The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1906-10-25

from dc STATE bank examiner IS inter
estihg a showing me amount "a ds-
post and especially IS showing ma.
the increase IN deposits was greater
this year than ever before
l19OS ). Id. SG2, 655. 76s 81
1904 .................. 6S,575, 1873 %
1906 .t...........I. es,S2S.2sO %
1906 NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 7s,72s,22S 90
A Loss Of 100000.
There is another side to the picture
that is not so pleasant to contemplate
that would be Of interest-the period
from 1SS9-1S92, the Republican admin
istration under President Harrison,
ana from 1S93-1S9G, covered by the adj
minlstration under President Cleye'
land. Let us look at the valuation OF
horses and farmers live stock and
farming Implements during these per
iods, as published in the auditors re-
ports. This Is the value assessed for
taxation. The total value Of horses,
mules, etc, under the four years Of
Harrison's administration was $29,'
100000; under Cleveland 1t fell to $751;
100000, decrease of $4,000, O00N The
value Of cattle was $24,0O0,000 under
the Harrison administration: $780,
900 under the Cleveland. Sheep, the
value under the Harrison administra-
ton was $3,944,0OO; under the Cleve.
land S3,253,O00 The value of farming
implements under Harrison was ST.
5000; under Cleveland $4,046,0 900.
Total decrease in the values of the
above items under the Cleveland ad-
ministration. compared with that of
Harrison's was SS,S00,00O. Now, 1t will
be noted, OF course, that there should
have been an increase under Mr..
Cleveland, because the State should
have grown in development, Not only
was this increase prevented, but there
was an actual loss of nearly $9,000,0OO
in these four items of farmers prop
erty alone. What the total loss of the
whole State was can scarcely be APP.
proximated, but that 1t was enormous
is conclusive.
Some More Democratic Predictions.
In 1904 they predicted an increase in
taxation when the new laws went into
effect, andf0-arned the people to
watch your tax tickets" In 1906 that
did not happen, and they said that it
was postponed until 1906 There still
being a further decrease in taxes In
1906, Mr.. McGraw seems to think that
we have postponed the calamity until
1907 Mr.. Cornwell places 1t five years
hence. These predictions have proved
false. If any predictions of Mr. Nc
Graw and the Democratic leaders
about the new tax laws have proved
true, cannot recall them. So far as
| can recollect everyone of them
proved false. And still they keep OH
predicting.
Public Printing.
That there was extravaganza, waste,
If not something worse, under Demo.
cratic administration, am sorry to
say. I take no pleasure in referring
to these things, and | shall refer 10
but one item.
From 1890 to 1896, a period of seven
years lthe last years Of Democratic
administrationl the public printing,
binding and stationery cost the tax.
payers SSSS 103.S0, or yearly average
Of nearly $55,0OO. Under the first
seven years Of Republican administra-
ton, 1S97-190S, the payments out of
the State treasury for the same pur.
poses was $15S,604.52, a yearly average
Of less than $4,000. 1t is true that the
law was modified in the appropriation
bill of 1897 so that certain institutions
should pay for their own printing,
binding and stationery out Of appropri-
atoms made to them for that purpose.
But counting in that, there is still AN
enormous saving in;this expenditure,
though no change has been made in
the law except the modification above
noted. The saving is the result Of the
application Of business methods, hon.
esty and reasonable economy, and the
absence of gratis, favoritism and
fraud. have no desire to pursue this
subject further. We are compelled TO
refer to it from self.defense. Some Of
the older citizens will remember the
printing scandals, which began away
back in 1872, and how the State treas.
ury was thereby pillaged and robbed.
Fellow Citizens: On the 9th day Of
November you will go out to the polls
and vote. This question Of taxation
touches you all alike. whether You be
Democrats or Republicans The new
laws have benefited you without re-
gard to your politics. The officers OF
the government from the governor
down have been faithful to the trust
you imposed in them, and now 1t Is |
lip to you to pass upon the whole
question. If you want these laws re-
pealed, or If you want to trust their
revision" to their enemies, you
should vote the Democratic ticket. If
you want these laws upheld, your
taxes kept equalized and reduced and
these laws amended and perfected, so
that taxation will bear more and moro
Justly upon all the citizens and prop.
erly of the State, then yotl should
vote for the party which enacted these
laws, which stands responsible FOR
these laws, and which will give its
best endeavors TO amending and per-
fecting and strengthening them to the
end that we may approximate more
nearly to u fair, just and efficient
system Of taxation II is submitted