The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1912-09-24
FARMERS BENEFITED nv
CHANGE or DATE FOR MAX
ING ASSES MENTS.
OBNOXIOUS ROAD AND HUNTERS
LICENSE TAXES ARE BOTH
ABOLISHED.
Commissioners OF AGRICULTURE
PROVIDED AND OFFICE
MADE ELECTIVE.

If n Democratic legislature had done
nothing else beyond changing the be-
ginning of the assessment year from
January l TO April ], il 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 l. 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 i'm the
Republican Legislature TO change this
law, but il was not done and il re.
manned for the Democratic legislature
10 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Taxes on Hunters Repealed.
Another unpopular law which i'm.
posed unnecessary taxes upon the peo-
pie OF tho state, which was repealed
by the Democratic legislature, was the
law requiring residents of the state
To obtain n license and pay a tax for
1T 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legislature repealed the law requiring
n license fee of one dollar, and made
the other part of the law recurring
written permission to hunt or fsh an.
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.
lslature of 1911. Howard Sutherland.
Republican nominee for Congressman
at-Large, was in the Senate when
ms law was repealed and voted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
&c legislature of 1911. There has long
been Board of Agriculture. but its
accomplished little. Believing that
the farmers should be given proper
announcement and assistance in de-
Yeloping the farming industry. the
Democratic legislature created the Of
ice or Commissioner of Agriculture
and provided that this officer should
De elected by the people Senator
Southerland, now the Republican can
uldate Tor ngresSman-at-large. Yot-
ed against this measure.
The establishment of the Tubercu-
losis Sanatorium was authorized bv
the Democratic legislature of 1911. al
though similar measure had been
defeated by the preceding Repubn-
can legislature.
Another law which is of benefit TO
the people in many localities is the
one passed by the Democratic legis-
iature prohibiting the selling or Civ
ing away of cocaine Ii was repre-
scented that the cocaine habit was
playing havoc with the men employed
in the timber camps in many sec.
tions OF the state. They were becom-
ing addicted to the habit through the
case with which the drug could be
obtained and hundreds of them. il was
represented. had become its victims
ms measure was introduced by Dele
gate j. A. Mclaughlin of Pocahontas
county, who is a 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 as have existed for years
IN mcdowell and Mingo counties.
Ihe law is not yet regarded by Demo
Gratis as all ii should be- but il is
believed the amendments added at the
last session improved the law as il
was.
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 i'm each house