West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1914-01-08
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MAsoSrowS, Dec. 80, 1918.
EDIron ARaUs:
am glad to see that the taxpayers are
getting wide-awake. We have peer
sleeping too long. The increase in the
tax receipt this year Is an outrage. The
Dawson tax laws that promised 10 work
such wonders in reducing the taxes OF
the farmers have just worked the oppo-
site i'm Valley district. The assessment OF
many OF our farms under the new law
have been increased four times what they
were under the old law. Then they were
going to wipe out the state tax. In 1912
they got 1t down TO one cent on the hum
dred dollars valuation, with the promise
that the ext year it would be entirely
wiped out. But instead of wiping it out
they jumped IL up to six cents on the
hundred dollars. Having increased the
assessment OF the old farm four times
what it was under the old law, this makes
the state tax twenty-four cents on the
one hundred dollars. Under the old law
IL was thirty-five cents on the hundred
dollars. But under the old law the state
paid the expenses of witnesses, jurors
and state institutions. Under the new
law the counties must pay such expenses.
which makes US pay more than thirty
1--WE cents on the n hundred dollars
valuation. Did you ever think OF that,
taxpayers? II you did not, this will ex-
plain the increase in the tax receipt.
Do you remember how The Argus used
TO explain to us how the new tax laws
would work when they got into full Q
ration? From 1904 to 1910 it made a
gallant fight against Dawson and his tax
laws, but we were so internally preju-
diced that w would not listen TO il. We
are now reaping our partisan reward.
We can now mourn hat our foresight
was not as good as u hindsight.
l want TO say a few words about the
county court. While l have never voted
for MIR. Gibson, L want to be fair and say
that am o convinced that he is the
best man we have ever elected commis.
sioner in Valley. He has always re-
sponded to the petition Of the people.
The new county road that has been built
through Luther McMillen's farm WAS
built upon the petition of the people
themselves. Ii is a fine road. 1t cuts
oil three miles and gives us a six per
cent grade. This is in keeping with the
spirit OF the age. The railroads OF the
country spend millions Of dollars to
shorten the routes and lower the grades.
There is no kick in Valley over the
building OF this road.
Another thing l would like to call at
tention TO, namely, the school boards.
The boards of education handle more
money each year than the county court,
and they do not have to render an &C.
count to any one, so far az | can learn.
Why is this? Why should not the boards
oil education be made to publish In the
county newspapers an estimate the same
as the county cour and the municipalities
have TO publish? / am told that collec-
lively the boards Of education handle
more money than the county court. The
next legislature should pass a law com
polling the boards of education to publish
an estimate and disbursements. We are
always jumping IN the county court and
the town councils about spending toe
much money, but there is never a word
uttered about the boards OF education,
due to the fact hat we don't know what
the boards are spending.
Can any one guess what our taxes will
be when we have to pay the Virginia
debt? This is another time we did moi
heed The Argus. 1t kept telling us from
wear TO year that the Republican machine
was going to make us pay the Virgins
debt. In answering The Argus our Re.
publican papers and stump speakers said
it was all Democratic campaign lies
and we would not have to pay one penny
of the Virginia debt. The United States
Supreme Court has decided that West
Virginia must pay 1T. Who lied to us,
The Argus or our Republican brethreni
We surely have been deceived by the Re.
publican leaders and newspapers. How
long can they keep this deception up and
force us to swallow it?
II you publish this ! may write again
OSCAR.