The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1906-10-25
Some Things to
Think About
Watch Your Ttax Ticket.

Watch Your Ttax Ticket
am not surprised that Mr.. Nc.
Graw is opposed to the tax ticket
argument" That is a fact that he AMI
no one else can get away from. 1t
was not the primary purpose of the
new tax laws to reduce taxes. The
primary purpose was to produce jus
tice and equality, as was stated in the
resolution creating the State tax com
mission. But we have been able to
make taxation more equal and Just,
and at the same time reduce taxes on
the property Of the people. We hope
to further reduce these taxes, and to
approximate more nearly the ideal
justice and equality. These are the
things aimed at. 1t seems to me that
Mr.. McGraw, as a good citizen of the
State, could better serve the people
and make better use Of his time by
pointing out how these laudable ends
could be reached rather than simply
condemn by false statements and fal-
lacious arguments the effort that is
being made to bring about this desir.
able result.
What do the Democrats Propose.
When the reader has finished Mr..
McGraw's address 1t strikes me that
the first thing he will ask himself is
"WELL, WHAT DOES HE PRO.
PosE?" We have had great deal
of criticism, but no suggestion as to
Improvement. 1t is an old saying
that It is very easy to criticise. A
child may apply fire and burn down
a very fine building which will re-
| quire many men many days to con
struct. I think that the people Of the
State will want 10 know what Mr.. Nc
Graw and his party propose to do be-
fore they put him in power. But, real
ly. progress has been made. No long
err do we hear anything about the re.
peal of the Infamous laws" Mr.. Nc
Claw and his co:lealcrs-if there are
any co.leaders advanced so far
they are now in favor of revision"
Now, If they will tell us what they
propose to do perhaps we might agree
with them and help them to do It, for
we have no pride Of opinion about
this. We are willing to do what is
best-we are willing to listen to any
person who has a fact to offer: but
We are naturally suspicious Of people
who talk about "henchmen;" who I'M
pugn the motives of other men, who
talk about state machines" but who
have neither the ability nor the cour
age frankly to state what they would
put in place of what they condemn.
The sort of thing that Mr.. McGraw
indnlges in might have succeeded
many years ago, but 1t will not sue
coed now, because the people are too
intelligent. -
Mr.. McGraw claims that the appro.
priations for the salaries and expenses
of the State officers and judiciary are
higher than they were ten years ago
This is so. BY a constitutional
amendment the number Of judges was
largely increased, the supreme judges
from four to five and their salaries
were increased; the number of circuit
judges increased, and also their sa!a'
ries increased. The fee system, so
fur as It pertaIned to State officers,
was abolished and the salaries of tho
State officers adjusted. These amend |
mcn:s were ratified by an over-whelm
ing vote of the people. Very proba.
bly, Mr. McGraw voted for them hiu
self. The people having increased
the number Of judges and increased
their salaries, did so, it is presumed,
with the full knowledge that 1t would
take more money to pay them, ami
willie this is true. yet the burden on
the people has been lightened-their
taNes have been reduced. From nine.
ty to uinety.five per cent. of the tax
payers of the State paid less taxes in
1905 and will pay less taxes in 1906,
than they paid in 1904. 1904 was the
last year undcr the old laws and 1906
is the first year in which the new laws
have Feen in full operation; therefore
comparisons can be made between 1904
and 1906.
State Tax Commissioner.
The office Of State tax commissioner
was recommended by the State tax