The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-01-10
SENDS MESSAGE
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II rage One.t
There is one unfailing specific for
these Ills. 1t is iustfce--justice to the
individual man, rich or poor. high or
low, and to all associations OF iniivid.
uals. To every one his rights, from
every n his duty.
Local Government.
Under the new tax laws, the prop.
erty OF the people has been safeguard
ed as neevr before against the extrava-
gance, dishonesty n incompeteacy of
local ievying bodies. This should be
continued and strengthened. I refer
to the limitations on the amount OF
money that can be raised by local
levying bodies. contained in the Acts
OF 1905. Unfortunately the law did
not go far enough as to boards of edu.
cation. Something must be done to
hold down these fiscal bodies, which
spend so mach public money, to bet
ter business methods; to stop graft
the buying of appliances and books at
ridiculously high prices. the awarding
of contracts by favoritism, and the car.
rying over from one year to another
of large SURPRISES, which lead to
waste, graft and extravaganza.
Much has been said In the discus.
sion of the new tax laws, in the past
two years, OF the restrictions on these
local governing bodies. Before they
were enacted in 1905. it was said that
with the great increase in value on
which to lay the levy, and the proba.
bfIfty OF no material reduction in the
levy. taxes would be increased to an
alarming amount. After these laws
we're passed. it was said that it was
an u~pwarranted interference with the
right of local seif-government." II
VIII be seen that these theoretic n.y.
percritics are hard to please. But we
have always had these restrictive laws
the germ Is In the Constitution It.
self. The decision of the Supreme
Court of Appeals in the Braxton COIN
ty case brings out the law and the CON.
mon sense of It. Other States have
such laws; and there Is an interesting
discussion of them In Professor Ely's
fine book. Taxation in American Cit.
les n States" That such laws are
a prominent and general feature Of on.
american government, Is shown by tho
following comment from Bryces' Am
erican Commonwealth.
"The care OF the people for their
financial freedom and safety extends
even to local bodies. Many of the re-
cent constitutions limit, or direct the
legislature to limit, the borrowing pow
ers OF counties, cities or towns, some
times even Of Incorporated school dis.
tricts. to n sum not exceeding a GER
tain percentage on the assessed value
OF the taxable property within the area
in question. Local authorities are al
so forbidden to aid any private under.
taking. Cases, of course, occur In
which n restriction on the taxing pow.
er or borrowing power Of a mlncipal.
tty Is found inconvenient, because q
costly public improvement is rendered
more costly II 1t has to be lone piece.
meal, but the evilaand the abuses In.
cident to an unlimited power of under.
taking improvements, have been so
great as to make people willing to
bear with the occasional inconven.
fences which are inseparable from. re-
striction. The provisions above de-
scribed have had the effect of steadily
reducing the amount of State and
county debts, although the wealth of
the country makes rapid strides"
Let me sum up the principle. as
understand 1t. in a sentence of two:
We want the maximum amount of
freedom OF local government with the
maximum amount OF public good; but
we need supervision and control. to
see that the public good is promoted.
for the public good is the end-the end
Is not the means of obtaining 1t. 10.
cal government, however. is so iesfr.
able In itself that 1t should be pre-.
served. even Mt the sacrifice Cf that
be necessary of a small measure Of
the public good.
recommend as a result OF long con.
sideration Of the problem, that all
these levying bodies-county. munich.
ral and district-meet on the same day
In the year. say, some day in June.
and that each Of them. after ascertain.
ing the balances in the treasury ap.
plicable to the year. make up an item.
iIed list OF all appropriations to be
made for the year, proper blanks and
instructions therefor TO be furnished
by the State Tax Commissioner or the
Auditor who Is TO have authority to
supervise the work. After making up