West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1904-12-29
HES FROM MISSOURI.

Journal Staff Writer.
We must apologize to Bro. Whet-
sell, of the Journal, as we had no
idea that we would compel him to
send to Missouri for gentleman of
culture and creative genius to ex.
plain the new tax laws TO the Repub-
licans of Preston county. But we
suppose Bro. Whetsell was obliged
to do this as he had too much re-
spect for the intelligence of Preston
county TO tell them that the new tax
bill was the one gotten up by the
Tax Commission. Every voter in
the State of West Virginia who is a
taxpayer knew that the tax bill pass
ed by the special session Of the
Legislature was gotten up by tonr
eminent Republican politicians,
namely, Hon. VIM. p. Hubbard,
Hon. Geo. c. Sturg iss, Hon. A. 6.
Dayton and Judge Reece Blizzard,
who were not members Of the Leg
islature. They were the respective
leaders of their factions who we're
having heroic struggle for supre-
macy in Gubernational contest.
The fight became SO bitter that they
became alarmed that they would
lose control of the State. They
finally compromised on the illegit.
mate offspring of Expediency, where
by they virtually exempted the rail
roads and corporations of taxation
and placed the burden upon the
shoulders Of the common people.
This probably took place while you
were sojourning in Missouri and you
have not found it out up to the pres
ent time. That's no. fault Of ours.
AS far as you were capable of
receiving enlightenment we pointed
out to you that the Board Of Public
Works had the same authority un-
der the new law TO assess railroads.
Had the Board of Public Works
assessed railroads in proportion to
the way the farmers and other small
property holders were being assessed
under the old law there would have
been no necessity for a new tax law.
But under Republican extravaganza
whereby they had increased the
Government expenditures from s.,
900, 900, under the last Democratic
administration, to S., 900, 900 under
the White administration il was
necessary for them to raise more
revenue. They we're sorely peIplex-
ed as to how they could accomplish
this without offending the railroads
and corporations The result is
that they have given us a tax law
that taxes everything the poor man
has at its "frue and real value"
from the cradle to the grave.
1t is waste of time 10 discuss
question with man who knows
nothing about the new tax laws and
admits that he knows nothing about
the assessing Of railroads.
As a sample Of your argument,
you say:
"rThe Argus asks why the Repub-
lican leaders are going to amend the
Tax Laws. We answer, because
they are not perfect, nor were they
ever claimed to be. No Republican
has ever maintained that the new
tax laws were complete or perfect.
The Republican state platform says
that the measures afterwards en-
acted) we're useful step toward
the end sought"
Another exposition Of your ignor-
ance Mr.. Dawson, who was nom
mated at the Wheeling convention
championsd the Tax Commission
bill, and Mr.. Teter opposed it.
This is the issue on which the gen
tlemen made their primary race.
When The Republicans adopted
their State platform in the Wheeling
convention they had no more idea
Of the nature Of the new tax bill
that would be passed by the Leg.s
lature than you have today.
There was no such declaration. by
the Republican press or Republican
speakers during the campaign, that
the new tax laws were other than
perfect and satisfactory. II was
not until after the election, when
the Republican leaders found out
that the people bad been educated
on the iniquities Of the new tax laws,
that they began their discussion OF
revision.
You may return to Missouri and
rest assured there will be 40 revis
ion OF the new tax laws in the inter
est Of the poor people, as the rail.
roads and corporations will not
permit il.