The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-12-02
TAYDMITAHQN
lobe TAEENIUP
Property Classification Law
Favored by Huntington
Member Of House.

HUNTINGTON. Dec. 2,-There
Is good reason to believe that tax
alton viii be the chief public quea
.itiou to come before the session d
The State Legislature at Charleston
early In the New Year, and unless
all signs fail, Republicans AMI
Democrats will find themselves Ii
mutual accord when they take u
,, the taxation problems.
Commenting here today on the
forthcoming legislative session,
and the call for a caucus OF Demo
cratic legislators In Charleston
December Is, R Page Aleshire, re
elected to the House Of Delegates
from cabell County, declared he be,
ilteyed in the principle OF the class,
ification OF property for taxation
purposes but declined to commit
himself on the proposal to limit
levies by amending the state coll
lstitution.
Both questions must be decided
by the people themselves, and in
any event, Mr.. Aleshire pointed
out, the Legislature can act only
as a recommending body on these
two vital questions.
Mr.. Alcshire emphasized the
necessity for non.partisanship III
deciding taxation questions, declarI
Ing that until the major nolitical
parties unite on this re- relief
from taxation burdens lot te
expected.
He said: 1.-TWO years ago a bill
TO exempt from taxation notes issu'
ed on real estate and represented
by vendors leins, mortgages. in
fact, passed the House OF Dele.
gates but failed by two votes In ~,
Senate, because some OF the mem
bers doubted It's const;:vtionality
I believe the Legislature should 90
farther: Tbelieve that a classified
tion of property for purposes Of
obtaining revenue will not only
equalize the tax burdens, hut a1,
probably lower the amount we
now pay In taxes.
"Neighboring states have adopt
de the all-nroperty classification
law and made q success OF II.
believe that West Virginia should
take similar course. Under our
present laws intangible wealth may
escape taxation by hiding itself {.
non.taxable securities. The result
is that the tlnattractiyenes Of Ger.
tain Investments In West Virginia
Is becoming more and more pro
nounced. One can see, by compar.
ison OF the bank totals in West Yir,
ginia to those Of cities and towns
in neighboring states, the iI7advan'
tNgeous results Of high tax leyies
here.
I'm Pennsylvania there is rate
nf 40 cents per 500 on stocks,
bonds, credits, money, etc. Last
year the average rate In West Wiz,
ginla was SO. 26. In Maryland thu
rate on this class OF wealth was Is
cents per 500: in virginls It is IS
cents. kentucky, the last OF the
neighbor, states to adopt the, prop
erty classification Jaw, has a rate
Of 40 cents on the 800 and in three
wears Of It's operation has found
that that class OF property increa4
ed from n little moreOthan $4,000
600 to 1887 100000. In. Kentucky
the intangible wealth came Into the
sportlight and Is paying It's just
share OF tho public tax"
Mr.. Aleshire intimated one OF
the questions that tho. Charleston
caucus Of Democrats will tnke IN
IL the levy ilimitption pl0n Vt the
stnte tax commissioner, Waiter $
Hallanan. II Is recalled that Mr.
Hallanan suggested a limit OF S1.5j
per 500 valuation, for municipal,
ties, and 81 IS ID sections outside
Of municipalities. for all revenue
PURPOSES except federal.
Naturally, don't know what
tbs Legislature will do With this
proposal" Mr.. kllcshire said.
do know, however, that here III
Huntington the rate this year va.
81. 90 pc! 500 valuuti,l. and II thl
levy had been limited to 81. so, tbc
assessments for all city. county
and state revenue purposes would
have been kept down, with q 70
sultant large saving to the taA
payer"
Mr.. Aleshlre believes the Legls
lature will deal with the taxation
problems as II would work out q
puzzle in business and that har
mony will be In the froEs rank Of
the legislative session.