The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1906-10-20
Amending the
New Tax I. avs
Mn Dit ON lEs ceeEsII 0NS
AS 10 AN INPo RTAlST
MATTER.

3 d
the tax laws. An opposition newspa-
per called attention to the fact that
quite anumber OF prominent Republi-
cans admit the necessity Of revision.
but that they fail to state definitely
what changes should be made.
For this reason Mr.. Dillon took
time to set out his vtsws in the fol.
lowing statement:
.The main features Of the Jaw
need no amendment, In detail there
are many small amendments that may
prove beneficial. The method now
provided for hearing appeals taken
by railroads, pipe lines, ETC., owning
property in different counties should
be amended so the hearing might be
had before some central body or a
court, thus allowing one hearing to
dispose OF the whole complaint,
whereas at the present hearings must
hn had in each county in which the
company may own property.
This amendment would be one to
the old law as there was no change
H. that by. the recent legislation on
the tax question.
1.-THE law should also be amended
authorizing the assessor in counties
where they have road capltation tax
to collect he same along with the
State capitation.
1.-THE sending out of blanks by the
assessors by mail seems to be OF no
particular force inasmuch as the tax
payer usually wants some explana'
tIon from the assessor before he makes
his list, and since 1t is almost impera-
tive that the assessor see each tax.
payer in person there is very little
point in sending the lists out by mail,
especially when the assessor would
not know the postofice address of
more than so per cent. OF the taxpay-
ers.
IAN amendment should be made
providing that all leyying bodies meet
on the same day and make up lists
CT the things necessary to be levied
for ard the amounts necessary to be
raised and that this statement be pub.
lished In at least two newspapers OF
The county at least three weeks, or
more, before the levy is made.
IAN amendment should be made
providing that no interest should be
lraid on county or district orders, that
county COURTS shoul be prohibited b.
strict law from Issuing orders beyond
the amount provided by the levy.
"The law Should be amended All,
thorzing the State and county to ap.
lily by petition to the county court to
correct an assessment by the personal
property assessor When such assess
ment is too low in the same manner
as is now given any Individual whe !
Lis property is assessed TOO high. In
cgher words the State and county
should have the same right to cause
IN erroneous assessment to be cor
rsrted that is given to an Individual.
The old law never gave this right t.
;lp State and counties, hat it is only
fair that It Should do so.
"These. while important amend,
ments, are mere matters of details,
and do not affect the basic principles
of the tax law. The most Of them
I'VE defects that existed in the old law
nd we're carried into the new.
MIR. w. E. Chiffon took the position
IN his discussion at Clay that the effect
Of these laws was to retard develop
lrent and drive money and capital
cut of the State. In reply to that he
vas told that there is as much rail.
road bu1lding in this State as ever be
fore in its history, that wages are as
high or higher than ever before, that
foreign capital could now have The as
suraace that the maximum tax levy
would be on an average not more than
o.,I. -, tho .I,,,,,TR,4e,d ,JNIIoT.Es Iva1,t