The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1904-09-27
swHosETAxEs WILL 1EINcREAs-
Fl BYTHE NEW LAWs2

probation. But when men of even or
binary Intelligence give a moments re-
fiection to the tactics of the leaders
who are doing everything in their
power to mislead and deceive the PEG
pie, it can be seen that such a catch
all policy is the sheefest nonsense.
If the valuation Of the farmers be-
longings are doubled, they will have
to sell what they possess and leave
the State; the Y day the same paper
says the oil operators are leaving the
State on account Of the burdens OF the
tax laws; on a third day we are
reminded that If we increase the
valuation of Fairmont property SIX
or seven times nearly every property
owner along Main street will have to
go out of business or have a trustee
appointed" Next We may be pre-
pared to hear that railroad companies
will have to abandon their trackage,
the banks lock their doors and the
coal companies cease operation, all on
account of the iniquitous and damna-
BILE Dawson tax reform laws. Ines
anti-tax re1ormers seem to take it for
granted thai people of all classes are
| Sullible fools. ready to listen to all
their arguments. Now, let us reason
together a little. We need a certain
! mount Of money this year, just as we
| did last, and as we shall next year,
to meet the expenses of the State,
| county and municipal governments,
and to make various Improvements
--l-al f1r NV tho rn0r1h
| themselves We shall need just SO
much, no more, no less. the amount
to be determined by b people who
are chosen to look after the matter;
in the State they are b members OF
the Legislature: in the counties, it is
the County Court and in the munich
palities it is the town council. With
this proposition before us, then, let us
proceed. We need a stipulated
amount of money. The new tax laws
provide for many thousands of dollars
in special franchises and privileges not
heretofore accessible. 1t is from this
source that the State will
hereafter be derived, thus enabling the
abolition of the State tax altogether,
but because of Democratic obstinacy
it could not all be removed, but the
Republicans succeeded in reducing it
gradually from 35 cents. on the hun
bred dollars to five cents. Having
thus provided for raising the revenues
for the State government, what re-
mains to be provided for? The cOun-
ties and towns. Who is to pay the tax
for these? All holders of property,
Visible and inSiSih1n Tho nyyuorc rf
Goa lands, he owners of oil lands.
the owners of timber lands. the OWL
ers of bank stock, the owners of all
stocks OF every kind, the railroad COM
panies, the telegraph companies, the
telephone companies, the pipe line
companies. in fact all persons who
have property Or money IL notes OF
what kind soever a to pay in pro-
portion to the true and actual value OF
property in their possession. Tha
being the case. it is clear that some
persons will not nave so much tax to
pay as they have been paying. That is
certainly evident. Heretofore he
farms have been assessed at nearer
the ac~tua1.value than any other form
! of property. The natural
Is LItdl NE IalllleE VIII reap me great
est reWard from the REIMBURSEMENT. We
note above that the Democrats state
that the valuation OF the farms will
be doubled: the same paper complains
that city property in Fairmont is to
be, increased six or seven times. Why
this difference? Simply because h
farms are now assessed six or seven.
yes. in many instances from ten to
twelve times, as much in proportion
to their value as are the city proper
ties. These are plain facts, but they
are true just the same. Big tracts of
timber, and large coal fields so almost
untaXed according to the present plan.
These must and will be reached.
Now, a word as to the rate of tax
alton We hear a great deal said about
the increased valuation, but nothing
about the reduction Of the rate of the
levy. In order to get all property on
a prope basis, the actual value was
taken. Let us take an example. Sup
Pose you have a farm worth three thou
sand dollars, and that it is now on the
assessors books at fifteen hundred
dollars, at 50 cents on the 800; you