Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1901-03-09

tltttiE ~ WA0AE ~ AArE
conditions exist. We want to treat
the developing corporation such as
RAILROADS and mining and manufac-
turing enterprises employing labor
and building up the State, with the
utmost liberality. The work of de-
veloping is going on rapidly and we
want il continued until every county
and every mineral valley has ample
shipping and commercial facilities.
Without checking this. growth by
restrictive or burdensome taxation,
and yet relieving if possible, the
burdens on the modest home owners
and small farmers, who in my iudg-
ment are taxed more, proportionately.
under orr present system than their
more fortunate and wealthier neigh
bors, is a problem, calling for the ex-
ercise of careful thought and wise
craftsmanship. In my opinion the
movement for a tax commission to
codify our taxation laws, to provide
for equalization boards both county
and State, with powers to raise or
lower valuations and equalize them,
is a start on right lines. The Leg
islature just adjourned has taken the
lfrst step in the right direction by
providing for the creation of a tax
commission.
ri. .rII1an, xubtDh tho inoa,.,.
administration will chiefly have to
deal with is that of During
the past six years the West Virginia
Legislature has established seven en-
tirley new State institutions, namely
the Girls Industrial Home, Home for
Incurables, Bluefield Colored Institute,
Montgomery Preparatory School and
the three Miners Hospitals and the
late Legislature has just created the
eighth in the Keyser Preparatory
School. In addition a Capitol Annex
costing 1925, 900 has been started, and
in the past five years for every n
of the older existing State institutions
including the six Normal Schools the
State University the Penitentiary
the two Insane Asylums, Boys Re-
form Schools, the P~enitentiary, and
the schools for the Deaf and the Blind
new building have been erected o.
extensive additions made to the old
ones besides all this, with the grow
ing attendance and more numerous
inmates, have come largely increased
current expenses. The present gener-
alton is prohibited by our constitu-
ton from mourning a State debt for
future generations to pay. So we are,
and have been in the very recent years
paying hundreds of thousands of dol
las annually out of current taxes and
receipts for permanent improvements.
The result is we have a condition
business judgement and forethought
of the best minds of our Legislators
and public officials.
In my judgement some of our latest
ventures in new institutions were i'll
advised or premature. Even an at
tempt to confine one institution TO
work somewhat, at least, in harmony
with that of somewhat similar insti-
tutions in other States and to prevent
that which older and richer States
with fully developed resources, have
not dared to enter upon has been OPP
posed. The incoming Executive feels
the responsibility of the situation
keenly and unless the relief hoped
for from legislation, raising the IL
Gems taxes of corporations and other
measures, materializes, some of our
institutions maybe have to be tempo
rarily closed down or an extraordin-
airy session of the Legislature held
TO raise revenue Either alternatives
to be deplored. We ear only hope
that our income may, like the widows
cruise of old fail not in the demands
made upon it, but carry us through
the present biennial period. The
State gives great privileges TO cor
porations, because personal liability
of stockholders is not exacted. Such
a privilege is worth taxing and taxing
more heavily than has been done in
the past. / am glad that the Legis-
lature has increased the license taxes
on both foreign and domestic corpor-
alton 1t is a tax the corporations
can afford to pay in return for the
breath of life which the State gives
them.
The question of the proper control
of corporations and trust is a live
one. Every year the business of the
country, wen in small mercantile
establishments, tends more and more
to corporation rather than the firm or
individual ownership. The size of
the corporation does not affect the
principle involved. 1t is what the