The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1904-10-26

real estate of West Virginia wa
not bearing it's proper burden of
taxation he should have been frank
and told the people so. 1t is how
ever. generally conceded that real
estate is at present taxed to about
all that it will bear, particularly is
this true of farms where the invest
ment is heavy and the revenue de.
rived from them is comparatively
light. Not satisfied with re-valu-
ing the f.rmers' lands this new bill
passed by special session of the
Legislature taxes his farm products
and stock which have heretofore
been exempt. If other sources of
revenue had been provided suffici-
emit to meet the expenditures of
the state it would not have been
such a dangerous proceeding to
have re-valued the real estate, but
to re-value the real estate and farm
lands without providing other
means of revenue is crime against
every man who owns a lot or farm
1t Is outrageous to tell sensible
people that the rate of levy will be
reduced just in proportion as the
valuation of the land is raised. If
this is to be the case, if no more
taxes are to be raised on real estate
can any one give reasonable ex-
cuse why real estate should be re-
vHiuedp There can be but one ex-
cuse for REVEALING real estate and
that is that more revenue is neoes-
sary to take care of the needs of
the state, and that taxes will be in
creased on real estate.
My party friends tell me that
the laying of the levy for the coun-
ty will be in the hands of our
neighbors and that they will not
dare to make the levy unjust or ex.
brilliant. 1t is not likely that peo-
pie will be any more honest in the
future than in the past and / seri.
ously object to giving into the
hands of the county commission
ers the power to levy taxes that
would prove ruinous to the farm.
ers. 1t is history that the levy is
usually as high as the law will al.
low, and in our own county we
nave exceeded the limit set by the
law already. 1t is by enormous
valuations on real estate, such as
will be done under this new law,
that will open the flood gates Of ex.
travaganoe and lead to unnecessary
and indiscriminate expenditure of
the peoples money. Real estate
has always borne the great load of
taxation and by this law it will be
taxed to three times its present
burden. 1t is the one kind of
property that cannot be hidden
from the assessor. Farmers already
groaning under their burdens will
be made to CRY aloud in their dis
tress. More revenue is to be raised
and no means of raising it have
been provided except this plan to
increase taxes on real estate. No
economy in state expenditures has
been promised but rather increased
expenditures are assured. Sala.
ries of state officers have been
raised and new Offices by the score
have been created. The fact that
state taves on land will in part be
removed means nothing when we
stop to consider that thousands of
dollars of charges now paid by the
state must under the new laws be
paid by the county. 1t is only
robbing Peter to pay Paul
L feel that my party in this state
has left it's moorings and is drift
ing into the pillows of socialism
For that reason / shall refuse in
this election to support Mr.. Daw-
son for governor, and shall sup
port Mr.. CornwelI in his stead
Respectfully yours,
GEO. B. GERAU.
To insure repeal of these laws,
you should vote for j. B Caste for
State Senator, for j. Morris Chap.
man and O. K. Black wood for
House of Delegates.