Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1904-10-06

yened. IL was announced as the hten-
ton of the party leaders to force them
through the legislature under dictum OF
marty caucus. An examination Of The
bills by members of the legislature and
other citizens, however, proved eonelu-
sively that they were crudely drawn, full
of Inconsistencies and antiquities, and
provided an inefficient system of taxa.
ton. containing many obnoxious features
sfIeeting the assessment, collection and
disbursement of State revenue. On the
discovery of their defects, which was
simultaneous with their presentation,
notwithstanding the pressure of political
influence, many Republicans-members
OF both branches OF the legislature-re-
volted against their passage, insisting
that under their oaths as legislators and
with sense of duty TO their eonstit.
uents, they could not aequiesce in many
of the provisions of these badly drawn
and inefficient measures; but nOtwith-
standing the contention among RepUhli,
can members of the legislature over the
passage Of the bills. so potes.tIal was the
influence Of the part whip in the hands
Of Governor White, NJ. Dawson and the
Republican managers, that many of the
/ bills were forced 10 passage against the
/ judgment of the ablest aud most con.
/ sentative Republican members Of the leg
/ isla;ure. That the passage OF these has,
was only intended for political effect and
was an attempt only TO deceive the
voters Of the State is manifest, for so
far as they pretend to relieve or reduce
the tax burdens of the people their in
efficiency is evidenced by the bills them
selves; and the fact that many of them
are made to take effect SO far in the
! future that a subsequent legislature a.
! its regular session may repeal or amend
| them before they become operative.
shows that even their advocates were not
willing that they should become laws
/ without fuller and more comprehensive
/ investigation and knowledge Of their
| probable workings.
It is the purpose Of this article TO
briefly analyze some of these measures
and to endeayor to show their effect upon
/ the taxpayers.
Failure to Pass Good Bills.
1t must not be forgotten, however, that
! Mr.. Dawson and the Republican leaders
are ~ eulpable in failing TO approve and
pass meritorous bills as they are for
approving and passing defective and UNI
: Just laws, bearing harshly upon the peo
! pie in their operation, and it must not
| be forgotten that MIR Dawson is respon-
| sible tor every act of omission and com
/ mission of the late extraordinary session
! of the legislature for he cracked tho
/ party whip and forced conclusions on
/ every matter before that body.
| By the extraordinary session an OPP
! portunity was made 10 enact good aud
/ satisfactory measures TO relieve the tax
/ payers. An equal opportunity was made
! 10 repudiate bad and unsatisfactory en-
actments which would add to their bur
! dens.
I In the insanity Of demagoguery Mr.
| Dawson and his co-laborers deliberately
/ chose to enact laws not demanded by the
| people. and which must work 10 general
disadvantage, and to ignore and refuse
to pass the very measures which they
| had advocated as the essential elements
of tax reform.
The Effort TO Make the Payment Of Cap
itation Tax a Prerequisite TO the Right
to Vote-The Hypocrisy of Republican
Managers on this Subject.
Among these measures which they had
advocated most thoroughly, and which
were denied even courteous considera'
/ ton when they came before the iegisla
ture, was their own proposition TO make
the payment of capitation tax pre-
requisite to the exercise Of suffrage. The
Tax Commission, on page 80 Of its pre-
iminary report, showed conclusively that
over one fourth of the entire voting pop
| nlation of the State contributes ALSO
lutely nothing to its maintenance along
any line. As a matter Of fact out OF
total vote OF 220.G92 there were g..
Gl7 voters in 1900 returned delinquent
for the non-payment Of taxes, and yet
this G3,6l7 voters not only maintain the
political balance Of power in the State
but this class of voters dominate and
control every election. When, therefore,
the Tax Commission suggested that a
constitutional amendment should be sub.
mitted 10 the people by and through
which these voters should be disqualified
from exercising suffrage unless they paid
some taxes % the State government, a
universal sentiment of approval followed
the suggestion. But political exigency
, proved more potential than popular de.
mand. II is said the Washington con-
ference decided that the adoption Of this
measure would be disastrous 10 the Re
publican party in West Virginia, because
perhaps so per cent. OF these deliuqu snts
are migratory negroes and other bird8Of
passage whose votes are always record
ed in favor Of the Republican party;
therefore any limitation upon their right
10 vote would 10 that extent, initiate
against a continuance Of that party in
power So this popular and just meas
IRE was consigned 10 the tomb AT the
Washington conference.
Democrats Attempt to Secure Amend
ment 10 Constitution.
The Democrats In the extraordinary
session Of the legislature determined 20
prove the sincerity Of the Republicans
upon this question. Therefore when the
resolution relating 20 the submission Of
a constitutional amendment. providing
that the Legislature may levy or re-
fIain from levying State and State
school taxes on real and personal prop
erty, and If such taxes be not levied
there shall be no forfeiture Of land under
the next section for the failure 10 have
I il charged with any such taxes came
Nd on second reading the following