Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-07-01

nal court. The criminal and inter-
mediate courts arc too expensive q
luxury except in few counties
Zone or two COunties) where they
may be necessary. No redistricting
Tor Judges can take place under eX-
listing law until the year 1903. Must
the people Of q crowded circuit wait
seven years for relief? They must
wait lin the absence of constitu-
tionable amendment) unless the
Legislature will create number of
criminal courts.
The salary Of no Judge is increased.
The committee did not think the
times justify an increase OF salary.
by the amended provision on this
subjuCt all salaries of judges remain
as they are now fixed until other
wise established by law; but it is
left to legislation to prescribe sala-
ries for the future with the limita-
ton that the salary Of no Judge can
be changed, either raised or lowered,
during the term for which no may
bo elected.
COUNTY COURTS.
County courts arc not changed as
to Jurisdiction, but county NAV
have its police and fiscal court to con
siSt Of three commissioners, chosen
from the county at large, as at
present, or commissioner elected
by and from the several magis-
terial districts, as the voters Of
the county may decide. Some coun-
ties prefer one system, some the
other. a county can now decide for
Itself which system it will be gov
erncd by.
ARTICLE IN.--COUNTY ORGANIXA-
TION.
There are four sections amended
in this article:
l.. This section provides for the
election of county treasurer to col
lect the taxes instead of the sheriff.
The sheriff remains the officer of the
court.
and Is. These sections provide
Tor the payment Of salary to all
county officers, and the payment of
all fees into the country treasury.
COUNTY FEE SYSTEM.
There was such clamor for the
abolition Of the fee system from GER
tain sections of the State that the
committee decided to let the people
say what shall be done in the prem .
ises.
NEW COUNTIES.
s. The area required for the for
nation of new country il reduced
from 400 to 32j square miles. Some
other restrictions are imposed as to
aScertainment of facts and conditions
prior to the passage Of any bill crea-
ting new county.
9. Section nine is added provid-
ding for the election by the people
of not less than one nor more than
three land appraisers every six
years, instead of having them ap.
pointed AS at present.
ARTICLE X.-TAXATION AND Fl.
NANCE.
Three sections are amended in thi,
article, the first, fifth and seventh.
|. The subjects Of taxation which
may be exempted are specifically sci
forth. This article embraces an eX
emption, intended chiefly to benefit
the farming classes, who undoubtedly
pay an undue proportion of the take.
in proportion to their wealth, be
cause real estate is visible and car
not escape taxation as the intangibl,
property does it is the provision
which eXempts:
Such proportion Of the assessed
value of real estate as any debt fo
| nIIFphaSn hx,
record and unpaid, against the same
may bear to the actual cash value o
such real estate.
If this provision is Objectionable t,
the great mass of agricultural voter
of the State, they may reject it
This section further provides that:
The Legislature shall have power t
tax by uniform and equal laws al
business privileges and franchises q
persons and corporations.
The word /" business" is added her
out Of precaution, to make this pre-
vision harmOniZe with the decision
Of the supreme court Of the Unite
States, sustaining the rights of tn
States of Ohio and Indiana, unde
their constitutions, to tax the bus
ness Of telegraph, telephone, palace
car, sleeping car, drawing-roomcal
dining-car, express, fast freight, join
stock companies, ETC., in the prOpol
tion which the business done in tn
State bears to the whole bushes
transacted by any such COMPANY
How much tax does any telt
graph company, express company
: palace car company, ETC., pa
into the State? The railroad
as such, perhaps, are paying the
Just proportion. But how many
these other companies pay any tax
Some OF them pay none, / am il
formed ; but have not verified III
statement. The supreme court hi
sustained, in Indiana, an additions
penalty Of fifty per cent. for failul
TO pay such tax on business tran
acted Sustains the act "placing thel
In class by themselves and subjec
ing them to the particular method
OF taxation and collection by enfor
ing penalties. There is undonbtedI
a vast revenue that may be receive
. by the State, without any unjust tax
tion OF any person or corporation, |
the enactment and enforcement
proper and just tax laws. Accor
ing to the report Of the Ohio Il
3 commission, " business" includes E
: subjects of taxation other than he
sons and property. On page 10
;. their report, 1898, the commissi,
; made this recommendation to q
! legislature:
] The equalization of taxation al
Q increase of revenue by laying tax