The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1908-12-09
uaI..a 60 I:Isl.arapb asp0rI..

untG9d tsfeee teteateps,i 'tepoFS'
ogERNoa DAWSON compLt.
aENTs TAX COMMISSIONER !.
WHITE.
Governor Dawson, m formally ac-
ping the resignation Of State Tax
Commissioner White, paid him de.
eydiy high compliment and added
uFd8of caution regarding future Off.
Iais3 which We think the people viii
preciate reading,
The letter is as followss
Dear Governor White:-T have your
letter Tesigning the Office Of State Tax
commissioner, / regret that you have
elt ii necessary to take this STEP but
owing to the reasons stated in yonr
letter and the other reasons stated to
iieih our conversation 1t would not be
nst q you for me to urge you to re.
main. and SO j accept with regret your
resignation to take effect the first of
NEXT January az YOU requested.
II rs true as you say, that you ac,
ceptedythe Office reluctantly and only
after some weeksof consideration, and
at 4 money sacrifice. When Mr.. Dillon
resigned / felt that you were pre,emi.
iently the man to fill the place, and 50
tendered you the office. was graft.
fed that your appointment met with
such hearty approval, as was evidenc-
Ell by expressions in the newspapers
oftboth political parties. as well us by
private persons in numerous letters.
You accepted the Office as matter OF
duty; and you have served the public
interests as State Tax Commissioner
with the same ttntIring zeal, efficiency
and fidelity as you served them as
oEernof
AN who had a part in the framing
ara upholdipg IF he new tux laws
may wen feel i,.pad OF their excellent
results. In that good work no one
performed d more Efficient part than
Yourself anil u none is more credit
dine.
2ss ne " trtle of all man-maile laws lies
n8their enforcement, Such laws are
inert; they do not enforce themselves
i ND this Is particularly true Of tas
laws, which are necessarily always
falf 81 details, Hence, the benefit o.
those laws depends on their wise, i'm
partial and efficient enforcement in al
their numerous details. Not so en-
forced, the people would likely tire o.
them and consent to their repeal or a,
least TO their nlutilatton. This proper
enforcement depends very largely or
the State, Tax Commissioner; II he Is
incenpe tent or unfriendiy, or for Other
reasons fails in hts duty, the laws will
fiil; II there Is discreet or adroit
enemy 9 fthese1aws who seeks to ac
ccmplish their overthrow, he would
probably attack tdetr citadel, the State
Tag Commissioners office. Such ar
enemy would wisely conclude that ar
Indirect attack would more likely sue
coed than a direct attack: and he
would probably denounce the powers
given the tax commissioner as unrea
n sonable and arbitrary and dangerous
g the liberty Of the citizen, crlticlst
4 the cost Of hts force and the number
q his assistants, and bewall The fact
as he would declare 1t to Be. that these
laws 5retard the development; Of tht
i state by preventing capital from com
ing into 1t and by driving ont capita
already in. Such attacks are adroi
and dangerous aud ssnn day whe,
TIE people are,not lookin~. RAY resal
II harm.
thank you for yoar able AMI Ell
Gent services as Stale Tax UomAl.s
'sioner. and feel tliat c,n pssnr, yo,
M aga 5that the people apr ciate them great
IT, ou and i have served together fo
seyeraf Years in public and in what
may call semi.public positions. w,
have worked together in sunshine an.
Ss IN storm. through good and eviI ro,,or.