Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-04-21
FOR THE RELIEF
OF THE TAXPAYERS.

The money power was able TO deceive
and bulldoze voters into electing men
pledged to force this country to gold
basis. and consequently agriculture,
and men with small homes, find it diff
cult. and becoming daily more difficult,
TO obtain money wit,l which to pay
taxes and debts. The value of money
has greatly increased, but debts ana
tayes are not reduced. In this era OF
nrosperity for tax eaters but dis
tress for farmers, and men with small
homes. it is bad economy for the State
to hoard a large fund unsafely IN
vested II would be a great relief, just
at this time, to stop taxing land Tor
while, and use the accumulated SS5S,4l
called the permanent school fund. he
would be considered very foolish man
who, during this period of industrial
nsralvsis boarded capital to educate
the descendants of unborn children.
II such a policy would be foolish for
an individual it is foolish for a State,
and would not be tolerated for mo-
ment except for the influence in politics
of persons drawing salaries paid out OF
taxes. If the press lends a helping
hand. there will soon be an enlightened
popular Judgment on this subject de-
handing sensible action. lack lels-
IRE. at present, to do more than try 10
offer what may set others thinking.
My reports, as one of the Tax Com
mission in 1888, showed that legislation
was shaped to put most of the burden
of taxation on land to the eXoneratloh
of commercial" property. Hence the
proposition should be, TO stop taxes on
land for a while, and, in this way, par
tally even up things and give reilet
where relief is most needed. My prop
osition is for the State to stop taxing
land until the money, bonds, etc, owned
by the State in the name OF It's school
fund and also the unappropriated bal
ance in the treasury, (the special tax
refunded by the United States) are
used up. This may be done without
risk to the public convenience, and by
very simple amendment of the con-
stitution.
Amount which may be used in lieu
of the land tax for two years:
Permanent school fund.
Uninves,ed, viz, in -,
banks =. .. ..............S 26l ~
National Bank stock &C.. 129, POGO
L :. bonds ..........-.... .1'gvV ece -,
county. city. etc. bonds. 5S2,2o)-S S5S'4l
Refund special tax, say........;.;., 4Vo'VV'
| Interest TO accrue before securities ,ooo
need be sold, say.......'''.''.''''' 49,
Total available e. ................Slo5l'f1
Revenue from land tax .,,,oo- ooo
Total value of all real estate. 'Slil' S-''o1o
For general purposes. - cts........s$5i,>Sll22
For school purposes, 10 cts......... lil'9-o
Sls6. 7s7
The portion of school revenue involysd.o,-
From From iaRq stS on permanent fund 5000
yi9l, g25
II ures be studied II VIII be
founl # the State land tax be
remitteu .wo years, except three cents
for the second year, it will work out
thus
Amount required for two years in lieu Of
For org general SS purposes s 7O9,e24
Fo- schools. In lieu of
land tax and interes.
| To meet this amount we would have
Proceeds OF fund. spe-
cial tax and interest 105l4d
tn 81 Second =? year ar lam. ' 42,577- 1os4oiS
Surplus at end of two years.. 1914
Hence, let the constitution be amend
ed to provide in substance:
1. There shall be no State tax on
land for the year next following the
adoption of this amendment.
.. There shall be no State tax on land
for the second year next following the
adoption of this amendment, except
tax of three cents per 500 of value.
8. The refunded special tax and the
"uninvested" permanent school fund
shall be first applied. (and as more
money is needed, securities in the
school fund shall be sold) to take the
place of the State land TAX hereby re-
mitted for two years. except tax of
three cents for the second year.
4 After the second year, the State
tax for schools to yield $4,000 annually
in lieu of the interest heretofore real
lied on the permanent fund.
5. All such items of revenue as are
now being invested to increase the
school fund, shall hereafter be paid into
! the general fund.
1t should not be expected that busy
man. not in the public service, should
donate the time to put this amendment
into proper form. If the motive be to
prevent wasting this large accumula-
ton. and to use it to accomplish the
most good. here is the way to do it.
If the motive be to squander this fund,
without any relief to taxpayers, then
the shortest road is to apply it TO in
creasing the salaries of tax eaters and
to create more of them. If this road
be taken, the journey may be shortened
by making donations to useful party
henchmen who 'logroll' county courts
/ for a job. J. NJ. MASON.
Charles Town, ". Va, April 10, 1891