Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1906-02-24
GOVERNOR DAWSON HERE
Members Of Board Of Public
Works Had a Busy Session
WERE RENDERED A BANuQE ]
Sixty Guests Assemble In Honor Of
of the officials Governor Dawson
Speaks on Important Topics.

| Speaks on Important Topics.
The members of the West Virginia
state board of public works arrived
in Martinsburg on Monday for the
purpose Of sitting as board Of re-
view and equalization of taxes for
Morgan, jefferson and Berkeley coun-
ties, and the session in the court house
| attracted a number Of represt ntative
men from the three counties, includ-
\ ing several members of the Jefferson
county court and other prominent
| residents of that county. Several gen
tlemen from Morgan were also present.
The members of the board are
Governor Dawson, Auditor Arnold @.
Scherr. State Tax Commissioner G. w.
Dillon, Assistant Tax Commissioner j..
s. Darst, superintendent of Schools
| T. @. Miller, Attorney General G. W..
May and State Treasurer Ogden. Ac-
companying these gentlemen ale M.
! l.. Davis, clerk to the board, and
Harry Grey, assistant clerk.
The morning session was devoted
wholly to a review of the valuation of
tarln lands in Jefferson county, and
Assistant Tax Commissioner Turner,
of that county Editor HI, l.. Snyder,
of Shepherdstown, and other we'll
known residents of that section were
heard. The INVESTIGATION was led by
Governor Dawson and Tax Commits
sioner Dillon, and it developed the
fact that, as rule. the people down
there were salts fled with the valuation
placed on their lands, as being fair
equitable. The valuation of land in
jefferson county is more than $3l per
acre.
The afternoon session was de-
voted to Berkeley and Morgan coun-
ties. and lengthy and interesting
meeting was held Assistant Tax
Commissioners Smith and Rigsby,
Judge A lexander Parks, Postmaster
CIohan and several other prominent
men of the city and county were ques'
toned by the board, with the idea
of getting at the facts concerning the
valuation of property here. There
seemed to be general opinion that
the valuation had been placed OF a
conservative figure.
Monday evening, after hearing testi-
mony from residents OF Berkeley and
Morgan counties, and adjourneds-she
session after a strenuous and interest
| ing time. The chief feature of the
day was the debate on the relative
value of lands in Berkeley and JEFF
ferson counties, and this served to put
| the members of the board III pos
session of sufficient evidence to de-
termine pretty clearly what should pc
done in regard to the. valuation OF
each. There was large crowd of in
terested spectators at the afternoon
| session, and the tilt between the
counties was followed closely by all
present The Trend of the evidence
of the residents of Jefferson was in
the direction of a niger valuation for
Berkeley, but this is strongly COM
bated by the Berkeley county people,
who were emphatic in declaring that
the valuation of land here is q
reasonable one.
While no IntimatiOn was made as to
the probable action of the members of
the board concerning Berkeley county,
| it is generally believed that the mem
bers of the board are about convinced
of the fairness of the work of the as
isstant tax commissioner here, and
| that the present valuation will stand.
One thing set at rest by Tax Com
missioner Dillon, however, was the
method of arriving at the "true and
actual value" of land. There was an
oft repeated declaration during the
davis proceedings by witnesses that
| the productiveness of farm should
determine it's value, but in CONVEX
sstion with a representative OF The
World later. Mr. Dillon declared
that the value should be fixed
| solely by the estimated price the land
would bring if put mp at public sale
uuder the usual terms and the ordi-
nary circumstances. He also said
that in determining the assessment
problems, this fact is kept in mind
by the members of the board.
1.-THE GOVERNOR INTERVIEWED.
| A representative of The World
found Governor Dawson and several
other members of the board in the
lQover nor's room at the Berkeley hotel.
Mr.. Dawson protested that he hadn Z
anything to say that could interest
the people, but good-hunforedlv cou,
sented to answer few questions con.
Icerning the tax laws and railroad
Legislation.
The governor was shown a letter