The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1903-10-09
ALONG PrcHr LINES

The Parkersburg News probably pre-
SCENTS q discussion of the tax question as
able as any that has been advanced. II
has been dwelling on the various fea-
tzrcs In detail, showing much versatility
of the subject matter. That it is max
ing careful research of the question and
especially OF the tax commissions bills
no 6nA who reads doubts. The following
Il but one OF its many able editorials
on the subject:
ssThc tax commission bills are without
champion. Even Governor White adj
mis- they are incomplete. If not other
wise imperfect. Neither the report Of.
the commission, nor the. bills themselves
refers to railroads. II the proposed bills.
had been enacted the effect would have
been to absolutely exempt railroads from
state taxation. The governor levotes
the greater part of his discussions to
railroads and to other mntters upon
which the tax commission was silent,
thus indirectly condemnin9 the report
and rejecting upon the commission It.
self. The slogan is not 4sTax Commits
form" As to the necessity of tax re-
form it will be difficult to provoke q
discussion Every intelligent person
realizes that the present system, as ad-
rninistered, is unsatisfactory; that the
burden of taxation is unequally borne;
that the present system of assessment Is
faulty both rs to real and personal prop
erty, and permits the escape of the
greater part of intangible property. No
corporation in the state will attempt
to evade a reasonable taxation If levied
ON all alike; other states have expo
rienced but little difficulty in arriving
Mt such basis. The one thing that has
caused the difficulty in this state is
discrimination. just so long as certain
species of property are singled out and
attempted to be saddled with taxation,
word, just so long will the controversy
continue in vain. As a matter of fact,
tax reform on proper basis has no OPP
ponent. The opponents of the tax com
mission report are not the opponents of
tax REFORM Since the tax commission
bills have been dropped, there is but
one real issue, and that is direct as
against indirect taxation for state pur-
poses. Gov. White is an advocate of in
his speech"
Anyone who follows Governor White
in his debates and discussions of the sub
ject readily finds that the statement that
he admits that the tax commissions
bills are incomplete is absolutely cor
rect. The reader viii also find the al
fusion made to the railroads strictly
truthful. Also the declaration that
there is some necessity for certain
amount of reform in the tax system is
right. No one denies it. No one objects
to it. In some instances it may be that
the law is not properly administered, but
that Is not the fault of the law, and
IN many Instances not the fault of the
officers. To the contrary. oftentimes it
is the fault of the people themselves,
many of whom evade the htw and; are
in position to evade punishment also.
The present system, if faulty, Is espec-
tally so as to intangible property and
NO one knows it better than the Gbyefhof
ought to. but the substitute offered by
him is no better than what We have.
even not so good. 1t IS coTest +f4s
opponents of the tax commissions bills
are not opposed to such tax reform as
will be beneficial and bring about an
equalization of taxation. or in other,
words. be the means of every man, rid,
or poor. paying according to his worth.
which means an equal basis. The dec
laration that the tax commission bills
have been dropped seems also to be true.
il the words of those who are advocating
the alleged tax reform are to be accepted
as an indication of the real intentions
of those who have been pushing the
bills. And as to direct or indirect taxes
the custom has ever been in state matters
direct. To say the least, the other would
be experimental and might prove very
dangerous. Again. there appears to be
NO occasion for the change.
For many years the campaign slogan
among those who did no. know. but who
appealed to the prejudice Of the people
was tariff reform" At this time with
some it il tax reform The fallacy
of the first was exploded years ago. and
in but a very short time the latter has
untrustwortiiy and unsound. aad there IS
no good reason why the other will not
lc IT. advocates are already beginning
10 crawfi-h.
Afusi, inquiry has been made lately
tslnepf-,lina tho ,,tui.. lave OF .ec state