The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1910-08-31
snuEsTioNsI lANp lIANsMERs.

VIII the West Virginian in face OF
all the arguments and pledges that
were made to take on entirely the
propefty tax and the lamentable fail.
ure fof Its party to redeem such pledg.
5ss say that the Republican party and
the new tax laws have made good in
this matt teri? We pause for an honest
falSwer--Th Times. No.
Frank yi the West Virglnian has
been sorry that the interests have SO
fought the tax laws and belabored
the tax reform adyoc ates as to hinder
the complete removal of the property
tax for state purposes. While We are
proud of the progress that has been
made In the face of such tremendous
OPPOSITION, there remains much to be
done Reducing a tax rate from 30
Cents to s4Is cents even on a greatly
Increased valuation is worth striving
for but that Is mot the place to stop
and We are glad the party OF tax re-
form Is to continue its, crusade for
lower tax rates all along The line and
it's our, hope that the time may soon
come that the state tax on property
may be entirely abolished in complete
fulflllment OF Governor Whites prom.
Use and We believe the time, is com.
ing When 1T will lie. West Virginia
iii destined to be q very rich state
\ and It will have a multitude OF great
cofporati lions. If We can hold our sys,
tenn Of taxation till these great inter-
ests get to paying taxes in proportion
to their Wealth, the matter of taxes
for the small property owners will
be OF small moment. We have start.
ed ON the right principle and the only
thing TO do is to fight the question
to the finish. The rich corporations
and wealthy individuals who are max,
+ ing millions out OF West Virglnia's
natural resources can well afford to
: pay more taxes than the small prop.
serty owners but all the new tax sys-
tenn asks is5that they pay exactly In
proportion to their wealth, not a cent
more. II that Is done, 1t will BIO o
matter Of only few years until the
state tax can be abolished entirely
The coming session Of the legislature
can make the abolition Of the state
tax possible by placing small pro
ductlon tax on natural gas and we will
go on record right here and now in
: favor of such tax. 1t Is wei!
known fact that nearly al of the mon
sey collected by direct state tax nj
the present time goes into the gcner.
4 al school fund and is returned to the
I, various counties for support OF the
4 schools. And 1t is worthy Of mention
here that the minimum school tern
\ has been raised from four to six
months since the Republican party
came into power in West Virginia
an increase of fifty per cent, ant
teachers, salaries. have been raiset
more than fifty per cent. per month
making q smarpelous increase in tota
amount of salary within the past IF
\ teen years. Many districts that paid
n $40 ID month for four months TO teach
ers in the good old days" under Dem
ocradc control now pay $50 for 81.
months. the former making $12O fol
the term andnthe latter making $500
an increase Of $50 per cent. In many
places the Increase in term and sal
airy has been even greater than the
sSexample given. These salaries fol
4 longer terms can not be paid without
J raising the money from some source
Now, we would like to inquire, is thu
Times opposed to longer terms ant
4 higher salaries for teachers? Would
1T goSback to the four months tern
& for country schools? Would it cut OF
1 the SS75 900 appropriated by the las
Legislature for help in the poorer dis
i trlcts OF the state? If not, how doe!
It proposn-tn-raisc the money to SUI
port schools for longer terms. Doe:
SIT, favor. a production tax on gas? w
NOW pause for IN honest answer
; Does the Times favor production
z: tax on gas? And while 1t is in thu
4 notion OF answering questions, woult
2 II be too much to ask II the edito
has yet made up his mind to taxi
Z. for his property the valuation place
upon 1t by, the county assessor? Tha
question has not been answered, S
far as we are aware.
in; closing we may add that tn
4 coniplim dc bt the; Times on the Yves
y Vifginian's ability to make the wors
appear the better reason or words t
that effect Isl appreciated. We hay
thought often that the Times coul
be Il power for good If 1t we're onl
right. II is o, strong advocate OF tn
principles 1t espouses.
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