Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-02-06

Yesterday a ray of strong, white
light was thrown upon the reassess-
ment of the real estate in this county,
and it disclosed more intimate con-
nection with the matter on the part
OF the Board of Commissioners than
has heretofore been suspected.
1t has been openly charged. and not
Denied that members of the Board were
in frequent consultation with the asses
sors. 1t has been surmised that the
revaluation experts were being coached
by Commissioners, if not acting under
Instructions; but nobody appears to
have suspected until yesterday that the
county authorities were paying out the
good money of the local taxpayers as
extra compensation to those who were
employed to put the extra burden of
three and one-half millions upon the
people. Such is the fact, however.
The members of the Board of County
Commissioners appear to have had a
secret understanding with the two Ohio
county assessors that their compensa-
ton of $500 each, provided for by State
law and payable out State funds, would
be very handsomely increased out of
the treasury of Ohio county, and in
pursuance of that evident agreement,
the assess or for the city district was
paid $500 out OF the county funds at
the last January meeting Of the Board,
making his total compensation $1,000,
and yesterday. the assessor for the
country district was ordered paid $500
out of the county funds, making his
compensation $500, grand total of
$1,700, of which Ohio county taxpay-
ers have the pleasure of meeting 81, 100
and for benefit have their property
marked up. And all this was done
without publicity, and never came out
until yesterday. 1t appears to have
only noticed by accident.
Yesterday afternoon reporter for
the Register. called at the Office of the
Board, in search of information, and
asked of Clerk Moffat:
TT is reported upon the streets that
the Board has given an extra compen-
sation to the Ohio county revaluation
assessors. Is that true?"
Eyes, it is true. The Board made an
allowance to the city assessor at the
last meeting, and one to the country as
SCISSOR to-day.
'It is further reported that one Of
these assessors was given enough
money out of the county fund to make
his compensation equal to $1,000. Is
that correct?"
Eyes. The assessor for the city dis
trict was allowed $500 by the Commits
sioners, and the country assessor $400.'
That makes the total compensation
81 900 and s70o?"
Eyes"
"How was that done? Is there any
authority of law for it?''
"No. The matter was handled by
the. Finance Committee.
and reported to the Board by it?"
Eyes"
"And the money-how was it paid?''
"Out of the general contingent fund
of the county. The fact is, the same
thing, I understand, has been done in
every other county in the State, for
the sum allowed by the State is in
sufficient to secure the proper men.
The State allows $500 to every county
or assessment district, and in Ohio
county no one can be expected to do the
work for the money"
This tells the story of how eleven
hundred dollars Of Ohio county taxes
have gone to "equalize" values by
marking them up. The taxpayers can
digest this information at their leisure.
The Action of the Board.
WHEELING, w. Va, Feb. 5.