The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1908-10-08
IG[AssGOCk SPEECH
Continued from pages

| 4 -
Continued from pages
|
much to say about the Republican
party enactlng laws which prevent
the Introduction OF capital into the
state and laws which operate to dis
courage, hamper and retard the de-
velopment Of the Industries and re-
sources OF the state. II cannot help
smiling when I read these declara-
lions. VIII some one please tell me
what the Democrats ever did In the
State or Nation to encourage the in
PRODUCTION Of capital or the develop
ment Of the, industries and resources
OF the State and Nation? II they
mean by these declarations that we
have been assessing the public SER
vice corporations too high. why do
they not say SO? Certainly they have
or ought to have the courage of their
convictions. Ifsany OF these corpor-
ations are assessed too high the
courts are open to them. i believe
that the assessment OF public service
corporations by the Board OF Public
Works is what was in the, minds of
the men who drafted the Democratic
platform but they ought to have said
so frankly.
1t is true that the. corporations OF
this state are now paying more taxes
than they paid prior to the enact
ment of the new tax laws and do
not believe there is a corporation do
ing business In this state that is not
willing to bear its full and fair share
of the burden Of taxation, and / am
sure that no Democrat or Republican
will say that the corporations as a
whole are now assessed too high.
You might be able to and isolated
Eases Of unequal assessments among
them, Just as you can among, 1ndi-
viduals but II true, 1t is not the fault
of. the Law under which the corpora
ton or the Individual Is assessed.
In 1904 the total assessed value OF
al property in this state, was, in
Found numbers $27s,000.000; now
i is 1890, 100000. Z. In i 904 the pub
lie service corporations were assessed
at $SO, 200. o0o;; now they pay taxes
on $252,0OO,0oO Of property.
Assessments Raised.
The assessment of railroads in
1904 was. 30,o0o.o00 and in 1908
S187,0o0,000.
In The express companies OF the state
in 1904 were assessed at $4,000; in
| 1908 the total value OF their prom.
erty for the purposes OF taxation il
| $30S.5O0.
Pipe lines in 1904 were assessed
at $s,s7s,o0o; in 1908 at $685..
900.
Telegraph and telephone lines were
assessed at $ss3Ooo: now at $685..
! 34r.217.
Toll bridges were not assessed by
the Board Of Public Works until in
1908. Previous to that time the,
we're assessed by the assessors in the
several counties Of the state. Thi.
year they are assessed at 1898, 00C
and this does not include railroad
toll bridges.
These are some of the beneticent
fruits Of the tax reform laws passed
by the Republican party. Under
them all property has been assess.
ed instead Of only part of the prop
erty assessed under previous laws.
4 CORRESPONDENCE the burdens on the
property assessed under the old law
have been relieved by the assessment
OF all the property. While this Is
true the amount of taxes levied for
state purposes, other than license
taxes, has decreased from $975, 904,
in the year 1904, to $464.s7O in
1907. In the latter year the residue
of the expenses Of the state were rails
ed upon licenses and taxes upon spec
ial privileges. With the great ue-
selopment and increase OF popula-
ton In the state. due in. large meas
ure to the policies of the Republican
party, there has been increased de-
mands upon the State Treasury In
caring for and protecting those en-
gagged in the various industrial pur-
suits. and in educating the youth and
in caring for the legitimate and un-
fortunate wards of the state.
Many New Institutions,
In order to perform her duty to
her citizens 1t was necessary for us
to increase the minimum school term
of our public schools from four to
six months; to establish ten addi-
tional institutions, namely, tht Blue
field Colored Institute. the Keyser
Preparatory School, three Miners