Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1907-05-04

dnlged in that such laws would drive
capital away from us leaving the state
in an undeyeloped condition. It was
also stated that if the railroads were
taxed at their true and actual value
they would stop repairs and the cone
gtruction OF new lines, etc. Time has
hown that oll these predictions were
merely fabulous and unwarranted. The
corporations have been taxed, and
they are now employing more laborers
at increased wages than ever before.
The hidden wealth Of this state Is
being turned into money as rapidly as
possible The railroads are over-taxed
for the want OF cars to haul our prod
ucts to the market Every one has
work that desires IT, This is the pros
perons conditions Of affairs today.
Now, this being true, who would want
to return to the old system Of taxa.
ton whereby the few were compelled
to bear the burdens Of many? Not
single man Is so unwise as to even
think Of such a preposterous thing.
But while the new tax law has to
great extent equalized taxation, It is
not by any means a perfect law
Quite a number of amendments could
be added which would materially in
crease the benencient features of the
measure. For instance, In the abb
scence of statute money, loaned by
non-residents to citizens OF this state,
and secured by deeds of trust on real
estate situated here, cannot be taxed
only at the domicile Of the lender.
But there can be no doubt but what
the legislature has the right to tax
property secured by mortgage at the
place where the real estate is stu
ated. But inasmuch as the legislature
has never done 80, notes and other
epidences of debt held by non-resi-
dents are not taxable here. This be.
ing true Berkeley county alone viii
loose the taxes on several hundred
sessed here. This important feature
should be thoroughly discussed by the
members of the next legislature, and
If possible made alaw 1t is a well
known fact that several non-residents
loan their money in this county Just
in order to escape taxation. Such
tax dodgers should be compelled to
pay their juct proportionate share.
and We're it not for the fact that this
money cannot be assessed until the
Legislature speaks on this question IL
would have been placed on the per.
sonal property book this year
The list of beneficiaries of deeds OF
trust recorded here were~~ thoroughly
compiled, and while it has failed as
to non-residents on account of the law
being silent on the question, It has
succeeded in bringing a great MANY
thusand OF dollars to light which be-
longs to residents of this county. and
on which one cent of taxes has never
been paid This year this money will
be assessed. and who can find fault
with the assessors for listing this
money when they are worn to do
their duty to the best of their ability.
1t is not right that the poor man
who owns his little home worth four
or five hundred dollars should nav
taxes on it at its true and actual val.
ue when rich men have thousands or
dollars loaned out on which thew do
not pay one cent. Such inequalities
as this caused the republican party
In the spite of severe opposition. TO
herald the cause of the poor man
have heretofore successfully escaped
taxation at its true and actual value
Let the people help the assessors in
thelr endeavors to do their duty. Give
IN your property as you would have
every man give in his. See to il that
you act just as honestly in this mat
ter as you do with your nearest
neighbor And then the assessors
will have all the available property
in the county assessed at a fair value,
and the levy will be low thereby max
ing 1t equal on all. When this is sue
cessively accomplished taxation will
cease to be a political question, and
both parties will be as keen TO cor.
rect defaults in the law as possible.