The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1906-10-12

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properties Of all puplic utilities. For
instance, the assessment Of telephone
and telegraph companies for the year
1905 amounted to 100000 in round
numbers, while for the year 1906 the
assessed value is $S,2S7,O0O in round
numbers. The express companies
were assessed in 1905 at 1882, and
in 1906 at $1O7,271. Railroads were
assessed in 1906 at SSG,OOO,Ooo and in
1906 at S176,OOO.OOO. Pipe lines were
assessed in 1906 at $S,9OO,0OO and in
1906, $27,762,0OO. Water companies
we're assessed in 1905 at S25O.OOO and
in 1906 at $4,000. Thus you will
see the wonderful increase in the val.
ues Of these properties which are now
brought on the tax roll to assist in
paying the burdens OF taxation.
The Total Taxable Values
in this State for the year 1906 In
round numbers will be $9OO.OOO,OOO.
which is an increase over the total
taxable value for 1905 Of three times,
and It will be the exception in this
State to find the farmer whose prop.
erty has Increased in that ratio. I
will venture the assertion that 80
per cent. of all the farmers in West
Virginia will pay from 25 to 80 per
cent. less taxes for the year 1906 than
for the year 1904.
again you have been benefited by
the fact that great deal Of new
property, property never assessed be.
fore. has been brought on to the roll
to help bear the burdens, and certain
men required to pay taxes that were
In the past returned delinquent and
contributed nothing to the support Of
our State government. Under the
law requiring the State school capita
ton taxes to be collected by the as
SCISSORS when the assessment is made
we find the collections amounting in
round numbers to $4,000 more than
was collected in the year 1904, when
the sheriff collected the capitatlon.
Think OF this immense amount Of
money brought into the State school
fund and that, too, from people who
had In the past been returned deliR-
quent. This is clear gain and the
direct result of the change in the law.
again We find there has been as
sessed for the year 1906 leaseholds
or chattels real in the State amount
ing to the stun Of $35,000,000 approx
mately. This, too, is a net gain, as
this class of property had never been
assessed heretofore, and therefore
has come in for the first time to help
bear the burdens of taxation. am
sorry to say that this is not
The True and Actual Value
Of leaseholds in this State. The coal
leaseholds in some OF the counties
have not been assessed at more than
one-frth of their values, although
every effort has been made on the
part of the office of the tax commits
sioner to have them listed at their
full value, but on account Of certain
defects in the law and the great OPP
position that comes from the owners
Of this property. the assessors in
some of the counties Of this State
have failed to do their duties in as
sessing these properties. Proceed.
ings are now pending in some Of the
courts TO remove those assessors who
have failed TO do their duties and to,
compel them TO ASSESS these proper.
ties as the law provides.
1--WE finI a most serious defect in our
statute which operates against the
State. 1t is this. There Is no provi-
sion authorizing the State or county
to appear before the County Court or
any other tribunal and get correc-
ton of an assessment where the as
SCISSOR has assessed the property too
low. The law provides that an indt'
vidual when his property has been
assessed too high. may appear before
the County Court and have the said
court correct any erroneous assess
ment against him. If it appears that
the individual has been assessed more
than the value of his property the
County Court may enter an order cor.
recting the same, but II the personal
property has been assessed too low,
even at onc.tenth Of its value, the
State is powcrloss 10 get the error
corrected in the courts, and unless
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