Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1907-06-22
THE 3. & o!s TAXES.

There seems to be quite discussion
MS to what per cent. OF the entire
amount of taxes the Baltimore & Ohio
railroad paid in this state last year II
has been freely said by learned men
of this city that the aforesaid com
many paid one.eleventh of the total
amount OF taxes collected, and great
many people have believed this enron
eous statement. report of this kino
lis calculated to do a great injustice,
so we think it proper to give the facts
about the matter as near as we can
collect them.
1t is true that the Baltimore & Ohio
Railroad company is assessed at
about one-eleventh of the valuation of
the entire property OF the state. But
this is quite different thing from the
question of payment OF taxes. Accord
ing to State Tax Commissioner A. b..
White. the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad
company contributes in taxes to the
support of the state government, for
general and school purposes, nearly
four per cent or less than one twenty.
nth OF the entire revenues of the
state. Thus we see that only small
eral and school purposes is now de-
rived from a tax upon the assessed
real estate of the state. '-
1t is extremely doubtful il the Bal
timore & Ohio Railroad company ever
made such a rash statement as to say
that it paid one-eleventh of all the
taxes in West Virginia state, county,
district and municipal. Its officials
know better and surely would no, put
themselves on record as to scatter
broadcast such an erroneous state
ment. The tax commissioner has cor
rectly said that the Baltimore & Ohio
railroad pays very little of the NUM-
cipal taxes paid in this state, ana
there are many counties, districts, etc,
which it does not touch at all. IT
would be difficult to state offhand how
much of all the taxes levied on real
estate in West Virginia Estate, county,
district and municipaD. the Baltimore
4 Ohio does pay, but it would be
no more ridiculous to say that it paid
them all than to say that It paid one.
eleventh. The tax commissioner has
further publicly stated that it is alto
gether possible that it does not pay
three per cent of all the taxes emu
merated, and taking into consideration
the indirect taxes, such as licenses,
etc, it would not be surprising to find
that the Baltimore & Ohio pays such
a small proportion as to make the
Indignation of anyone claiming quite
10 ridiculous. -tAt 49,
In spite Of the above facts, however.
IL is not infrequent that some one
connected with the Baltimore &, Ohio
railroad tries to make it appear how
unjustly il is being compelled to nav
such large proportion Of the state
taxes. Why certain individuals love
to indulge in such erroneous remarks
we are not able TO say unless the com.
pany Is paying them for saving so
anyone who puts himself to the trou.
bic can investigate the above state
ments and we are sure he will find
them substantially as stated. The fact
of the matter is that the railroads are
only paving their Just proportionate
snare and they are only doing this
because the courts are compe1ipg
them to do so. For years thew have
escaped taxation, and if ANYTHING is
wrong il is that their assessment is
not high enough. Time win show
whether the legislature did right in
framing such law that brings them
to justice All the courts so far have
sustained the board OF public works.
and there need be no fear as to the
decisions Of those judges who have
not as yet handed them down 1t
should be the pride OF every citizen
decisions Of those judges who have
individuals are taxed in proportion to
their respective wealth-the only true
basis Of taxation.