The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1914-03-30
PUBLIC HAS DUTY
REGARDING TAXES
SHOULD HELP ASSESSORS nv
MAKING PROMPT AND COR
RECT RETURNS.
state Tar corrrissiorer Blue Says
Officials Would De Given More
Time TO- Those Nesleetina
Returrs


According 10 state Tax Commits
sioner Fred o. Blue. IL is the duty Of
the citizen 10 describe his property
In the return so as 10 give the neces-
Sary data upon which the assessor
may make his entry and assessment
Further than that II l. his duty TO
get the property on the book by a
punctusl and prompt return. SO that
the assessor will have more time 10
look after the fellows who don't want
TO pay taxes and neglect to make
their returns.
This explanation OF the duty of the
citizen regarding -aSsess:sea.s was
made by the State Tax Commissioner
at the conference OF assessors ana
boards OF review and equalization
Leld last Thursday and Friday IN
Parkersburg. He explained IL was
not the object of the conference TO
make taxes higher. but TO discuss
ways of making a fair assessment OF
all taxable wealth In the State. BY
fair and uniform system OF tax
alton. he pointed out. with all taxable
wealth represented ON the books. the
revenues OF the State will be in
creased without necessarily raising
In opening the conference Mr.. Blue
spoke of the benefits which might be
derived from an annual meeting.
This Is the FIRST time. ! believe" ne
said. that a meeting OF exactly this
character has been held in this State
i hope to see the time when these
meetings viii be held annually and
WREN they will be held as q matter
of legal requirement. In some OF the
az af hA inc ~ o. H..
and reviewing bodies are required,
by law. to be held and the actual
travelling expenses, including the ho-
tel bills, OF the assessors and review
ing bodies are paid by the state
Looking At IL as do. believe IL will
be money we'll spent by the state II
the legislature shall require annual
assessors meetings to be held Other
states that are trying IL. ind IL to be
very profitable. mean by that, II
Increases the efficiency of the SER
vice ana inures TO the benefit of the
people and results in n more equal
and just form of assessment. thereby
resulting in more equal taxation OF
all property in the state.
objects Of Conference.
The object OF the meeting, and
known you want to know that. Is to
discuss the provisions OF our assess
ment laws. TO exchange views as to
the best end most practical way to
put into effect the provisions of the
assessment laws. and to know and TO
pront by the practical experience OF
one another. TO bring about an as
sessment that is fair and equal
throughout the state Unless proper
~ OF like kind in the different coun-
ties is assessed on the same fair and
equal basis of valuation throughout
the state fhara ha and will hsa
no equalization in assessment There
being no central equalizing body, ~
Is apparent that the several assessors
and boards of review and equaliza-
tion must act along the same line N
We are TO have state wide equaliza-
ton.
Problems. without number. arise
In your work-prcblems difficult TO
one but not particularly difficult to
another; or n problem staggering to
most OF US has been solved by one
OF US and the rest OF us want the ben
eft of its solution. Again work is
easier. or seems easier. when there
is interest in the work. Interest in
ones work Is awakened by associa-
ton and by cooperation: interest, a.
well as devotion e. duty. Is marked
by knowledge of responsibility The
counties. the school districts. derive
all Of their public revenue from direct
taxation. The same will be true OF
municipalities. after June 90. next.
except as TO the amount from occuOa
ton license taxes. Assessment val
uation is the basis OF all direct tax
alton
The annual revenue raised by di-
rect taxation. and expended by coun-
ties, school districts. and municipal
!ties. exceed in the present year the
rum OF ten millio> dollars. The as
SCISSORS work was the basis Of this
large amount OF revenue; II Is sus-
pected. II not believed. that large
amount Of taxable wealth in the state
Is not on the property books: II II
exists. II should be. IL Is not fair TO
everybody n II Is not: n should bear
its part OF the burden OF government
We will. in this conference. endeavor
To ascertain how IL may be made 20
bear its part Of the burden.
Duty OF the Public.
There Is another object OF this
meeting-and that Is that the public
Itself may be made. to some extent at
least, TO realize the difficulties under
which the assessors. as well as the
board OF equal review and equaliza-
ton labor. doubt n the public has
fair conception Of the disadvantages
attending the work OF your assessors
You are required To make your as
sesfments as Of the first dav of April
and 10 have your books completed By
the 2Oth Of s'ine: in two months and
twenty days Won are supposed to do
this vast amount OF labor and with a
very restricted force to assist YOU
Now the point H. this: That every
citizen who has a complaint to make
about improper assessments. or be-