This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1897 Excerpt: ...(2) That all manufacturing establishments and the capital and machinery essential to their working and money loaned to any town be exempted from all taxation. (3) That the real estate of educational and charitable institutions be exempted from taxation. (4) That taxes should fall upon those forms of property which will ...
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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1897 Excerpt: ...(2) That all manufacturing establishments and the capital and machinery essential to their working and money loaned to any town be exempted from all taxation. (3) That the real estate of educational and charitable institutions be exempted from taxation. (4) That taxes should fall upon those forms of property which will not leave the State if taxed and which do not contribute much to the progress of the State. WEST VIRGINIA. Tax Commission of 1884.--It seems that West Virginia, a State of rich resources, had not made the progress its citizens had anticipated, and the cause of such failure was a subject of investigation on the part of marly interested in the State. The tax commission of 1884 was created to examine the laws of taxation and their administration. Specific complaint was made that realty was undervalued and personalty escaped; that the deduction of debts caused fraud to be practiced; that corporations (especially railways) were not paying according to the value of their property and privileges. Two reports were made to the legislature, a preliminary and final report. Preliminary Report.--The following recommendations were made: (1) That intangible property be exempted if it cannot be assessed in full. The commission believed in the taxation of all property and rejected the statement that the taxation of personalty would drive capital from the State. They traced the failure to assess property to the careless assessors, who permitted the taxpayer to list his property as he chose, no inspection being made as to its correctness. Hence the following recommendation. (2) That a supervisory head be appointed with the power to inquire into and closely examine the work of the assessor. (3) That debts and mortgages be taxed, but should they to any great exte...
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