Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-01-17
BOARD or COMMISSIONERS


Ana H4&k ~ Them the Hepuht1ca4
Rine, chaFGed With ResponsibiI-
~ for Increased valuation ~
Property.
WHEELING, W. Va, Jan. 1e.
TO the Editor Of the Register,
Sir:-The ignorant public has been
hugging the sweet delusion to its soul
that the Board of County Commission
ers were without guile and altogether
lovely.
Inc knowledge of the unsavory char
acter or the City Council was possess
cd by every citizen, but our anchor of
nope was the Board Of County Commits
sloners. The idol has been shattered.
Our people should cease their anathe-
mas against the ~revaluer of lands, Mr..
Heimbright, and place the blame for
the ~reyaluation outrage where it seems
justly to belong, i. e., upon the Board
OF commissioners. By the seventh
section OF the act providing for the re-
assessment of real estate, the individ-
uai citizen who is aggrieved by the ae-
tlon OF the ~reyaluer as to his property,
may apply for redress to the County
Court, i. e., the Board of Commission,
ers in this county, within one year af-
ter the filing of a copy Of the assess
ment with the clerk.
This gives the injured citizen and
land owner a tribunal to which to
appeal and ask relief. 1t requires no
argument to show that such tribunal
should not PREJUDICE the cases to be
submitted for the determination OF its
members.
The board in this matter sit as
judges in appeal from the revaluer's
action, and common decency demands
that they should not prejudice or be
In any way committed in advance
against the applicants. No argument
is necessary to demonstrate this self
evident truth. Any man fit to hold the
Office of County Commissioners, no mat
ter how deficient in education and re-
inement, should have enough native
instinct concerning the proprieties Of
official conduct to cause him to re-
frain from meddling with this revalu-
alton until officially called to do so by
an application of a land owner for re-
dress. Nevertheless, it is boldly stated
in the public prints that at least some
members of the Board of Commissions
ers have been engaged in consultations
with the revaluer concerning the dis
charge of his duties.
Current rumor says that members of
this Board have been urging increased
assessments upon the reyaluer at. re-
peated night meetings of a committee,
the members of which draw three dol
lars each per meeting. If such is the
case, and if it is not the members of
the Board should promptly deny II, the
Commissioners who were guilty OF
such conduct should be pointed out,
that all men may mark them, and then
be retired to private life to mediate
upon the awful improperly of their
foings and the vicious stab they have
given the people who elected them.
The purpose of such action Is said to be
to enable this precious county board to
raise more money to squander, to
wiring more money out of the taxpay-
ers without increasing the percentage
of county levy. The astute statesmen
are said to have SO little respect for the
understandings of the people of Ohio
county as to believe that they will not
see that they are made to pay more
taxes even though the percentage OF
the levy is unchanged.
All this, if the rumors are correct, "a
the work of the city and county Re-
publican ring. These fellows seem to
have gone mad. Their insolence is
unparalleled. Let them beware.
They are digging their own political
graves. The Republican ring is re-
sponsible for this r%evaluer, Mr.. Helm,
bright; for the Board Of County Com
m~issioners; for the awful City Council,
and for every act Of each and all of
them.
Every tax bill paid to the sheriff OF
this county for ten years to come Will
be a pertinent reminder to the people
of this county of the utter folly of
trusting the public interests to Repub-
licans.
Let the Democratic executive COM
mittees see that the people do not for
get who inflicted the terrible wrong OF
generalization of their property upon
them. Have the committee send to
each land owner a statement showing
his old assessment and his new, his old
tax and his new, and point out to each
that he must multiply by ten the re-
suit of the work of the Republican off,
Gals. The people will make short
work of these commissioners, If what
is urged against them is not denied and
the trouble now threatening the real
estate owners OF this county is not
remedied.
These matters are submitted to the
careful, fearful and ~prayerful consider
alton of the candidate Of Ohio county
for the Republican nomination for
State Auditor. LOCKER ON.