Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1903-10-20
Dawson On the Tax Bills.

IS an out-and-out kepupiican iroln way
back ana = might even pe possible enat
ne wouion scIuPae iot IMMINENT - 1ss
the tax question as means q gaming
neadway TOWARDS the queer - not'l'T
NATION, as y IS conceded tnat ne mas -
plratIons along tnat nne- Neversne'ess.
ne gives OUT soi'o argument On tne TAN
Dill question IN the uraIeon oen''ne''
from winch we copy a. loiio"s
NoDooy italniy neither uoseino'
!" nue. MOI inyseii-es e' e'A'l'eu snA. '"e
Diiis OF Tue ak COMMISSION ousn. -
must DC Passeu IN ii'c'l enete.y Aue
'oea 'na' .ney are soliie sao'eu 'n'ns' ny
90 % 'oucneu' Dol cnaneeu - any way
= = uev'ce - ''ie oPPos'''on ha. ING
lI'enus 81 Tax ielol'n - 'aA aes's'on
cia''l'---anu 'nae = Tue se'y 'ssue Delo..
tue peopne no"-ls 'na' 'nese o''.s snou'u
pc cons'aefeu' MOI sons'ueisu - KIN
them ana strange tax revision out con-
sioereo nones'iy' - Tue eno 'nae uS'ei
ana more equ'tao'e System may NC GU
acteu-- cols'ueieu. % VIC say ~ ieo'-
ence 70 tue 'aliil' " i'ienus anu no' ~
enemies
because y mas oeen sane 'uat tnese
D'ils ougnt % oe cohs'deieu q wno'e'
y mas Deen sa'u that y was sa'u mat
tney must o. aoopteo as wnoie ne
TWO things are quite QlHeTeHL. u6y
ought 70 be considered as a wno'e Pc
cause tney contain syS.em' anu an
amendment III one part VIII ilKeiy make
necessary amendments IN other parts;
just as one cnan9e IN an arcnitect $ we'll
formed plans Tor many-roomed mouse
will make II necessary 70 make otner
changes IN the plan. II is admitted by
many opponents OF the Tax Commis-
slon's plan that the COMMISSIONS Dliis
contain many good features. Well tnen'
why not adopt the good, after improving
It II possible; reject the bad II It cannot
be made good! why not CONSIDER Inc
bills OF the Tax Commission should be
considered as the basis OF tax revision,
because they present plan IN concrete;
they are worked out; the bills are ready
to be worked on; they present a"starter'
They should be considered because they
are the work OF men Wen quaiined Tor
the work. who spent much time and study
In their preparation and VINO give rea-
sors tor their propositions.
The twenty-eIght gentlemen who sign
| ed the recent manifesto are opposed to
the consideration OF these bills, because
they are satisfied with the present sys-
tenn. They are logical. II the present
system Is what the people need and want,
they do not need another; and hence, 1t
is useless to go forward. II tax system
devised before the days OF railroads, or
telegraphs or steam engines, or tele-
phones; when property was mainly in
the simple form OF real estate and tangl-
Die personally; before the days OF great
corporate enterprises before the modern
business methods were evolved; before
we had cities ana large towns, or street
rail ways, or municipal water works. or
electric lights; before we dug ton OF
coal or made coke, or produced Oil. or
discovered natural gas-lf this sort OF
system, which is antiquated, inefficient,
wnlch works out the grossest inequalities
and rankes; injustice, is what the people
need and want, the twenty-eight gentle
men are right.
What are the main features of the Tax
Commissions plan' | name them In or
der OF relative Importance; Il } A Juster
system OF taxation. (2) the abolition OF
taxes on real estate and personal proper
~ Tor State and State School purposes
80 The payment by the counties of a
part OF the CRIMINAL charges and part
OF the cost OF maintaining persons in
certain OF the States institutions. in or
der to relieve the State treasury and to
promote economy IN the expenditure of
public funds. (4) Annual assessments of
real estate IN order that the rapid rise in
mineral lands may be availed OF in order
that Juster valuation may be had, and
for other reasons. A very important
proposition, especially for the farmer
and every other land owner other than
the owner OF mineral lands; that is coal,
gas and oil lands. Is The appointment
OF State Tax Commissioner, in order to
nave competent and expert head to our
tax system. TO- A license tax on the
taking out OF petroleum and natural gas,
and the digging of coal. To these, Gov
ernor White added tax on gross income
OF railroad companies and some other
public service corporations.
AS to what part the counties should
pay under 3 above, whether one-half or