Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1904-07-28

franchise taxes collected, together
with the interest Of the present in-
vested school fund. The fund so Gre
ated takes the place of the direct
State school tax levy, which was 10
cents.
Bills dealing with the States asy-
lums and kindred institutions make
several important changes and along
the line of local home rule rather than
general raid on the State treasury.
1t is proposed to make each county
pay $50 annually for each patient it
sends to the insane asylums at Spen-
Ger and Weston, Deaf, Dumb and
Blind School at Romney. the Home
for Incurables at Huntington and the
Boys Reform School at Pruntytown.
Another feature provides for abolish
ing the separate boards Of directors
for the asylums at Weston and Spen-
Ger and puts both under one board.
A bill creating the office of State
tax commissioner recalls one of the re-
forms fought for by Governor White.
This officer will have general super
vision over sheriff5 and assessors and
will have the power to prosecute de-
linquent officials. 1t is expected this
bill will do much to uniform the sys-
tenn of assessing and collecting county
taxes.
It is proposed to assess all property
at its full market value instead OF at
60 per cent of its valuation, as has
been the rule. This, of course, will
leave the amount of the levy optional
and the levy may be regulated to meet
the desired en1 without injustice.
The Republican members Of both
Houses went into caucus Tuesday
night, and strenuous efforts will be
made to force the bills through under
the party lash.
The Democratic minority declare
they are in favor Of tax reform that
will take the burden off the farmer
and small property holders and place
it on the corporations and large land
owners. They say the proposed meas
ures are merely compromises agreed
upon by Republican factions, and they
will put it up to the majority to show
whether they are in favor OF real tax
reform by offering the original bills.
Yesterday the tax billsprepared by
the Republican committee were intro
duced in both houses and referred to
committees.
The Joint resolution proposing
constitutional amendment to allow the
Legislature to do away with the State
and State school tax on property with
out working forfeiture Of real estate
was also introduced in each house.
In the House Of Delegates the
Democrats gave notice OF an intention
to offer an amendment to the resolu-
ton.
1t is understood that the amend
mend to be offered is one dealing with
the capitation tax and making its
payment prerequisite to voting. II
the Democrats stand together and
demand the incorporation of this
amendment in the resolution as a
condition precedent to their support
ing it, they will either secure its ac-
ceptance or defeat the resolution, as
the Republicans have not the neces-
sary two-thirls in the house to adopt
the resolution without some Democrat
ic votes.
In the Senate, Senator Campbell of
Jefferson introduced a resolution re-
lating to the expenditure Of about ten
thousand dollars in having system
of taxation prepared and submitted
by commission chosen by authority
of the Legislature, and calling for
the consideration OF the bills prepared
by that commission instead of those
prepared by committee raised by
partisan body in Washington.