The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-01-17

-eighth.but don't believe the peo-
pie want It that way. or you either.
Mr.. BTddy-I think II Is right 70 reduce
az low as the other counties Of the
state. It ID not right for Ohio county
to contribute 80 much more than her
Just share to the state revenue. They
have good thing In Ohio county and
they are going 20 bold on 70 y unless
Ohio county adjusts matters. II Ohio
county needs more revenue, Increase
the levy instead Of sending a large part
OF the revenue to Charleston, as you
win be doing by this increaBe in the
valuations. ~
MI. McGregor. replying. said the re-
assessment Of ten years ago was In
equitable. Residences were assessed on
a tWo-thiriG basis and business prop
erty was not. some being not one-halI
Of their value. Ohio county has Issued
$500 900 in bonds, and now we must be-
gin paying them of. The question
waa. whether to raise the assessments
or the levy An increase Of the levy
would not be fair to many people.
Many modest homes were already as
sessed their full value. The new as
seasments make the values on all
classes of property somewhat equit-
able, AS to the work Of the assessor,
Mr.. McGregor said the time was short
and the pay small. and some mistakes
ana Inequalities were bound TO creep
In. The Increases. he said, are prlnci-
pally on the improvements, not so much
on the real estate itself.
A member OF the chamber gave In
stances Of increases on residence prop
erty, In answer to Mr.. McGregor' s
statements. The City Bank was spo-
ken Of: It Is assessed ut $4,000, and the
speaker didn't believe anyone would
give that for the property except
Henry K. List, who Of course felt a
pride In erecting this monument to his
career OF frugality and enterprise.
When. 81 400 year taxes IS collected on
this building It IS taxing Mr.. Lists en-
terprise. declared the speaker He felt
that II he were the assessor he would
want years time and the aid OF an
other capable man, and short Of that
time he believed It impossible to make
fair and Just assessment.
Mr.. McGregor said the fact remains
that the assessment has been made as
the law provides, and any Inequalities
could be remedled before the board of
commissioners through the personal
applications OF persons feeling them
selves aggrieved. Speaking for him
self, and he believed he could speak for
the other members OF the board, ne be-
lIeved the board would act in Just
and fair spirit toward all.
A member Of the chamber said n
raise in the levy could not be objected
to. you've given US a decent inhrm-
airy and good roads. and we cannot
complain Of you on that score"
Mr.. Brady moved that a committee Of
ten, one from each district In the
county, be appointed to so before the
board Of county commissioners when
that body sits as a board Of edualiza-
ton and appeals, TO seek corrections OF
the excessive assessments complained
Of: the committee to be empowered to
employ a competent attorney. The
motion was passed unanimously.
President Quarter raid he would APP
point the committee later
Mr.. McGregor said the board could
sit at any time as a board OF equallLa-
tion and appeals, within one year after
the illing of the new valuations. 1t
had been about decided that the board
would take up these corrections next
June, but action could be taken earlier
II found desirable The members Of
the chamber who expressed themselves,
desired action In the near future.