The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1904-10-03
tcontinluied from Second Pase.5

"a to whether or no they would abol-
ish direct taxes. They are responsible
fori IS failure and any effort to shift
On the Republicans is the u1erest
81 buncombe. They tried to amend
this amendment by putting on a pro
vision for a capitation tax for one dol
K lar. This was clearly demonstrations
al and was so ruled by Speaker Meats.
The Republican amendment amends
article IS of the constitution under
The head of land titles, while the Dem
ocratic rider amends article 4 con-
corning Qualifications for voting.
The Democratic howl that the Repub-
licans are opposed to any capitation
tax is the veriest nonsense.
Not Sincere.
If the Democrats had been sincere
in wanting to make the poll tax eff
fective they would have supported
Senate bill i, chapter 4 of h acts Of
1901, which section provides for the
collection Of theapoll tax by the asses
SCR at the time the tax is levied
by him and gives him full power in
the matter. The Democrats did not
support that bill. They showed by
their votes that they we're not inter
ested in the collection of the poll tax
as a revenue maker, for whenever in
the 25 years of the control of this
State have they really tried to pass
better laws for the poll tax? They
opposed the Republicans when they
tried to pass the law referred to which
VIII make possible the collection of
IS per cent of all the poll taxes. The
Democrats want nothing as a revenue
maker. They oppose the reduction of
taxes. All they want is a chance to
disfranchise every poor man white or
black and run the government for
their own ~emolument. Their posing
as the friend of measures is
grotesque. Democrats claim now that
they want to make the payment. of a
one dollar bill the test of a mans fit
ness to vote. And a one dollar bill is
she measure of their estimate of the
value Of the elective franchise.
No Criticism.
In the next section of the document,
we fnd a number Of the bills set down
without comment, including House
bills 90, 80, "a, p, II and -, and Sen
ate bills 5, 10, 6, Z II -. Apparent
~ the Democratic compiler had moth
ing against these bills and thus &C
knowIedges about ne-ha of the Leg
i%sIature's work as well and good. We
are glad o see the Democrats are salts
fed with something, but are somewhat
at loss to understand why they have
not discovered some fearful hidden
r. ! y orj some tn-rih1o attacks on /
the peoples rights between the lines
of these measures. 1t was certainly
an oversight that these bills were not
scathingly criticised and we would not
be surprised if the author OF the pam
phiet were taken to task for his failure
10 discover some woefully bad provis-
ions in them.
Buts the writer makes up for his fail
are in the next part OF the document
in which he jumps, nimbly to Senate
Dill No. 13, providing that the estate
Of every deceased parso shall be list
ed by appraisers appointed by the
court on whose order a personal repre
sentative is authorized. The writer
says that a bad amendment is found
in that paragraph which. says "1hat
XXX JNCSh ltilIr SIidit NC ltlltieI Gu blJoIi
lany note, bond or evidence of debt
Pwned by the estate OF a deceased per-
bpn unless such note. bond, or other
evidence OF debt has been listed by
the persons appointed tc appraise his
estate We learn from the Demo
cratic author that this amendment
carries a suggestion OF practical con-
iscation for the benefit of the debtor,
OF the notes, bonds or other evidences
Of debt owned by a decedent to the
exclusion Of all interests OF his heirs
ar creditors in case the appraisers
fail to list such notes. etc. for assess
nent.' This is absurd. There is no
eonfiscation involved and a reference
10 The act amply proyes it. The OBJ
iecI of the new law is simply to bring
property out for proper taxation
nobody is going 20 be hurt by it.
The appraisers are supposed to list
these notes, bonds, etc, and it is no
more than right that they should do I
70. {
Who vii! Be Hurt? {
Senat bill No. % is passed over
tightly, by this eminent Democratic {
critic, but Senate bill No. 10 is object t
- q Lw u.s. nv