West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1908-02-06
PLAIN TALK
What "TaI Reform" Is DOins for
the People.
Why EXTRA SESSION MAS CALLED
Tho Public Schools Crippled and County
Roads Impassabls-Th
Remedy.


county-those who pay the taxes
which provide the revenue to run
the county and state governments.
1t is FOLLY to say that the taxpayers
are not interested in who shall be
elected as our county and state Off.
| GERS.
The ARGUS appeals to the sober
judgment, reason, and common sense
aad not TO the political bias and
prejudice OF the voters. 1t has nj.
ready shown that the real cause for
"tax reform" was due TO the enor.
nous increase in the state appropri
ations and the extravagant manner
In which 1t was expended. 1t Is only
necessary TO quote ex. Gov. A. B.
Whites The of spontaneous mass
meeting" notoriety) message to the
legislature urging change in our
tax laws. White SAID il was really
imperative To change the laws in
order to "RAISE MORE REVE
NUE." is there a sane taxpayer In
the county Of Preston who believes
yon can reduce taxes by raising
more revenuef No. But the Re
publican machine was too willy TO
tell the people that change IN the
tax laws was for the purpose of rails
ing more revenue. So it promul
gated its famous and deceptive slo-
gan of "rax Reform" and said to
the merchant, farmer, and workman
that by "tax reform" they meant to
assess the corporations so high that
they would have to pay about all
the taxes in the state of West Vir-
ginia. But the first dash out of the
box they played the loaded dice and
the result was that certain corpora.
tions paid $4,000 less taxes in
1905 than the previous year under
the old tax laws. This was "tax
reform" with a vengeance.
The ARGUS is glad to say in its
humble way it helped to expose this
Infamous species Of "tax REFORM"
Now it wants to tell the people
what "tax reform" is doing for them.
1t has crippled the public schools
and made the county roads impass.
able, and at the same time IL has
materially increased the taxes. The
result Is the Dawson machine has
become so panic stricken that Daw.
son has called an extra session of
the legislature and asks that the rep.
resentatives Of the people pass laws
restricting the county courts from
levylng beyond a certain per cent.
Why has he done this? For this
reason: He wants to try and lower
the taxes for 1908, as there Is an
election to take place in November.
He IS sure there IS no salvation tor
his machine unless he can reduce
the taxes. This is his scheme, and
THE ARGUS makes a special request
tina, the people study his scheme
well, so they may thoroughly under
stand IT, for 1t means a further Grip.
pliDg Of the schools and the aban-
donment Of the county roads.
Then whatr Why, after the elec.
tion is over the Dawson machine, II
it is successful (it will not be) IN
electIDg its ticket, will at the regu.
lar session Of the legislature take
the restrictions off the courts and
the counties will need so much
money to repair the damage to the
schools and roads that IL will be
more profitable to sell your holdings
in West Virginia than to pay your
taxes. But when you offer your
property foi sale you will find no
buyer, for they have heard of Bill
Dawson and his tax laws.
Is there no remedy for this1 Yes.
Wha, IS it1 Simply this: Eject
state ticket and members OF the state
senate and house of delegates who
will abolish the army OF office-ho
ers the Dawson machine has created
and reduce the state appropriations.
BY rigid economy a couple OF mil.
lion dollars can be saved which will
reduce taxation and at the same
time give US sufficient revenue for
all state and county purposes.
Think this over. Nov IS the time
for the taxpayer to study this ques.
tion and TO investigate the record Of
the Dawson machine that he may
make up his mind how he will vote
at the primary and the general cleo
tion.