The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1916-10-08
GOVERNOR


nary expenditures for buildings and
lands, was just little moro than
twice the direct levy Of 1897. West
Virginla's present direct levy OF Ave
and one-half cents for state purposes
IS only 100000 more than the direct
levy IN 1897 for state purposes.
Valuations Compared.
Let US compare the assessed yalua-
Ton or properties In the state in / s97
the last year OF Democratic admin
istration-with that OF 1915. The
aHsessed valuation OF real estate in
1907 was S14s,133,00O, but this year
II Ia 1921 $4,000, an increase OF a
little over four times the assessment
of 1897. II will be noted that real
state assessments have been In
creased leBs proportlonately under the
new tax laws than either OF the other
wo assesslble properties, public SER
ice corporations and personal prop
Jrty.
Corporations Pay.
The assessed valuation of person-
al property in 1897 was $4,000, 900.
In 1916 its assessed valuation Is rem
resented In an amount OF $274,157,-
600, or q little bit more than six
times over the assessed valuation of
1897, but where the great increase
comes, and whore 1t should come
rightfully-on account Of the special
privileges enjoyed by those Indus
tries--is with the public service cor
poratlons OF the state, which in 1897
were assessed ut $27,323, 900 as com
pared with the assessed valuation of
1915. which is represented by $500
100000, or little bit less than
twelve times the assessed valuation
of 1897.
And II you will look up the rec
ords you Will find that the Increased
valuations of real estate have taken
place largely in the industrial coun-
ties, where coal is king; and the
record will further show that in the
period of 1897 the assessed yalua-
tons Of these Industrial sections was
represented in an amount averaging
nifty cents TO two dollars and flfty
cents on the acre OF valuable mineral
properties.
1t is therefore easily determined.
in the face OF all the figures and facts
! have shown. taken from the records
as found In the tax commissioners
office, the source OF the revenue that
has been necessary to develop our
state, and there it has come from
largely under the new tax laws adopt
ed in 1904. And 1t is easy to under
stand and to know where the burden
of the responsibility of raising rev.
enue would be placed II we were to go
back to that period of time when the
old tax laws were in operation, which
are the principles that Mr.. Cornwell
advocates today just the same as he
did when he opposed the Dawson tax
laws in 1904.
And why has all of this expendi-
ture been made yearly for the peo-
pie to relieve the crowded condition
of the institutions that / have here
tofore discussed. The Weston asylum
OF hospital was promised congregate
dining room fifteen or sixteen years
ago, to take the place of the thirty
six dining rooms that have proved to
be such burden and expense. But
all those years the state OF West Vir-
ginia has not had sufficient money
available to take care of this needed
improvement. and it fell to my lot as
governor to take care of this situa-
ton. Today congregate dining room
costing something near 100000 has
been completed, and more room will
be available in the Weston hospital
when the thirty-six dining rooms are
turned into wards for the care of
patients, thereby saving the construc-
ton OF an additional building.
could cite the other demands at these
institutions, but time forbids and
your patience will not permit.
We have heard much discussion as
to the increased valuation OF real es-
tate under the new method of assess
ment. 1t is true that values have
been increased, but q more equitable
valuation is guaranteed, bringing
about greater uniformity, If such is
possible under the direct method of
taxation. But fortunately for us, the
direct method of raising revenue for
state purposes will soon be thing
OF tho past il we hold on to what we
now have in the way of taxation prin-
ciples.
More Equitable Valuation.
We ind the startling fact that with
the increased assessed valuation the
direct levy for 1897 was twenty-five
cents on the 500 for state purposes
which raised $4,000, while direct
levy for 1916 raised S643,00O, an
amount only 100000 in excess Of that
raised under the old method when the
population of our state was only $780,
600 as compared with nearly million
and half of people at the present
time, with an increased student body
in educational institutions OF moro
than 1000 ocer that Of 1897; an in
crease Of double the number Of insane
in our asylums now over 1897; with
an addition Of nine public institutions
since that year; together with the de-
partment Of agriculture, which was
created for the benefit of the farmers;
the board of control, which had for
its purpose the taking care OF our in
stitutions in a business-like way; the
labor department, the department of
health. the tax commissioners office.
the workmen's compensation commits
sion, the public service commission,
and an increase in the membership OF
the supreme court. Yet nothwith-
standing all this great progress, our
per capita cost in 1897 was S1.9S, as
compared with S2.75 in 1915. No state
in the union has such record for