The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1904-09-26
DEMOCRATIC TAX PLAN
WOULD TAKE EIGHT YEARS TO
BRING RELIEF TO TIE CLASS
ES NOW ovEReURDENED
WITH TAXES.


lican program. What do they oftel
this year, after having had their can
didate for Vice President Honorabl.
Henry G.. Davis, n their last candi
date for governor, Hon. John j. Holt
as members of the Tax Commission
who joined with their Republican col
leagues in unanimously recommend
ing the tax bills prepared by h a com
mission? the corner stone of which l.
( h abolition of all direct State taxes
and the raising of the necessary rev
| enues to run the State government by
indirect taxation in their State plat
form. utterly repudiated the views OF
Davis and Holt.
They in~ferentialIy denounce any
other system of taxation than the di.
rect tax system. They offer no hope
or encouragement. nor do they breathe
a word of sympathy for the reduction
of State taxes.
If their platform means anything. it
means that our present license and
franchise tax laws are wrong and
should be abolished. According to
their doctrines we doubly tax every
~'licensed'' resident pursuit or occupa-
for the privilege and then
on what it has or owns. Hence this is
not an equal and uniform" system of
taxation for it Zoe not bear equally
upon all persons and property alike.
The Democratic platform means that
direct State taxes should be increased,
by the abolition of the present license
and Indirect taxes.
Their platform declares that the
only relief the tax payers have from
the inequalities, injustices and unfair
ness OF the then existing tax laws, is
10 pass a Law providing for the call of
a convention to frame a new consti-
tuition for the State. The present
constitution. made by the Democrats
themselves. they contend will not per
nit Just and uniform" tax laws to be
passed.
Suppose the Democratic plan of af-
fordirg TAX reform" is to be carried
out. In 1905 the Legislature provides
for submitting the question TO the
people. In 1906 he people at the
general election vote on it and author
the convention. In 1905 at the
general election. the people elect b
members of this e body. In 1908
the convention meets and frames a
constitution. with every interest jeal-
ousIy guarding against any loop holes
for ':tax REFORM"
IN 1910 the people. we will say, rat
Il new constitution at the general
election. In 1911 the Legislature
to enact the laws necessary to
everything to the new organic
and will be in session, 10 doubt.
ill late in the fall. BY 1912 the new
avs will be in force. And all this
large expense to the taxpayers.
And tina is the Democratic pro
No wonder that the people are
lstounded. No wonder h a the in
.erests which now escape any taxation
:huckle with sIee. No wonder that
Hon. John J. Davis submitted a dis
;enting report in the Democratic State
objecting to the platform
ecause of its "indefinite character"
n the tax question.
On the leading State question be-
ore the people of this State the Dem
Gratis have neither a fixed policy nor
Il honest and practical solution to
fer for the evils admitted by all to
Sisy in our tax laws and their gross
v~asion, resulting in throwing an un-
ue share of the public burdens on
small property owner
The Democrats simply say wait
years. and let's see what sort
: q combination we can get III Of q
institutional convention and legisla-
ION by the law-making power there
Was eve q public asking for bread"
wen . harder or fintier stone?"
The Republican State platform is in
contrast and says that the end
is the abolition of direct State
on property And a Republican
legislature il less than a month af-
sr had wiped out six-sevenths OF all
State taxes, reduced county
and opened the door for fairer
ssessmenr of all kinds of property,
GLIDING those now largely escaping.
it'll reduced taxation as the certain
oal. Which party's principles on
re tax question will the sensible tax
ayers of West Virginia approve The :
Iswor is TO tie given in November.