The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1904-07-26

any amendments and others with i'm
portant amendments.
In converting the Legislature in ex
traordinary session al this time for
the purposes above mentioned and in
asking your favorable action on the
proposed bills of the committee OF
four (Which have been printed and
which accompany this message and
which ask to be considered in CON
nection therewit.D it is felt that the
expense and trouble of holding such
special session are amply warranted
by the great good sought to be ac-
complished for the people.
Among the measures proposed by
the committee of four is a joint reso-
luton proposing an amendment to the
Constitution, by adding section to
article VIII, as follows:
"Section !. The Legislature may
levy or refrain from levying State and
State school taxes on real and per-
sonal property, and if such taxes be
not levied there shall be no forfeiture
Of land under the next preceding sec
ton for the failure to have it charged
Wit, any such taxes"
This amendment is proposed be.
cause in the opinion OF some lawyers
! it would be unconstitutional or I'M
safe to take off all direct State taxes
on property. If this amendment
should become part OF the Constitl,,
ton these objections would be re
moved and the power OF the Legisla.
ture in this respect undoubted.
If the Legislature approves Of the
submission of tbs amendment, per
hitting the abolition of all direct
State taxes, the people can vote on
the same this fall and thus register
their wishes in this matter two years
earlier than if no special session had
been had. This alone, in my estima-
ton. justifies the call for the session
at this time.
If the Legislature approves the bills
submitted herewith, the reduction in
the direct State taxes in 1905 will be
eleven cents, and in 1906 another elev-
en- cents, thereby reducing in two
years the direct State and State
school taxes from thirty-fve cents on
the hundred dollars to thirteen cents.
This reduced taxation should be en-
acted into law now, and by the pres.
ent legislative body; and, if this is
done, the expense of holding a special
session is saved several times over in
every one OF the many years to come.
But this is not all of the tax re-
auctions proposed The bills provide
not only for the aggregate reduction
of twenty-five cents OF direct taxes in |
1905 and in 1906, but also provide that
for the year 1907 and thereafter
there shall be no State nor State
school taxes levied, provided that the
proposed constitutional amendment
is ratified by the people this fall. The
clifton of all direct State and State
school taxes. if the people want it so;
thus doing away with the inequalities, |
injustices and unfairness of the pres
ent system of levying direct taxes for |
State purposes on the property of fit |
ty-flve counties, with all their unequal |
and varying valuations. To secure
the abolition of the present system of |
direct State taxes is, in my judgment. |
worth many times the cost of any
special session of the Legislature.
The administrative and economic
reforms in county and State govern
ment provided in the proposed bills
are SO very great and desirable and
effect such great savings, that they
alone would, in my opinion, warrant
the converting of YOU bodies in eX-
session.
The provision for a reassessment
of the real property of the State in
1905, it being five years since the last
assessment. is another matter, l be-
lieve, which Of itself justifies conven.
ing your bodies in advance of the reg
llar session of 1905.
The proposed changes in the meth
DDS of assessing certain public ser
ice corporations and the creation of
he Office of Tax Commissioner are
most desirable and worthy of imn;edi- /
tie action by the law making power.
The provision for the crea ton OF Tax :
l deem very important, I
because it is almost a necessity to
lave head to the assessing and tax
ng department of the State. {
In every light we may view it. the
measures as agreed upon by the com
nittee of four, if enacted into law by
our bodies, are ample justification