West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1904-11-03

THE NEW TAX LAW
As Viewed BV aPOrlland District
Farmer.

Up to the prcsen, time have said uothiu
for publication. but after having read an
reread the Acts OF the Extra Session of IN,
w. Va. Legislature aud figured for myself
l am compelled to take firm stand agains
what some people call tax reform. Now ~
brother farmers let us lay aside politics an,
reason this question together sm
farmer of Portland district and have beer
thinking for some time that we farmers at
paying too much tax in proportion TO wha
we are worth.
In order To know whether my taxes will b,
higher or lower under ,he new tax law,
take my last years tax ,eceip, aud from ,hi
find that my land is valued ON an averag,
at $500 per acre. This same land woult
sell readily for SIS 90 per acre and woul,
likely be assessed "a, that with The building.
included.
200 acres at 81 90 ............sIIo o
200 acresRt SIS oo...............7o 1000 o,
Here is a difference Of 5000 o. To be taxed
on already. We all remember tina, the
assessor valued ordinary horses tins year at
$50. to SIS % and COWS ot SIS to SIS
Sheep at s2.oo and nothing under a year
oil. Compare this, If you will, with the
the price at which they would sell next
April aud we have quite difference also,
add to this your timber, your coal and all
other things you possess at theis actual value
and we will begin 10 sec where we arc.
Now, who owns the most of the land, timber
and coal1 The farmers, OF course My
neighbor adj lining me sells his coal to Mr..
Elkins--we will say for SO 90 per acre
keep mine. Mr. Ellins, no doubt, will lie
taxed for his at $40 90 per acre. Will not
be also taxed for mine at SO 90 per acre.
beside the surface. They tell us that there
will b. II cents taken off this first year,
what IS II cents or even q cents to the
increase ia the valuation. Your bank stock, ,
your telephone stock etc, will be assessed to
You whether you have your fam paid for or
not. Here is a man that has $4,000. 90 IN
notes cash or bonds, he Is assessed ON
$1,000 90, this would bring him hi, interest
or profit without any labor. We may have
a $1,000 90 fam assessed on an equal basis
with hts money or notes and we arc com.
PEELED to labor early and late with our whole
family before we realize anything. Who
has the advantage l., II the Armer2 Mt.
Then why must we be taxed n 1905 aud the
moneyed men escape tll I0oO2 Il is more
revenue they want go pay the extra expenses.
How will they raise more money without
raising the taxes2 The State Tax Com.
missioner will receive $1,000, 90 per year. the
assessors salaries increased aud many other
unnecessary expenditure Of our money.
We have not forgotten et how the County
Court raised The salary of The Clerk Of the
County Court, when he was getting more
each year than half Of ms will ever be worth
What do we get in return for our money
collected yearly for laxes2 Scarcely any
thing. Then TO raise the valuation Of our
property three or four times higher and add
to that many things not heretofore taxed at
all, we object Vote as you please for
president hut, let MS turn down Dawson,
Dayton aud every other msu that is re-
sponsIble for the new Tax Law. We hold
the balance Of power Le, US show them
that we are the people aud must be
respected. a VOTER.