West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1904-12-08
IT HURTS.

IL seems that the Journal and one
of its staff writers have grown hos
tile and demonstrative towards The
ARGUS because it gave a few facts
relative TO the manner in which rail
roads will be assessed by theBoard Of
Public Works. II The ARGUS ex
poses the method by which the rail-
roads are 20 be assessed by the
Board OF Public Works, and gives
the farmers and other small tax pay
ers an idea Of the inlquity OF the
new tax laws the Journal and those
who defend them must not display
their teeth with the expectation that
It will deter The ARGUS in exposing
the inquisitorial and infamous tax
laws.
The Democratic party is not re.
sponsible for the said tax laws, and
any opinion that individual Demo
Gratis may have held or expressed
regarding the new tax laws is not
germane to the subject and does not
commit the party. We are not
dealing with individuals, but politi-
cal parties and their actions. II
the Journal and its cohorts can show
the people that the Republican party
has enacted laws which will be ben
ehcial to the poor people it will
have accomplished that which will
prevent reopening of the night
sweats which il experienced during
the excitement of the political cam
paign.
The Journal will not attempt to
deny that the Republican party is
wholly and solely responsible for the
new tax laws. 1t has stated in its
editorial columns that "every Dem.
ocrat in the Senate and House voted
against the new tax laws" so there
is no room for quibbling on that
admitted point.
The ARGUS renews its charge that
the railroads will be assessed by the
Board of Public Works Just as they
have for the past eight years. Every
one familiar with taxation knows
how ridiculouslY low the Board of
Public Works have assessed the rail
roads heretofore, at eight per cent.
of their "true and real value" How
do the farmers and other taxpayers
like this sort of an assessment
The Journal may expostulate and
grow red in the face, but it cannot
successfully controvert the fact that
the Board of Public Works had the
same authority under the old law,
that they will under the new law, to
assess the railroads. Why is 1t that
they have been assessing the rail
roads SO outrageously low for the
past eight years What assurance
has the Journal and the defenders of
the new tax laws that the Board of
Public Works will not assess the
railroads in the same manner in
which they have done heretofore -?
None whatever. 1t is playing on
the credulity of the people when it
asserts otherwise.
THE ARGUS has no desire. much
less the time and space, to indulge
in abuse and personalities. 1t is
still in favor of genuine tax reform.
but not the bogus brand which the
Republican party has imposed upon
the farmers and other small tax
payers.
THE ARGUS would candidly ask
the Journal why it is that the Re-
publican leaders announce that thew
will revise the new tax laws at the
next session of the legislature ? II
they are such equitable laws, as the
Journal processes to believe they are,
why are they to be revised before
put in operation2 Why not permit
the people to test the equity of them?
If the Journal is not cognizant OF
the fact, the Republican leaders are,
once put in operation they will con-
denim the Republican party in the
State Of West Virginia.
The Journal must not imagine that
THE ARGUS is going to permit it to
s'umber on the new tax laws now
that the election is over and they
are engaged in the distribution OF
thc pies. IL will disturb its repose
as long as the iniquitous tax laws
| are on the statute books.
A DEFICIT.