The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1904-10-06
i He REASON FOR REALNALUE.

1.-THE Asoh8FoR@REAd-NNAALllUI
Thesassessment ofproperty a tits
real valuation asproposed b y he
new tax81aWs is thesSpoint most fire.
lsquenGy attacked bySsDemocrats and
most grossly inexperienced
feature of tax legislation is one which
mas been given thesmost careful and
painstaking consideration and it is
amply justified by every consideration
of fairness and honesty. It will work
no injustice to any taxpayer within
the boundaries of this State and Will
Observation-Disclosures to the benefit OF
all. TIE sweeping reduction made in
the rate of State and county taxation
makes it absolutely certain that tax
alton as a whole will be lowered
1.-THE consideration which caused the
trainers of the new bills to provide
for assessment at real value are, right
and reasonable, and cannot be gain
Esaid. For many years great 1nequa!-
tiles have existed between the coun-
ties of the State and indeed between
different districts of the same county,
as 10 assessment There could be 20
! 3lESl-pNI " el IL SLobi
throughout the State. It was seen
that all the counties were not paying
their Just share of taxes. 1t was
proven that under the many stand
ards which prevailed in the State
there was rank discrimination and
much inequality. Aside from these
things the present system of assess
ing property at false values is calcu-
lated to work injustice to h State.
The total value of the property of the
State as shown by official statistics
appears much smaller than it really
is: 1t was in order to put all property
on a fair, honest and equal basis that
the system Of real valuation was de-
vised. And in order that taxes might
not increase, such reductions were
made as to insure lower taxation The
tax evies were cut inYhalf- The 35
cents direct State tax was reduced 30
cents. The maximum county levy
was cut from ninety-five cents to
sixty cents, while the levy for the
school building fund was made 20
cents instead of 40 cents And fur
thermore in order that everybody
might be assured of equal and eN-
act justice in the assessment Of these
taxes, the Office of tax commissioner
was created, thus making a respon-
sibIe read for the tax system of the
State. It is the duty of the tax CON-
missioner to see that the laws con-
corning the assessment and collection
Of all taxes and levies. whether of the
State, or any county. district or mu-
r;;no1 oprnoror;~r ~ &c itbfu11y
enforced. He shall visit from time
to time TIE several counties and mu-
nicipal corporations of the State, in
spect the work of the assessors, jus
tees and other officers and shall con-
fer with them concerning such work
for The future. He ma make such
suggestions as seem Doper, and give
such information as will tend to pro-
mote just taxation and diliSent col
lection of all taxes throughout the
State. He will require the appoint
ment of assistant assessor in
counties whose population does not
exceed 10000, two assistants where
the population does not exceed 30
OO0 and three assistants in those 9TH
ers where the population exceeds 80
300 These assistants are appointed
by the assessor, with the advice and
consent of the county courts in the
county wherein they are appointed
Every provision has been made in the
law for the fair and honest assess
ment and collection of taxes. The
tax commissioner is appointed by the
governor. by and with the advice of
TIE Senate. He holds Office for six
years n cannot. be his own sue
ceSSOr.
The Democrats w grossly mis-
represented these features of the
new laws, but we have set forth here
the whole proof in the matter and it
will be readily seen that a vast i'm
provencent has been made on our ole
system, the effect of which will be 10
get a more just and one assess
ment than we have Yer had and to
bring about an actual reduction of
the o of taxation paid by the
great majority of our people, includ-
ing the farmers who have long suf-
fered from the injustice n Unequal
tiles of the old system.
1t might be recorded n~-closing that
Henry G.. Davis and John H. Holt. both
- IT,