Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1908-09-21

same fair treatment IL had received
at Democrat hands.-and coming
not through but in spite of Republi-
can legislation.
EXPENSES INCREASED
But when new managers took up
the reins OF our government. II at
once became apparent the Demo-
cratic simplicity and ability ana
economy was requisite entirely
unknown to them. and expenses
went up by leaps and bounds to an
extent beyond all Imagination and
beyond all corresponding increase
in population or wealth. IL has
sprung from s2.694.2S0 during the
last 4 years OF Democratic economy
TO s6,3Ol.110. during the last 4
years OF Republican extravagance.
THE DAWSON TAX LAWS
To meet their sxtravagant meth
DDS they ut once began to devise
ways and means for raising more
i1oney, AMI among many other
tenn OF taxation. That they might
make the people believe that Il was
reform OF values. and that they
were sincere and fair. they appoint
ed Ave distinguished citizens OF this
state to revise our system. These
g. ntlemen spent many months I'm
careful consideration of the subject
and finally recommended n system
OF which, taken as n whole. they
approved. accompanying IL with a
number of bills TO carry the whole
into effect But this system did
not meet with the approval OF the
politicians or of certain interests
that were behind them. So they
went to work and at Chambers In
Washington appointed four other
distinguished citizens from among
the politicians, who ut the instance
Ct the politicians. and apparently to
subserve their interests alone, drew
up n number of bills different from
those recommended by the original
commissioners. These bills were
presented to the Republican conven-
ton at Wheeling which nominated
Dawson, and. by the same methods
that nominated him. were endorsed
by II. They afterwards became
Jaws. But so III advised were they,
and so badly drawn and enacted
that our legislatures have done but
little else from that time to this
than amend and revise them, neces-
stating at least two extra sessions
of the Legislature and costing the
leople many hundred thousand dol
lars. And thy have not as yet got
their system even passably good
TO RAISE MONEY
Under tnIs system they hope to
RAISE the money their extravasaucS
demanded. In this they have partly
and only partly, succeeded. Tn -
got the support OF the farmer ami
resi- estate owners by promising -
transfer thei burdens to personal
property. And they got the support
cf other interests by means tlai
:hey have not yet spread upon the
20 cords.
But they have not transferred
taxation fron realty to persona'ty.
for the value OF realty has been in
creased 2.S9 times, while personality
he's been increased only 2.39 times.
And the So 'ng probability is ;bd.
pp. Aonalty will still further d.
e. ease in comparison with realty.
end the owncTs OF realty will more
tIan ever become the burden-bear r.
ers OF taxation, and the visible per-
sonal property OF the farm Will
swell the assessors total more than
the money In the pockets of the tax
dodgers.
HAS NOT RELIEVED
Democrats confidently assert that
this new system has done nothing
TO relieve the people from taxation
as compared with the old system.
On the contrary, it has loaded them
with an additional burden-many
OF them made necessary To- support
the great hordes of new offce-holi-
ers, that have sprung up under
1t, and become part OF the political
machine. The very head OF 1.-THE
Tax Commissioner-is made an Off
Ger appointed by the governor in
stead OF being an elective one, or
instead OF his duties being a part Of
the duties OF the state auditor with
which they are in line And the
regulars" 20 so far in their plat
form as to give special praise TO the
public accounting act" passed at
their last special session. which
gives the tax commissioner power to
appoint Vulnerable assistants
spokes I'm the wheels OF the same
old political machine And one Of
his first acts was to appoint a field
Inspector at 81 200 a year. And
some Of our leading republican pa
pers are bold enough to intimate
that this was the price Of change
Of political affiliation on the part