The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-12-09

own property. After reading and
considering this article, IL Sitizena'
believe this bill should not pass,
there'is time TO act, They should,
\ if they desire to head this bill off,
get busy with every senator ana
Legislator IN. West Virginia before
the next. Legislature convenes III
January.
Some time ago Mr.. Hallanan,
our state tax commissioner, stat:
ed in the presence of the writer
that he favored and would try
to put through the next Legislature
a bill to centralize the boards ot
equalization In each county OF
West Virginia in a single state
board. That Is. a sing. aboard at
Charleston is to do all the work
formerly done by county boards
Of equalization in the fifty five
counties of West Virginia. The
county boards are then to be abol.
lshed. Thesfacts that Mr.. :Hallanan
has forces working to put over this
program is evidenced by -resolu.
tion coming from a body OF school
teachers down In Logan County
as follows:
1--WE recommend law that will
regulate the valuation Of all prop.
erty in this state and that will
place such property on the asses.
sor's' books at its true and actual
value regardless Of influences aud
pressures to the contrary. AS an
4 aid to such an end We recommend
the creation Of a State Board Of
Equalization with the state tax
commissioner as ex.oftijsa presi.
dent and that all county boards OF
equalization be eliminated !" 1t
may be enilghtening to know that
the leading superintendents OF this
teaching body was formerly an Of
fetal in the capital.
l am sure that few men OF any
party are happy with Mr.. Halii.
mans attempt to place property at
Its true and actual value. It Is not
likely that a great cry All be rails.
ed "Hallanan for governor In
1924 While the motive that prom.
pied the attempt was very worthy
yet the methods used were not
such as to inspire confidence In
Mr.. Hallanan and to cause citizens
to be at ease while this further ex.
pertinent is being tried. ~
i The fact that Mr.. Hallanan hay
have been perfectly sincere in his
efforts thus far to equaIize the tax
burdens In this state does not make
satisfactory the fact that whiIe
most corporations have actually
experienced a lowering of taxes,
the vast majority Of property own.
ers who are striving to keep their
families without going into debt
have been raised from 40 per cent
to so percent In. their taxes. OF
course there have been objections
made to the. county equalization
boards and some Of the most out:
standing injustices have been rem.
edied by these boards.
But now let us presume this bill
has become: q law eand is function.
ing. The board, including Mr.. Han.
ana1l, will deliberate upone the
claims Of John Jones. over IN
Mingo County. Next comes the
case Of Bill Smith in the suburbs
OF Fairmont; Marion County. ; \ 4
goes without saying that this board
could not hear more than a small
fraction Of the entire number OF
cases seeking to be heard and no
doubt this Is the secret Of the de
sire TO pass the law. z. }.
The state tax Commissioner evil,
IDENTIFY became alarmed at the dis
satisfaction going up over the
state after his attempt TO edualise
valuations and he has looked
about for possible methods Of rt.,
ducing the taxation fort a. year or.
two. at least until tax payers be.
come somewhat used to the new
conditions. The first available on.
portunity came with the boards
Of education and although d sum
Of SO 10000 Is contemplated for a
new state house at Chafi lesion and
while We spend many times ottt.
school bills for nopsessentials and
while we are able to pay good sal,
aries to hangers.ons and 0ttaches
about this capitol building, vet,
boards OF education have been
crippled and the boys! and girls OF
West Virginia have been made 10
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