Sistersville daily oil review. [volume] (Sistersville, W. Va.) 1902-1905, 1904-10-14
A LETTER THAT WILL

The following communication
has been sent in for publication,
which is a very intelligent and
pertinent letter:
Editor Oil Review:
Dear Sir:-Our good Republi-
can speakers and papers are TAX
ing great pains and much time in
trying to convince us that we are
to be greatly benefited by our
new Cor Dawson) tax law.
They tell us that our levy for
county purposes is limited to 60
cents on 500 valuation. But why
did they not tell us that the coun-
ty court has it in it's power to levy
an additional 80 cents on 500
valuation for road purposes ;
thereby bringing our county rate
just the same as under the old
law?
If your taxes are to be no
greater than previous years, why
was the paragraph limiting to not
more than was raised in any coun-
ty in 1904 stricken out of the new
bill? Even if that paragraph had
been left in the bill it would not
wholly have protected the farmer
and owner of real est&tc.
If our taxes are to be decreased
why is our land to be assessed at
it's actual value taking into con-
sideration all minerals or oil or
gas that may lie Hereunder; also
all buildings and improvements?
If the farmer and small house
holder are to be benefciaries of
the new law, why is it that all
things about the house and farm
are to be appraised at their true
and actual value?
Will the farmer think he is get
ting it easy when he leads the
assessor to his corn crib, his wheat
and oats bin, his cellar, his chick
en- coop, his pig sty, and calf pen,
even though the pigs and calves
are not more than one day old?
What will he think of making out
list of everything, both in the
house and on the farm, at it's act.
ual value, and then swearing be-
fore God that it is correctf
When that time comes will he
think that he will be exempt from
a heavy burden of taxation? If
we are so much benefited by the
new Cor Dawson) law, why is all
oil exempt from taxation, only the
farmers one-eighth?
Why is the land owner to be
taxed with regard to all miner
ais, oil and gas, that may lie I'M
der his or her land, when it's being
there does not add one cent to his
income, while millions of dollars
worth of oil and gas are taken
out of our State tax free?
If we are to have such ease in
paying our taxes why is it that
all taxes unpaid on January l of
each year will draw 1870 interest?
Who is likely to pay this usurious
and unjust interest? The rich man
who can write a check and walk
off untroubled? The poor man
who day by day will have to deny
himself of some comfort or whose
family will do without some neces-
sary benefits in order to meet the
exorbitant demands of our new
tax laws?
The farmers of West Virginia
do not stay on their farms be-
cause the farms are profitable. 1t
is because they love their homes.
1t is because they are independ-
ent, and because true West Vir-
ginia would rather dress plainly
and live meagerly than to be
bound to take orders daily, as do
men on public works. If West
Virginian can afford it he will live
good and enjoy his means. 1T he
has but little money he will make
the best of his penury. But
through good or i'll fortune his
one great aim in life is to own
his own home. And if this is true
generally, it is especially so of
the farmer. His home is his king
dom. No matter how poor or hum
hlv furnished. If is his. and. no