The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1911-07-19
Exposes Fallacy of Claim That
Democrats Brought About Two
and a Half Cent Levy.
CREDIT DUE REPUBLICAN
LAWS AND ADMINISTRATION.
Auditor Goes .Exhaustively Into
Subject TO Riddle Vain
Boast of Democrats.
BY CAL r. YOUNG.
Inteiligsncer Bursau.
Charleston. w. Va, July IA.

Charleston w. Va. July Is.
In statement made public here
today. State Auditor John 8. Darst-
VINO was potential in bringing about
TAX reform and successful In the in
stallation OF the new tax laws. and
one OF the best informed of the state
OFFICIALS on matters of taxation. COM
pletely exposed the fallacy of the
democratic claim that the recent re-
duction OF the state levy TO 2h cents
was due TO the economy effected by
the Democrats in the state legislature.
Discussing the reduction or the
state tax levy to the lowest figures
IN the history OF the state. Auditor
Darst contends that the credit for
this remarkable achievement very
properly belongs to the Republican
party. which. in spite of bitter Demo-
cratic opposition before the people
and in the halls OF the legislature,
carried forward the tax propaganda
until the state property tax has been
almost entirely eliminated
Republican Claims Fulfilled.
Furthermore. Auditor Darst be-
lieves. that the assertion made by
, the Republican leaders several years
ago. and derided at the time bv the
3
West Virginia could maintain her gov
ernment and support her institutions
without the direct property tax-wilI
be proven TO the people in a short
time. In fact. already has been proved
Tor the small amount OF direct taxes
paid 10 the state during the next tax
year. will be returned TO the people
along with q considerable sum de-
rived from other sources
Result Of Business Methods.
Auditor Darst said: Continuing
the policy inaugurated by the pre-
ceding Republican administration,
which had reduced the state tax from
35c on the 800 taxable valuation to
! &C. the present administration has re-
duced this tax To 2i2 cents and hope
10 make 1t still lower next year. This
has not come about by accident. but
II the result OF the Republican party
putting business methods in practice
in the business affairs OF the state.
These methods, thought out in ad-
vance and enacted into law. have
made possible the present startling
results. A very few years ago there
was levied % cents on each 500
valuation TO meet the expenses OF the
state government. The Republican
party declared that IL did not need
any state tax: that IL could maintain
more efficient government and sup
port all OF the states great institu-
. tions without direct tax. To that
end wise measures were enacted into
law. and fighting for the elimination
of the state property tax the Repub-
lican party had 10 tight the Demo
cratic party every inch OF the way.
Democrats Amuse.
"As ] have been Interested in this
tax reform movement from the very
inception OF the contest. and as
member OF the board Of public works
which has just recently reduced the
direct state tax to 2iz cents. I have
been no little amused at the eXplana-
/ tiOn given by some OF the Democratic
newspapers J quote one as follows:
/ The state tax levy has been reduced
to pig cents on the hundred dollars.
This reduction was made possible by
the policy OF economy in appropria-
tions thai was adopted by the Demo-
Gratis In the legislative session. by
which the expenses OF conducting the
state government we're materially re-
duced The board OF public works
/ fixes the tax levy AZ figure that will
produce revenues sufficient to meet
the appropriations The credit for
the reduction must be- given the body
that made the reduction possible
Thus the Democratic press would
beguile the people into believing that
the Democratic party. bitter antag-
Continued on Seventh Pass)