The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1885-02-16
TAX EXEMPTIONS.
-ran MASUrAorUaEas, CAUSE
roreiSly Presented to a Legislative Commit.
tee saturday by messrs. W. p. Hubbard
andAifred caldwoll-The plsadvanta.
+, gss of Faetoris, in this state.

The Judiciary Committee Of the Senate
held an interesting meeting Saturday af-
ternoon in the Senate chamber, for the
purpose Of hearing arguments on behalf
OF the nufacturers of Wheeling and the
State, in reference to the exemption from
taxation by Constitutional amendment Of
articles manufactured within year and
remaining uusold in the hands Of the
manufacturer or his agent on the day oil
the annual assessment for taxation. Hon.
W. P. Hubbard and Attorney General
elect Caldwell appeared before the COM
mittee, and for two hours and half pre-
sented forcible arguments in support o.
exemption.
MIR. cALDwgbL's POINTS.
Mr.. Caldwell advocated the exemption
of agricultural products as well as manu-
featured articles, but he confined his ar
gulaents TO the interests OF the manutac-
turers. He pointed out that the more
Liberal policy Of Pennsylvania and Ohio,
with whose factories those Of West Vir.
ginia must come into such close competi.
ton, placed the manufacturing concerns
OF this State at q great disadvantage. The
Growth OF Bellaire and Martins Ferry,
largely by West Virginia capital, was de,
clared to be at the expense OF this side o.
the river, and largely traceable to the dif
ferent policies OF State laws On the two
sides OF the river. Other States were also
referred TO in which, liberal laws had bull
up extensive manufacturing interests, and
resulted in the end in much greater rev
enue to the State in the way OF taxes thar
would have been the case had the strug
Cling mills had the existence taxed out O.
them in the first place.
Mr.. Caldwell spoke for an hour, thu
time allotted TO each OF the two gentlemen
by the Committee, and then Mr.. Hubbard
took the floor, lie had not finished wher
Ibis time was up and he was invited Z
continue the argument.
MIR. MupBARD's ARGUMENT.
Mr.. Hubbard has been devoting a large
share OF his time to special study Of this
matter for several weeks and his address
was forcible and effective, and it was ap'
parent from the interest taken by the
members ofthe committee that the points
told on them.
Mr.. Hubbard quoted from statistics 70
show that the farm products Of West Vir-
gin;a amountedrto about $l0. 100000 per
year, while the manufactures average
about So, 100000 in value, and the ratio
OF either remaining unsold ut the end of m
average year would about equal the other,
SO that the exemptions would about bal.
ance.
Twenty-Five years ago Wheeling had
seven nail mills; she now has six, and in
but one OF these are the original investors
now stockholders. Twenty window glass
factories have attempted and failed to Sc
cure permanent footing here, and nu'
mcrous wooden and cotton mills, and ma
chine shops, have been established only
to go down. Mr. Hubbard attributed this
largely to the lack Of fostering measures
in this State such as encourage manutac'
turing enterprises on both sides OF the Pan
Handle and in other progressive States.
THE SOURCES OF REVENUE.
Mr.. Hubbard was asked what source Of
revenue would be left II agricultural pro.
ducts and manufactured articles were ex-
empted from taxation. He replied that
he would suggest that the spectators be
taxed. Many OF them are non-residents,
who buy hundreds Of thousands OF acres
of land merely to hold for an increase in
value, not only not using the land in any
way themselves, but preventing Others
who might desire 10 buy smaller tracts
for productive purposes, from doing so.
A number Of prominent manufacturers
of the city, and members Of the House
and Senate were interested listeners during
the speeches, and many Of the men,
bers Of the Legislature expressed them.
selves as much enlightened and interested
| nv the remarkE MIS-