The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1908-10-08
oniY PARE al the rorls.

Only Part Of the Work.
|. You ask .iftthis is all the Repnbli-
can party has done in the past 2
years. No. it is only part OF the
work done at the extraordinary SEES
sion of the legislature OF 1908, but
this in my Judgment is sutticient to
inspire the confidence of the people
In the party that enacted these laws.
Previous legislation by the Repub-
lican party OF this state has been like
wise wholesome and beneficial and
has been endorsed BY votes OF the
people in previous campaigns In con-
tinuing the Republican party in pow
er. Time does not permit me to fni-
ly review the splendid work of our
previous legislatures.
It may be our Democratic friends
are referring to the new tax laws be-
cause they say in plank Of their
platform that they favor revision
OF the tax laws OF the state Note
their language:
I'VE favor such revision OF the tax
laws of the state as viii. while pro-
viding sufficient revenue to pay the
expenses OF the government, econom-
ically administered, bear equally up
on all kinds OF properly and mot OPP
crate to discourage. hamper or retard
the development of the Industries
and resources OF the state" Do you
know just what they mean by that?
| confess I do not. Why did thes
not give us a bin OF particulars?,
Why did they not say just how they
would revise these laws? In what
particular will they amend them?
Sec. of Article 10 OF our Constitu-
ton provide sthat Taxation shall he
equal and uniform throughout the
state, and all property. both real aud
personal. shall be taxed in proportion
to its value to be ascertained as d.
rected by law. NO one species OF
property from which tax may be
collected shall be taxed higher than
any other species of property of equal
value, etc.
u ESScoSuteuL VI True " aIue.
You will observe that the Consti-
tuition provides that both real and
personal property shall be taxed IN
proportion to its value to be ascer-
tanned as directed by law. These
new tax laws, which our Democratic
friends would revise, provide that Ail
property both real and personal,
whether assessed by the assessor, as Z
sistant assessor or other person or
officer. or by the Board OF Public
Works, or any tribunal, shall be as
sessed at its true and actual value,
that Is to say: AT the price for which
such property would sell II voluntar-
lily offered for sale by the owner
thereof upon such terms as such
property the value of which isssought
to be ascertained, is usually sold. and
not the price which might be realized
II such property was sold at forced
sale. do not believe our Demo-
cratic friends would change this.
And then among other things this
law provides that after this year all
real estate shall be assessed annual-
ly. Why assess personal property
each year and real estate only every
ten years as we used to do?
/ have not the time to 90 into a
full discussion of the new tax laws.
but permit me to say, I am in hearty
accord and sympathy with them and
II revision should be found neces-
sary let me repeat what have said
in the beginning, they should be re-
vised by their friends and not by
their enemies. ssA
But what about the practical work
ings Of these laws? Have the people
been benefited or injured by them?
II there is a man In this state who
has been injured by the new tax laws
Is not the course attributable to the
officer charged with the enforcement
rather than to the laws? We have
uniform rule for ascertaining the
value of the property of every man,
but as long as men are fallible SO
long will men differ upon the value
OF property as well as upon other
things.
Cause for Smile.
In this connection want to saw
that our Democratic friends have
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