The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1905-09-09
a woRD 10 COUNTY COURTS.

Like every other reform in the
worlds history, the attempt to estab-
lish just and equitables taxs system
in West Virginia has met with stub
born and violent opposition ever since
it's -ineeptions Fhe common people,
tie small property owners, have for
years borne an ever increasing tax
burden. watching the unfolding and
development Of our fair State, and
have done It without murmur or com.
plant. They have watched the es.
tablishment of great Industries In
cur midst; they have seen our hills
burrowed for the shining black dla4
monds and beheld the iron shaft
pierce the bosom OF the earth whence
there came forth oil and gas in abun.
dance; they have heard the buzz of
The mill and the shrill whistle of the
locomotive, which penetrates even
the mountain Businesses, all working
with one accord to the development
of this State into a great common
| Mtatths w hiS utNtlUDIutnl Ud5
been going on, prlncely fortunes have
heen made by investors and promoters
and the common people have not
been jealous for they were glad to
see the resources of the State devel-
oped. But time showed plainly that
the ever increasing tax burden was
not resting equitably upon the people
and restlessness became apparent.
rhe rich men who had seen the
masses pay the bulk of the taxes for
SO long were unwilling to see o
change, while the small property
owners clamored for reimbursement
Something over year ago the Repub.
lican party undertook this great task.
1t fully realized the magnitude of the
undertaking, but the party OF Lincoln,
Mckinley and Roosevelt never shirks
duty or evades responsibility
when the welfare of the people is al
stake. hence 1t assumed the. obliga-
ton. New laws were passed and
vigorous and determined effort at
their enforcement entered upon. Time
was asked for in order to bring the
promised relief, then the opponents
laughed; the reformers said taxes
might not be materially reduced for
the first year or two under the new
system, and the enemy sneered.
But thanks to the capable, faithful
and conscientious work of the per.
sonal property assessors and the rev.
enues derived from new sources in
the reducing the State tax, a very
substantial decrease in taxes Is made
possible in every county of the State
this first year under the new laws.
The good work of the personal prop.
erty assessors was followed by tha
careful and diligent land commission
ers of the various counties under the
wise and able direction of Tax Com
missioner Dillon and his most capa.
BILE assistant, Senator ]. s. Darst. Mil
lions upon millions of property here.
tofore assessed at a mere nominal
figure has been put upon the books
at its true and proportionate valua-
ton, thus letting the small property
owner for the first time in the history
of the State stand on a just and
equitable footing with the rich per
sonal and corporate interests. The
work of the land commissioners has
been admirable. The task of reas.
sessing the land and minerals of @
great State is prodigious one and
subject to great temptations, yet
not breath of scandal has been
waited from single one of the fifty.
five counties Of the State. Every.
thing seems to have been done in
strict accordance with the law and
in most painstaking manner. But
the land commissioners do not have
the last word on this question. Their
reports are submitted for approval.
1t Is now up to the County Courts of
the several counties to hold ND the
hands of these faithful men. AS we
see it. it is the plain duty of the
members of the. County Courts to
stand pat" on the proposition, and
not attempt to undo the work so ad.
mirably performed. hostile court
could do inestimable harm to sue.
cessful working of the new sys.
TEN. but as the counties will
hereafter be so many Independent
communities, the State tax being
practically eliminated. the only ques.
ton to be gone over carefully is that
OF inequality. II mistakes in juds.
ment are apparent then the court
ought to correct such errors, but a
change for the sake of change should
be avoided, as such procedure wonlI