The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1922-10-13
ON TAXATION
CHAMBER DINNER

CHAMBER D|NNER
new departments OF education and pub
lie health.
Increased supervision over individual
and business activities. with an en"r-
| mously Increased number OF govern
mental agencies.
tremendously increased social service
to the people.
II an aroused public sentiment does
not give defeat to these many proposals,
this dangerous attitude OF paterna!iSm
will bring us to the deg"nerative pro
cess--where We will turn rom gov
ernment supported by the people 10 d
people supported by the government,
Cites Causes Of Tax Increase.
Many causes have contributed 10 the
rapid increase IN the burden 90 taNa-
ton IN recent years. The great war
struggle in which our country was re-
Gently engaged, with it's immense eN-
pendsures. had both a direct and indi-
rect bearing nthe burden OF state
and local taxation. Taxes are largely
spent in the purchase " service and
commodities. consequently. any Suhsian-
tial increase IN the cost II service or
in the cost Of commodities means a
corresponding increase III taxes. Ine
immense increase in the cost Of labor
and commodities. due To conditions re
Su,ting fro mthe war, was almost I'M
mediately reflected In an increase III
tax rates 10 NEE; the changed economic
conditions OF the country. thus directly
adding TO the burden OF state aud local
taxation. Indirectly the burden wSs
further augmented by the immense IN
crease in federal taxes. The necessity
for increased revenues 10 meet the
stress OF the war not only compelled
the federal government to increase the
tax rate on most Of the taxable objects
therefore constituting the main source
Of federal revenues. but also compelled
I TO reach out for new sources OF rev
cuue 70 meet. IN some part. the extra
ordinary demands on the public treas
Jury, so federal taxes were extended !"
include inheritances, profits. sales. ana
numerous other impostS. thus greatly
adding 10 the burden Or the federal tax.
Using ordinary receipts as the measure
of the burden. we find that in the en-
tire country the per capita of the led
eral tax burden In 1916 WAS S7.52. and
III wi, SS-s'', an 'A'' ''N''S 'N W." -
cent. in the five year period.
Gives Figures.
In our own state the Increase IN the
federal tax burden during the war per
iod can be measured IN part by u com
parison Of internal revenue collections
in 1916 with 1871. For the fiscal year
1918 the total internal revenue coli"c-
tons in West Virginia amounted u 3,
Fry "A CAnltu
fedora! tax If sl54 In 1921. the coll
!ec,!ons amounted - S$%.@l l."27.S".
per capita OF s@@.32. being an increase
Of I've per cent IN the five year period
This immense Increase IN federal taxes
has had an indirect. but non. the less
important bearing on the increase IN
state and local taxation.
Another cause ~ growing tax bur
dens IS found in the expansion Of CAV
ernmen;al functions IN recent years.
There Is an ever increasing tendency I"
transfer the cost Of many activities ~
a semi-privutc character from the S!ngI"
Individual 10 the collective individual!
called government Not only - thiH
tendency noticeable IN state ACTIVITIES
but equally 50 IN many of the activities
Of the smaller units Of government. The
state and its subdivisions are now do
ing many things 70 rthe benefit and vel
fare fthe people that were formerly
left 20 the Individual 10 do for himself
The expansion ot governmental func-
tons means Increased public expcnd.-
;ur"S. and Increased public expenditures
means Increased taxes.
Taxes Quadruplsd.
Taxes levied in lg2l---iu dollars--were
approximately four times the amount
lNN.sr
while our increase In population did 10;
exceed 20 per cent. Taxes levied III
1915 were approximately one and two
thirds times the amount levied In l9ll--
an Increase OF 65 per cent IN five years.
The last five year period from 1916 10
l92l-,he war period --showed that the
tax ls,ies were two and "ns-thtrd times
IN l9@l what they were IN lplt. or an
increase Of l3S per cent in five years
Taxes levied by the state increased
FROM s9S6.a1? IN 1911 To S.l6S,TlO In
1916 and 70 sl.s9s, "s4 in 1921.
Tho state Virginia pcpt low was re
ated In 1914. hence the 1871 levy OF
$Is96."S4 - an increase "N"r h"'h 1911
and 1916.
,raxss levied by county courts. The
large part os which went for road lnir-
noses Increased from S%.67a.633 in 1911
10 Nb,'Di,'iI III l'A"' h''' 49,
IN I92i.
Taxes levied by municipalities IN
creased from Sl.i>9.5lh In l"ll. TO 81
49l7S9 IN 1921.
Olives Comparisons.
In lHti rs already stated, Tia" tax our
don amounted TO IS cents "n each $l"n
Of taxable value: IN 1910 1t was sl-' ana
in 1921 soe5J. Thus the increase IN the
frs, half Of the tcu-ytar period was !"
per cent while in the second nall. '"'
war period. the increase In 'hc tax hnr-
den vas s. per cent.
In this state the tw" outstanding IN
cr.aScs in The last ten years arr me
levieS for educational purposes and FOR
roads and brides.
7, 1911 the educational le.!es amount
I'd To Sl2SI.l94 and in 1871 l" Si'.''..-
SO an increase at 80" pr cent IN IN"
,er-y.or r.rind Direct tax i"ri"S. HHw-
sy.- do not meaSur" tn" total cost oil
nuhlic education. 1t has long been IN"
policv Of our Legislature TO apnr"pFIA'e
large sums in add of education IN"