Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1910-09-10

new tax laws Of the state. 1904 was
the last year the cid system was in
full operation. The new order o.
things partially began in 1905. In
1904 the total taxable wealth OF the
ate was s27S.S2s. $50, made I'D as fol
lows Real estate. s16s. 4S0.1 $50; per.
sonal property, ss0,306.2 09; public
utility property. s30.043. 800. IN 1909,
five years after the beginning of the
movement for a more equitable sys-
tenn OF taxation, the total taxable
wealth Of the state was $1.063, 247.S 51,
an increase of 3.S1 times, made up as
follows: Real estate, $579 ,0S5. SSS /:
personal property, s221.125.93O; public
utility property, 1858 ,036,033 Real
estate has increased 3.43 times. per
sonal property us times. and public
utility property. SIS times.
"The increase in the value OF real
estate was largely the result OF the
special act of 1904. providing for an
officers appointed by the tax commits
sioner and working under his super
vision. Such large increase in real
estate values naturally resulted in an
increase in other classes of property.
"In 1904 the average rate of tax
alton for all purposes was s2.15 1-3 on
each one hundred dollars valuation
In 1908 the average rate for all pur
poses was 81 5-S cents on each one
hundred dollars valuation. The aver
age rate for 1909 and 1910 has not
been definitely ascertalned, but | am
sure it will not excel IS cents on the
hundred.
Reducing the Rate.
"In 1904 the total average rate for
Iall purposes on property situated out
is de Of municipal corporations was
s1.99 on each hundred dollars valu
alton, while in 1909 the total average
rate for all purposes on property stu
|ated outside of municipalities was
IA $40 cents on the hundred dollars
In 1904 the total average rate for all
purposes on property situated inside
|of municipal corporations, was
$2.48 So on the hundred, while IN 1893
the total average rate for all purpose
on property situated inside OF mum
cipal corporations was $1.05 SIS on the
hundred dollars.
The highest rate levy paid by any
tax payer in West Virginia for the
year 1909 was s1.69 IL on the hundred
while the lowest was S0.46 cents or
the hundred. In thirty-eight district;
of the state the total rate of levy fol
every known purpose was less thar
60c on the hundred, or less than 81
of one per cent. | want to impress
the significance of this statement. II
thirty eight magisterial districts of The
state the tax payers for 1909 paid les,
than COO on the hundred for state
county, road, school and AL othel
purposes.
81 do not wish to be understood al
saying that in the aggregate we are
collecting less taxes by reason of The
revision of the tax law. The converse
Is true. We are collecting more money
for every purpose in the state OF Yves
Virginia than ever before, but the tal
burdens have been more equally dis
tributed with the result that nine
tenths of the tax payers are contribut
ing less since the revision of the tai
laws
| The Removal of the State Tax.
"The law providing for the remova
OF the direct tax for state purpose!
has already been noted. In 1904 tht
direct tax for state and state schoo
purposes was thirty-fiye cents on tht
hundred dollars valuation, while II
1909, the direct tax was five cents OF
the hundred and for 1910 it has jus
been fixed at four and one-half cents
on the hundred. On the total valu
alton this rate for 1909 would produces
a gross tax, /. e., without deductin:
1.-THE cost of collection, of 1881. 624
Under the law the distributable schoo
fund is fixed at a minimum of $3.50, 00i
ANNUALLY. and If the sources which q
to make up this distrlbutable schoo