Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1903-09-10


vania, or Maryland, or New York.
This tax in Ohio produced Sl,6OO,OOO
last wear. | mention this matter be-
cause it is outside of the Tax Commits
sion's report and they could not rec
ommend such tax under the consti
tutional provisions existing at the time
they made their report. This is only
one of a variety of taxes which other
States have adopted. which are fair and
Just to the corporations, as well as re-
lieving the people of unnecessary bur
dens OF taxation.
In Ohio in the last two years they
have reduced their direct taxes from
twenty eight cents on the 800 to thir-
teen and One-half cents on the 800, and
constitutional amendment is pending
this fall to amend their constitution
(Which is very similar 10 ours in this
respecU so as TO permit the Legislature
to classify property for purposes of tax
alton. This, if adopted land think it
will be) means the elimination OF di-
rect State taxes in Ohio.
Pennsylvania, as you know, for
generation has not LEVIED any direct
taxes upon the real estate Of Pennsyl-
vania. The street car and railroad cor
pOratiOns of Pennsylvania are required
TO pay eight-tenths Of one per cent OF
their gross receipts TO the State, and
also a tax of five-tenths Of one per cent
annually on their capital stock and four
tenthS of one per cent annually on their
bonded debt or loans The railroads
and street car lines in Pennsylvania pay
nearly s., 600, 600 annually to the sup
port of the State government
In Ohio the tax is one per cent upon
the gross incomes Of the railroads,
amounting to about 81, 100, 900 annually,
and on the street car lines TO nearly
$500, 600 annually. This is in addition
to the present direct tax Of Is! cents on
the 500 valuation.
In Maryland the tax is graduated on
railroads, and runs from eight-tenths OF
one per cent upon the first $1,000 per
mile of gross earnings, TO two per cent
on the earnings in excess of $1,000 per
mile. Maryland has but half of the
railroad mileage that West Virginia has.
The Baltimore and Ohio has special
charter in Maryland whereby it only
paws tax of One-half of one per cent.
None Of the railroads in Maryland pay
any direct taxes to the State, but pay
this tax upon their incomes instead.
I he receipts in 1902 from railroad tax
for the support of the State government
in Maryland was over S22S, 900. Com
pare that with the $50, 600 paid by the
railroads in this State for State and
State School purposes, and with our
mileage twice as great In Maryland
their receipts for State purposes for the
fiscal year ending September 3Oth, l9O2,
were s., 63l 900, or double the receipts
of this State They do not levy any dl-
rect taxes in Maryland for the support
of the State government. The direct
taxes levied there are seventeen cents
on the 500 against our thirty-fve cents,
of which ten and one-half cents is for
the support of the public schools. one
and three-fourth cents for free school
books and the balance TO eNtinguish the
public debt. They raise twice as much
for general State purposes in Maryland
as we do in this State, not dollar oil
which is derived from direct taxation
of personal and real property of the
State.
Look at what has been going on in
New York State. The annual expenses
of New York State are about what they
are in Pennsylvania, apprONlmatlng
SO, 0OO, 600 a year In 1899 the direct
State tax in New York was twenty-four
and four-tenths cents on the SlOO; in
1900 il was reduced TO nineteen and SIN
tenths cents on the 500; TO twelve
cents in 1901, and further reduced to
only one and three-tenths cents In 1902.
Direct State taxes will be wiped out al
together in New York if the movement
TO amend the constitution so as not TO
require a direct tax for the support of
their schools and the funding of the
State debt is adopted. You see they
have got the tax down to practically
nothing as it is.
Now my contention is, and the con-
tention of the State Tax Com mission is
that we do not need to levy direct State
taxes in order TO produce the revenues
to run the State government, and that
we should move along the lines that
have been found to work so well in New
York. New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Mary
land. Ohio and other progressive States.
1t is not d new and untried method to
raise the necessary revenues TO run the
State government by the indirect syS-
TEN. 1t is not an unfair method. With
all due respect TO the ObiectorS, 1t is not
an unconstitutional method. 1t recog-
niZeS that the county is the unit OF as
SeSSment and makes the county the
unit for the levying of direct taxes, re-
serving to the county and its subsidiary
divisions. the personal and real proper
ty contained therein for purposes of To-
cal taxation. IL is sound as an ecOnom-
,5,,, 4 faf agff
ship. 1t will come sooner or later in
this State.
The men who compose the Tax Com
mission include the the largest taxpayers
in the State. men who are at the head
of railway and coal production, attor-
neys of great learning who represent
numerous corporate interests, and they
did not report either an demonstrations
al method nor an untried method. They
did not report anything which would be
oppressive to the development and bus
mess interests of the State West Nir-
glnia is no longer an undeveloped State.
1t is the first State in the Union in the
production Of white sand. oils and nat
ural gas. 1t also ranks first in the pro-
ductIon Of hard woods. 1t is second in
the production of coke al 1t ranks
third in the production OF bitumiuouS
Goals. 1t is rapidly becoming the first
State in the manufacture of glass. It's
agricultural and horticultural and man
ufaCturing interests are large and va
ried. 1t is all mistake to suppose that
the conditions of West Virginia are diff
ferent from what they are in Pennsyl-
vania. Ohio and other States which
l.. 6
raising taxes for the support of their
State government.
Excuse this long letter, but the peo
pie should know the facts and the peo-
pie should have the right to a fair con-
Sideration by their lawmakers of the
reports, made by the authority of the
Legislature, which seek to reduce the
burdens of general taxation.
am. with respect,
Very truly yours,
lSirpaiA AruEpT y NurTu