Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-09-26

Auditor of State Arnold G.. Scherr
was seen yesterday by representa-
tive of the Register ana was asked as
TO the general condition of the State
finances and the operations of the new
corporation law as producer of cash.
He said in reply:
The new law has exceeded expecta-
tons. At the time it was proposed [
estimated that it would bring in about
1926, 600. and was told ! was entirely
too sanguine. The facts are that
whereas the revenue under the Old or
der of things for the FISCAL year 1900
was but $4,000 under the now law,
in its first year, for the twelve months
ending September 30th. the income Will
be about $4,000, and estimate it for
next year at from $3.50 coo to $500 GEO.
Notwithstanding the extravaganza of
the last Legislature we are meeting all
demands. 1t was popularity expected
that there would be a deficit this year,
but, on the contrary, We will have
surplus in spite of lavish appropria-
lions. We cannot tell just what the
new insurance law viii bring in as
yet. but it viii contribute measurably
to the income. and there ought to be
an increase of sos 900 from licenses.
think the time is approaching when
the State will have an ample income
from licenses and corporation taxes to
meet any possible demand, and that it
will be found expedient to abolish
State taxation on real ard personal
property. l am a thorough believer in
that course and shall advocate it at the
coming session of the State tax com
mission at Parkersburg next week,
along With some other matters of i'm
portance, tending to equalize the bur
den of taxation, to which | have given
much thought. The raising of State
revenues from licenses and corpora
tons as is done in New Jersey and
Pennsylvania, works no hardship on
any one. while it allows direct taxa
ton upon property to go entirely to
the counties and there spent for purely
county purposes. That would be much
more satisfactory and would abolish
at one stroke the constant claim of IN
equal taxation for State purposes now
SO justly made.
"Therais one other matter to which |
Hr61ic attention should be drawn, and
that is the enormous growth of the
item of criminal charges In State ex-
penses. For the present year $4,000
was appropriated. Notwithstanding
the greatest care there will be a deficit
OF from SIS, 600 to $4,000 for this year
alone. while for 1902. with an appro-
priation of 500 600, there will be de-
felt of $4,000. The trouble is too
great Hberality in certifying expenses
and charges. For instance, in some OF
the counties s'-nQgraphers are allowed
from $40 to as high as SIS or ST per
DAY. we nave mGQe uAcl anu UNI
form rate of $3.50. Another great
drain is in expenses of witnesses sum-
moned but not appearing, and who
have to be gone after. Such witnesses
are really in contempt of court, and
the expense should not be charged to
the criminal procedure, but to the
county. These are but instances of the
great leakage in this item of State ex-
pense, and something must be done
about it. These are not political ques-
tions-they are matters of business,
and as such should be brought to the
attention of the people of the State"
Continuing Mr.. Scherr went into
some taxation inequalities aud injus-
tees with considerable delail, giving
specific examples, but requested that
Els remarks be not made pubic at this
time, as he did not care to be quoted
TTTTTE T 80, s.sss.~s EITWa