The Progressive West Virginian. [volume] (Williamson, W. Va.) 1911-1913, 1912-09-19
FARMERS BENEFITED BY
CHANGE OF DATE FOR MAX
ING Asses MENTS.
LICENSE TAXES ARE BOTH
ABOLISHED.
COMM ssioNER OF AGRICULTURE
PROVIDED AND OFFICE
MADE ELECTIVE.

If Democratic legislature had done
nothing else beyond changing the be-
ginning of the assessment year from
January 1 to April 1, it would have
been worth the cost of the entire
session to the farmers of the state
by reason of the passing of this bill
alone. ~
When the Dawson tax laws were
adopted, the beginning of the tax law
was fixed at January instead of
April /. Under the provision of this
law, farmers were called upon to pay
taxes on the feed which they had put
away in their barns to carry their
stock through until spring. They
were also required to pay taxes on
the stock and in this way a double
tax was piled upon the farmer.
In 1909, an effort was made in the
Republican legislature to change this
law, but it was not done and it re-
manned for the Democratic legislature
to relieve the farmer Of this unjust
burden and save the agricultural in
terests of the state thousands of dol
lars with which they would otherwise
have been improperly taxed.
Taxes on Hunters Repealed.
~
posed unnecessary taxes upon the peo-
pie Of the state, which was repealed
by the Democratic legislature, was the
law requiring residents of the state
to obtain a license and pay tax for
it before hunting at any place within
the state. This law also provided
that no person could fish or hunt on
either the enclosed or unenclosed
lands of any person without securing
written permission. The Democratic
legislature repealed the law requiring
a license fee of one dollar, and made
the other part of the law requiring
written permission to hunt or fish APP
ply only to enclosed or improved
land.
The obnoxious road tax Of one cent
on every 500 worth of property,
which had been levied under an act
of the Republican legislature of 1909,
was abolished by the Democratic leg
islature Of 1911. Howard Sutherland,
Republican nominee for Congressman
at-Large, was in the Senate when
this law was repealed and voted
against abolishing the road tax.
To Assist the Farmers.
The Office of Commissioner Of Agri-
culture was created by the Democrat
ic Legislature of 1911. There has long
been u Board Of Agriculture, but Its
operations were cumbersome and 1t
accomplished little. Believing that
the farmers should be given proper
encouragement and assistance in de
velopfng the farming industry, the
Democratic legisf ature created the Of
fee OF Commissioner of Agriculture
and provided that this officer should
be- elected by the people, Senator
Switzerland, now the Republican can
didate for Congress- large, vot-
ed sagafifst this measure.
The aesta blishnent Of the Tubercu-
losfs Sahatorium was authorized by
the Democratic Legislature OF 1911, al
though a similar measure had been
defeated by the proceeding Republic
can legislature
Another law which is of benefit to
the people in many localities is the
one passed by the Democratic legis-
1atufe prohibiting the selling or CIV
ing away of cocaine. 1t was repre-
scented that the cocaine habit was
playing havoc with the men employed
in the timber camps in many sec
liUHSs VI LIE SIdJc. 4 hey were DeCOIu-
ing addicted to the habit through the
ease with which the drug could be
obtained and hundreds of them. it was
represented, had become. its victims.
This measure was introduced by Dele
gate J. A. Mclaughlin of Pocahontas
county, who is candidate for re-
election.
Amending Registration Laws.
Some valuable amendments to the
Registration Law were added to that
measure by the Democratic legisla-
ture, in the hope of abolishing such
conditions ais have existed for years
in Mcdowell and Mingo counties.
The law is not yet regarded by Demo
Gratis as all it should be, but it is
believed the amendments added at the
last session improved the law as it
was. 5s5sl
These are only a few of the many
measures passed by the Democratic
legislature at its last session in the
interest of the people of West Vir-
ginia, and are an indication of what
the Democrats will do for the people
If given control of the next legislature
with majority in each house.