The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1914-09-28
tax RATES AND REVENUES.

Some time ago The Post-Chroni-
Gle called attention to certain criti-
cisms In tile Democratic press direct
cd at theiaction OF the board OF pub
lie works in raising the rate of stat"
J taxation from six cents to ten cents
/, on the hundred dollars. III that con-
ncction The St-Chronicle took oc-
casion to observe that the last time
our Democratic friends had anything
to do with fixing the rate of the
state tax it was placed at thirty-fire
cents on the hundred dollars. The
Parkcrsburg Sentinel comes back
with the reply that iii dollars and
cents the thirty-five cent rate means
less than half the. amount involved
in the ten cent levy.
The Sentinel is right about 1t, aud
the reason why a ten cent rate now
yields more than twice as much rev
enue as did IL thirty-five cent rate
ten or dozen years ago is that III.
state has grown enormously in
twealth and in tile development of its
Resources; and that is perfectly
valid reason willy the adequate adj
ADMINISTRATION OF the state govern
i1nent requires much greater total
revenue and expenditure than were
necessary when our Democratic
friends last had these matters to at
ltend to for us. The grand list haa
fisen in the course Of eight years
from total OF only $27S,S29,G5J III
1904 to $1.l6S,0 ,G5S in 1912. Go
ling back to Democratic days and
bringing the increase down to date
1.-THE growth would be even moreI
striking, but the figures from 1904
and 1912 are the only ones ut hand.
Taxes are levied now on four and
one-fifth times as much property aSI
was shown on the grand list OF 1901.
This increase is due partly to the
rapid growth of the actual wealth
of the state and partly to the fact
that the reform of our tax system
brought under assessment enormous
amounts OF wealth which had been
escaping taxation in the old Demo.
cratic days. If we analyze the tOta:s
of the assessments OF 1904 and 1912,
the truth OF this statement will be
readily apparent. In the earlier
year the grand list OF $27S,S29,659
was made up OF the following items:
Real esttae .$16S, 4S0,150
Personal property S0,356,209
Public utilities 3O,043.30O
In 1912 the. three classes of prom
erty in the state were valued by the
assessors as follows:
Real estate :. -. $G%3.747.6%3
Personal property $50, 236,2O6
Public utilities 295, 02S,S19
1t will be observed that during
the eight year period our real cstat"
increased In it's assessed value not |
quite fourf0Id and our personal
property not. quite thrccfOld, while
the valuation OF the property Of our
public service corporations increased
nearly tenf0ld. 1t was notorious
abuse under the old regime that the
public service corporations were car
rying farlcss than their equitable
share OF the burden of taxation.
No small portion OF the total in
crease in the taxable property OF the
state is due to the steady growth Of
its great industries and the develoi-I
ment OF its magnificent rcsourcrS|
which have accompanied the read
Tustment of tax burdens. With that!
growth have come enormously in
creased demands on the various
agencies Of government within thcl
state. Our courts and schools and
state institutions have grown paril
passu with wealth and population,
and their growth has involved d
largely increased total expenditurcl
OF public money.
With the evolution of the socialt
organism the functions OF the state
are ever charging, and new agen-
cies OF government are created for
tho more efficient discharge Of thel
.dutis incident to the exercise OF
those functions. To the bourbon
mind-the type that never learns
anything and never forgcts anything
the evolution Of these new agen-
cics OF government means nothing
but the creation OF new and unnec-
cssary offices. The bourbon has all
ways regarded all offices as ',spoils.
The point OF view from Which tllol
holding OF Il public office is regarded
as an opportunity for public service
is quite inaccessible to his mental
vision. He is always opposed to thoI
creation of new officc-unless as
surcd in advance that tile emolu5|