Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1903-10-17
DAWSON ON TAX REFORM
Defines His Position on Report Of
Tax Commission.
is WITH GOVERNOR WHITE
And Strongly Urges Honest Consideration
of the Question in its Entirety
His Letter.

His Letter.
Hon. William M. o. Dawson, seore-
tary of state. has addressed the fol-
lowing communication to the Grafton
Sentinel concerning the all-absc rbing
tax question;
You say in recent issue that "the
tax problem still confronts the people
of West Virginia, and that Secretary
of State Dawson stands closely with
Governor White ON the tax question.
although he does not favor the adop-
ton of the bills in their entirety.
Nobody-eertainly neither Governor
White nor myself ever claimed that
the bills of the tax commission ought
to or must be passed i'll their entirety.
The idea that they are some sacred
thing, not to be touched, nor changed
in any way, is device of the opposi-
rtiep.
What the friends of tax reform or
tax revision claim and that is the
very issue before the people now-Is
that these bills should be considered.
Not considered to kill them and to
strangle tax revision, but considered
honestly. to the end that a Just and
more equitable system may be enacted
considered, as we say in reference
to the tariff, by friends aud not ene-
mics.
Because it has been said that these
bills ought to be considered as a whole.
it has been said that it was said that
they must be adopted as whole. The
two things are quite different. Thew
ought to be considered as a whole be-
cause they contain system; and an
amendment in one part will likely
make necessary amendments in other
parts. just as one change in an archi-
techs well-forined plans for a many
roomed house will make it necessary
to make other changes in the plan.
1t is admitted by manv opponents of
the tax commissions plan that the
commissions bills contain many good
features. Well, then, why not adopt
the good, after improving it, if posi-
BILE; reject the bad, if it cannot be
made good? Why not consider? The
bills of the tax commission should be
considered as the basis of tax revision,
because they present a pian in con-
crete; they are worked out the bills
are ready to be worked on; they pre-
sent starter. They should be
considered because they are the work
of men we'll qualified for the work,
who spent much time and study in
their preparation, and who give reas-
ons for their positions.
The % gentlemen who signed the
recent manifesto are opposed to the
considerations of these bills, because
they are satisfied with the present
system. They are logical. IL the
present system is what the people need
aud want, thew do not need another;
and hence it is useless to go forward
II the present system, which is anti
quated and inefficient, and which
works out the grossest INEQUALITIES
aud the rankest injustice. is what the
people need aud want, the 2S gentle
men are right.
Mr.. Dawson then reviews the rec
concentrations of the tax commission,
and concludes:
The friends of tax reform should not
be deceived. Their opponents would
like nothing better than to get them
into fight among themselves over
details, well knowing that few men
will fully agree in a matter of so
many details as a system of taxation
for whole seate.