West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1908-10-22
ABOUT TAX ASSESSMENTS.

ABOUT TAX ASSESSMENTS.
The Republican organs are making
n great TO do over the fact that Louis
Bennett does not like the Dawson tax
laws. and set up their usual cry about
tax lodging" IL has become such
common thing for this cry to be
raised against anybody who refuses to
declare his belief i'm the divine origin
of the Dawson plan of taxation that
little heed is paid TO IL any more.
But the utter falsity of the charge as
directed against Louis Bennett Is so
easily shown that IL may be well TO
state the case here.
The specific charges against Mr..
Bennett are based upon the fact that
his tax assessments have been large.
ly increased I'm Gilmer and BraNton
counties. OF course the same could
be said OF anybody else and every
body else, owning property In those
counties. or In any other counties of
the state. The fact is, however, that
Mr.. BENEFITS criticism of tax laws
SO far as they relate to- him personal
ly, Is not based upon the increase I'm
his assessments. but upon the fact
that his lands are assessed at n high
or figure than those OF other persons
owning lands OF the same character
In the same locality.
In 1904 Louis BENEFITS lands I'm
Gilmer county. all unimproyed were
assessed at $3.50 an acre. while the
average of assessments throughout
the same district was $267, including
Improvements on such as were inn
proved. many of them being farms
with cultivated fields, houses, barns
and stock. In 1906, under the new
ln.. NJ l., 4.
sessed at Sl5 an acre, while the gen.
cral average OF the valuation I'm that
district was 1887. Later the
timber was sold to the Interstate
Cooperage Co. and assessed to IL, and
the lands without the timber were
lowered TO $40. So that as the mat
ter now stands, Mr. Benefits wild
lands. unimproved, but with the tim
Der sold and assessed separately. are
assessed at higher figure than the
average OF lands, many Of them high
ly improved farms and with valuable
buildings.
Mr. Bennett owns lands I'm Birch
and otter districts of Braxton cOun.
Ity. The average assessed valuation
of lands i'm Birch district Is 1920;
the lands of Mr. Bennett are as
sessed at $14.22. The average valua-
ton In otter district is $11.57; Mr.
Benefits lands are assessed at
S12.57. In Braxton county Mr. Ben
nett claims tract OF land that an
other man claims-a Republican, by
the way. Both claimants keep ii on
the assessors books, and both pay
taxes To Mr.. Bennett II is assessed
at $500 an acre; TO the other claim
ant at $500 an acre.
IL l. Or -.
| that Mr.. Bennett complains, and he
certainly has the right TO complain.
Let us look at the record of some
of the high priests and apostles of
tax reform in the state, and see how
they fare under the same laws
In Charleston Governor Dawson
owns large brick building on Sum.
meTs street, which is assessed at
81 $50. Last year he was offered
$4,000 for Il. and asked 100000.
Ex-Governor White lives on Muir.
doch avenue in the city OF Parkers-
burg In a handsome home that sits
on lot Of 200 feet front and run
ming back TO great depth. Attached
to II at the back is n tract of two
acres OF land. The Murdoch avenue
lot is worth from $4,000 to S25, 900,
without the house, which Is n large
and handsome one-worth $4,000 TO
$4,000 The two acre lot lying back
of II is worth at least $4,000. A fair
estimate for the whole would be
100000 to $4,000. II is assessed az
$23 $50
Candidate Glasscock has a hand
some home in Morgantown, worth, at
conservative estimate, $4,000. II
is assessed at $1,000. In another
ward in the same city he has a piece
Of real estate that conservative men
acquainted with real estate values in
that city estimate TO be worth from
$4,000 20 $4,000. II Is assessed at
81 800
Is II any wonder that these three
priests and apostles Of the tax laws
| sit serene and happy while other
men, who End themselves discrimin.
ated against by the laws, rail out
against them? The new laws dis.
eliminate I'm favor Of the Dawson
White-Glasscock outfit, and, there
fore, they favor the laws They dis
oriminate against Mr. Bennett. and
he has q right TO kick.