Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1885-02-15
TUE rNEnPrIoN QUESTION,

ni,.se meeting that has been called this
session.
The occasion was the meeting Of the
Committee on the Judiciary to consider the
t,yNil the substance Of which was printed
!, Tie REGlsrER of Thursday, and to hear
he plea for exemption Of the manufacturers
Of Wheeling presented BY two prominent
members Of the bar in this city, viz: MsssFs.
Alfred Caldwell and Vim. P. Hubbard.
Although the gentlemen were given an
hour each in which to present their case,
!, uss dark before the sound Of their voices
Cgssed.
Mr.. CALDWELL began by saying he would
eor6ne himself TO questions of State policy
and Constitutional requirements. He did
not advocate the exemption Of manufsetur-
i,s property aloRe, nor Of agricultural
p,Ovsrty alone, but Of both. The in
tsre,ts OF the farmer and the manufacturer
pre- brought in direct competition with the
Ike interests Of Pennsylvania and Ohio.
The difference oftaxation between Pennsyl
vsn!a and West Virginia is felt in marked
degree and is in favor Of the former State
twenty 1--WE dollars valuation per acre. These
s,e the same lands and the difference Is
Eye wholly to the difference in taxation.
As to manufactures, the competition be-
tueen West Virginia on the one side and
Cb'o and Pennsylvania on the other is as
and is duein a great measure, to
lie same cause; besides, it has not only
k,vt capital out, but has driven it away
hcm this State, in support Of which asSer-
ton the gentleman cited numerous cases Of
going to Ohio who had start
ed their plants here. Bellaire almost under
he shadow of Wheeling has been built up
By our people, and in its vicinity there are
now in operation fifteen glass works, while
across the river in West Virginia there are
but three. In 1870 Bellaire had 8 popula-
ton Of .O33, in 1880 it had increased to
SO.5, 100 per cent. The population of
PslmOnt county in 1870 was 39,Tl4, in 1880
!, was 49 962s, q total increase in ten years
Of 9 9OOO while in 1870 WheeingS popula-
tcu was %, ,2SO. in 1880 it was 80, ,737, and
basin the last few years decreased, if any
thing.
This increase on the Ohio side has been
Brought about solely by the tax laws Of
Dhio. which exempt the capital Of the
Pennsylvania manufacturers pay thirty
rents the 800 TO the State, and many Of
rem have the benefits of natural gas; in
Wheeling they pay, besides the thirty cent
Slsie tax, q local tax of one dollar aud
iwenty cents on every 800 worth OF capital.
This burden on West Virginia manufactur-
Prs Siu become heavier and heavier in the
future and the competition between the
s. cs Of Ohio and Pennsylvania and West
Virginia will drive capital out OF this State
no relief is given.
Mr. CALpwELL cited instances of the
btuei;s CT e1emp,ing manufacturing eaP;-
|al aad the products of agricultural indus
l. mining, etc, in many States among
m Arkansas, Connecticut, Iowa, Mime
! q, New York, North Carolina, Texas,
Vermont. kentucky, Nevada and Colorado,
, all Of which they foster their principle in
FustHes By a discriminating exemption.
He also gave to the committee among other
Interesting statistics, those Of Bridgeport,
SteubenUlle, and Martins Ferry,
lhOwiDg an almost incredible increase in
population and prosperity as com
PaIed with Wheeling, BenwOOd, and Ohio
bounty generally. Mr.. CALDWELL mentioned
8 instances OF capital going out Of this
btate, the Jefferson and the SPaulding Iron
Works in which are invested considerable
Test Virginia capital
Mr. Caldwell wound up . strong and
crcible argument Of an hours duration
Gith an appeal to the Legislature on behalf
y the manufacturers of West Virginia that
'hey be not taxed out Of existence, and that
Ney be given relief merely as 9 matter Of
s's'e policy.
Nr. HUBBARD's argument was longer
fnd, If itanything, more convincing than bis
predecessors. In his plea for the exemP'
lon from taxation Of agricultural products
Pr. HUBBARD made the statement that ninety
iFr cent Of one farm crop goes to raise the
P'Ht crop; thus leaving but ten per
'eni for the market; IS the tax laws ofthis
ate now stand the farmer is tS6ed twice
p the same products. The annual products
the farms in this State amount to Sl9'
[VOOOO, against manufacturing products Of
F2,COOOCO, so the exemption Of the one
fOuId about equal the other.
In showing the deterioratiug effects Of q
ton-dlscriminating exemption from taxa
''Cn Mr.. HUBBARD stated that while twenty
Fe years ago Wheeling had seven nsi
nIs, she now has but six In Eve milk
total investment has been wiped out and
e'e Is now in Wheeling but one enterprise
atShil keeps its original investors; within
y years twenty wiDdo~glsss manufae.
les have been driven out or have failed:
pc have been three attempts to manufae,
1fe "ooien goods all Of which have been
f'andoDed; six machine shops and six cot,
On mills have proven failures, besides mspy
rthers' the data and conclusive proof q
when Ar HUBBARD could furnish.
Mr. HURsARD coutrassed the s,a,e Of af
i'irs IN West Virginia. with other surround,
States ard showed our Staslto be a com,
lAladSs wilderness. w lhese State.