
States
"You will see that this has nothing to
do with the assessment of railroad prop.
erty, but simply favors placing the
farmer in the same position before the
law us the banker or merchant. In the
assessment of your property for taxa
ton you can deduct what you owe from
the value of your personal property.
The property of the banker and mer.
chant is largely personal. He therefore
does not have to pay taxes on his debts.
The farmers property is largely Of real
estate. You can not deduct debts fsom
the value of your real estate. Hence.
the present law is unjust to the farmer.
II he has mortgage on his farm he
must pily taxes averaging 1 l-2 per cent
on'his farm and o per cent interest on
his debts. u total of about per cent.
AT the same time the owner OF the
mortgage pays taxes on it. This is
double taSation. Some defend this; but
from II thorough study of the subject
when | was on the joint sub.fnance
committee of the legislature several
years ago, which was charged with the
revision OF our assessment laws, ] be.
came convinced that. rs Greeley and
Theirs lay it down III the works ON DO.
htical economy, every man ought to pay
taxes to the support of the government
in proportion to his ability to pay, which
ability is to be measured by what he &c.
tually OWNS and not by what he has in
his possession. If your property is un.
der mortgage or deed of trust .yon own
only what is left after these liens are
discharged
"The State ought to encourage the
owning of homes, but this double taxa
ton does not. A young married man
buys home or q farm; he pays d small
part down, and for the balance lgS7es a
mortgage, or the seller retains ven.
doris lien. As the law is now he pays
taxes on the land. interest ON the debt
and for which it is subject, which, as 1
have said, makes total of about s per
cent. Now, when he pays off this debt
he knocks out of existence that much
taxable property. This is absurd, and
makes it to the interest Of the state to
have every citizen mortgage his realIes.
tate; and the more of such debts the
more taxable property. Railroads are
assessed by the Board of Public Works
on u basis peculiar to railroads. We
favor the taxing of railroads and all
other property equally-no favors to
any. justice and equality to all. This is
time when attempt is being made to
influence the public mind against rail.
roads and banks and other incorpora.
tions. This is wrong aud dangerous.
The true principle and for which we
contend is that all property whether
corporate or individually should be taxed
equally and uniformly. The Republican
party stands for justice and equality
before the law, and there never was a
time when the doctrine should be more
vigorously preached than now.
Very truly yours, (signefJ,
"WM NJ. o. DAWSON, Chairman.n
nM TILE oc-bE.-