The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1906-09-28

and friends here, irrespective Of
political party.
Senator Elkins is on tour of
number of the cities of the State
looking after his varied business in
terests and discussing politics. he
came here from Parkersburg, where
he spent day or so and leaves here
tonight or tomorrow for Grafton
and Philippi on his way home to
Elkins.
Senator Elkins is at his very best,
genial as ever and in the best of
health. He is much pleased to
meet Clarksburgers as it has been
some time since he has been here.
BE always had warm feeling for
this city and classes it among the
best in the State.
Senator Ell1ins very graciously
granted the Telegram editors re-
quest for an interview on the great
questions of the day as to state and
national politics and talked in a
most interesting and helpful way.
81 think, said the Senator.
from all sections of the State I
have heard from or been advised
that our party is united on state
and national questions and the peo-
: pie of West Virginia are for the
Roosevelt policies, which are the
national issues in this campaign.
sIn State matters the new tax
laws speak louder for themselves
than / can. They have brought
good results so far as equalizfng tax
alton and taking the burden off the
poor man, the small property owner
and the farmer is concerned. It is |
fair to say that at least rs per cent. !
of the people of the State now pay
less taxes than before. Right in
your own county the tax for all
purposes, city, school and State is
but 60 1-2 cents on a fair valua-
ton. This is a remarkable show
ing and in many other counties
throughout the State the tax rate
IS as low as 40 and As cents for all
purposes. Think of only $3.50
taxes on 100000 worth of prop
erty. This, if nothing else is
gained by the tax laws, commends
them to the favor of our people
"a reduction in taxes for State
purposes in the last two years has
been made which is of great benefit
and lifts the burden. The reduc-
ton has been from 35 to LIZ cents
Tor State purposes reduction in
the aggregate of about ~ cents in
rate. This relieves some of our
people and can not be disputed.
cit can not be charged that the
State administration is under the
control of corporations and rail-
roads. The railroads of the State
have been assessed in amount equal
to all the farm lands of the State.
Some Democratic leaders complain
that the railroad assessments of the
railroads are too high. I have ask
ed them to go tell the farmers the
railroad assessments are too high,
but they say they will not do so.
The farmers at least Of the State
are satisfied and should even be
gratified.
2 esUnder the new tax laws the
State administration has added to
the taxable property more than
$500, 900 of property. The former
valuation or assessment was about
$500, 900 and this 100000 bore all
the burdens of taxation and paid all
the expenditures of the State and
her institutions. Now, we have
1850, 600 to bear the burdens that
S3OO,o0O bore before. In other
words we have added two teams to
the one we had before to pull the
load of taxation.
There is, some complaint rs to
some valuations being too high and
mistakes made and that the tax
laws need to be amended. No new
system of taxation or tax levyingI
was ever made perfect at first and |
mistakes will occur in the e:.Force-1
ment of any new law. But thei
people of the State can trust the |
Republican party to amend the tax
laws, where they need Amending,
and in the light of experience apd !
cotrdt any mistakes made.
: siThe State administration is
struggling with great questions and
great reforms of various kinds and
should have the support of all good
citizens in this direction.
Whatever else may be said of
TIC State administration, nobody
Il has challenged its honesty and +
integrity.
$50 much for State issues. Now
AZ In national -issi1es In the last