The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1903-09-09
win know, what this tax movement
means, before they consent to support it.

Belington Republican. By an act Of
the legislature February 20, 1901, the
governor appointed tax commission,
whose duties it was to draft a measure
or measures, to revise the tax assessment,
revenue laws and the laws in relation TO
incorporation Of cities, towns and vii
Lagos of West Virginia to be submitted
to the next legislature" In the course
of time the committee was appointed
and commenced to make complete re-
mort in the specified time and went on
afterwards to makeea final report, which,
in due course Of time, was presented
through the governor to the Legislature,
and which was allowed to go by without
any action from the legislature. Now the
present state administration is blaming
the legislature for not acting on this
report and have threatened to carry the
matter to the people. Now we are for
reform but let us see how the facts in
the case compare with the action of the
admins tration in appealing to the peo-
pie. The fact about the matter is the
legislators did not have the report long
enough to read and study it and the
people did not see it at all and the con.
sequence was that there We're but very
few people in the state who knew any
thing about the report, nor do they yet,
for if the people knew, why do the ad
vocates of the measure want to go before
them to discuss it. They admit that the
people are ignorant of this report yet.
The legislature could not act upon this
for their constituents did not know any
- - md
to 90 over without action. Provision has
been made for the people to have this
report and be informed upon its contents,
but for some reason it was withheld: The
press and the members of the legisla-
lures goth the report simultaneously, but
too late to study it and to know best
what to do with it. Now the act Great.
ing the commission provided that the Ia
bors of the commission should be COM
pIeted by January l, 1902, and in order
| to carry out the letter of the law it was
necessary for them to make a prelimi-
nary report. On page four of this report
the commission says: I'm order that the
people of the state, as well as the mem
| bers of the commission, may have full
/ opportunity to consider and discuss these
| questions, it is thought wise and proper
| that a preliminary report should be sub
mitted to you tthe governorl of the re-
suit of our investigation far as 1T has
progressed, with some account of various
measures which have been suggested as
deserving place in more effective and
economical system of taxation for the
state. At later day fur.
Their opportunity shall have been had by
he members of the commission for the
study and examination of these matters
| and for the consideration of the views
which have been presented and of any
which may hereafter be presented to
tim, and yet at date early enough to
permit full notice to the public of the
conclusions which may hereafter reach
and the recommendations we may make
we hope to submit a final report, whicl
shall present these conclusions and rec
| concentrations" Now the fact of tho
matter is that when the legislature fail
ed to act upon the question they, them
| selves. took the matter from the forum
of the legislature to the forum of TIL
people in order that the people might
know before action had been taken upol
so important measure as this.