Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-08-26
THE TRUTH ABOUT RAILWAY ASSESS.


MENTS.
TIE Intelligencer has this to say
about the very important item of rail-
road assessments apropos to some re-
cent statements on the subject made
in these columns:
The Register quotes. and takes for
text an article from the Parkersburg Sen
tinel which shows that the West Virginia
prosperity boomers are lying. that IN
1886 the last year of Democratic control in
West Virginia the railroads of the State
We're assessed at so, ,610. For the sue
ceeding three years under Republican rule
the railroads of the State were assessed
for 1897, s2l $50, 34s; for 1885, $22 l6O,o46; for
1899 Gncuding railroads not heretofore
assessed. $22, $50. S56. Upon this statement
by the Sentinel the Register says in part:
1T will be observed that as soon as the
Republican bosses took hosd at Charleston
they reduced the assessment of the rail-
roads over half million dollars at one
clip.
Both the Sentinel and the Register are
wrong in their figures and therefore in
correct in the logic of their deductions.
We have only to say on this point
that if the figures and statements pub
lished by the Register are wrong as
our honest and always reliable con-
temporary of Fourteenth street says
they are, then the last official report
Of Auditor La Toilette is wrong on
this point That report proves the fig
ures published by the Register to be
substantially correct as to the sudden
decrease from the last Democratic as
sessment, in the succeeding assessment
by the present regime, the only varia-
ton being unimportant and due to
typographical errors. Auditor La Fol
lette's own figures showing a decrease
in the assessed valuation of the rail-
road properties in this State between
1896, the last year under Democratic
control, and 1897, the first year under
the present regime, of about half OF
million of dollars
AS to the Intelligenoer's figures,
claiming to be an authentic summary
of the report of the Board of Public
Works at Charleston, showing the re-
markable increase in one jump for
1899 over 1898 of nearly $7,000,000, il
correct, which we must assume in adj
vance of the regular report, do NOT
represent Increased assessments" OF
he railroads, as our honest contem-
porary would have us believe, but as
sessments ON new railroads and prop
erty not heretofore assessed.
The fact remains and cannot be
clcuded by any Juggling of figures eth
er in that abode of sanctity, the Intel
ligencer's cockloft, or at Charleston,
that as soon as the present State bosses
took hold of affairs the assessments Of
the railroads were REDUCED from the
previous Democratic assessment about
half million of dollars, as stated, al
though it should have shown sub
stantial increase, as new roads, extern
sions and improvements were building
all the time.
This pre-eminent fact stands out so
plain that it cannot be obscured by any
mere juggling of figures, such as Old
Honesty attempts.
In connection with other similar in
stances we have alluded to from time
to time, this suspicious favoritism OF
the Charleston crowd for the wealthy
corporations is point which the peo-
pie of West Virginia, regardless of
party, and especially the farmers, who
have not had their tax assessments
reduced one jot or little, should ponder
over and bear in mind when the day
OF reckoning at the polls comes.