Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-12-17
INTERESTING DEBATE
ATLAsT EyENING'sSESSION OF THE CHAM
Der OF COMMERCE.
The Body Taking Measures to Protect the Via
Interests Of the City at
Charleston.

The Chamber Of Commerce met in regu-
lar session last evening, President Logan
and Secretary Hazlett in their places, and
a quorum of members present. After the
minutes had been read, the Secretary read
a financial report, showing that there had
been received since Reorganization OF the
Chamber 81, 095, of which sum SS77 had
been expended, and There were outstand-
ing liabilities amounting to about sl5o'
The membership of the Chamber is about
one hundred and fifty, giving an income OF
81, 500 per year.
The Chair called the attention OF the
Chamber to the fact that the Legislature
was about to meet, and stated that ne was
led TO believed the attempts made In re-
cent wears to change the laws In relation
10 taxation would be renewed. The agl-
tation was being led by earnest and per-
sistent men, and although there was no
very definite information as to the extent OF
the gentlemen's following, it would be
well for the Chamber to take steps 10
protect its interests. The Chair made a
brief explanation of the so called tax
reformers' theories and plans, and SAID
there was no doubt that q change In the
law to conform with their theories would
be most injurious and harmful to the clu-
zens of Wheeling. DR.. Logan said he had
hoped to see large attendance, as the
city was vitality interested in the matter
referred to.
Col. Thomas O'Brien supplemented the
remarks of the Chair by referring to the
plans ofsome other gentlemen, to wipe
out all the independent school districts OF
the State. That scheme would take about
$50. 900 or $50, 900 from Wheeling. The
speaker thought this was also OF con-
siderable importance.
The Chair again addressed the Chamber,
dwelling upon the necessity OF sending
some one to Charleston to look after the
interests of this community, and said
that as the finances of the Chamber We're
pretty low, it would be well to have the 1857
dues paid up promptly. After some DIS
cussion, during which the fact was brought
forward that the dues for 1886 had been
passed in January last by order OF the
Board of Directors, resolution was
adopted ordering the dues in arrears to be
collected, without any regard to the dues
of 1887.
Mr.. w. E. Hughes addressed the
Chamber upon the subject of sending arep-
resentative to. Charleston during the session
ofthe Legislature. He urged the Importance
of matters liable to come up, as, for in
stance, the laws upon assignments, attach
ments, collections, &c. The Committee
on Legislation ought to have some instruc-
ton in the matter.
Col. OBrien said he had no doubt that
the laws enumerated were important In
their way, but the taxation schemes were
of far greater moment He cited one tea
ture of the proposed tax law, which pro-
posed to tax the stock of a corporation as
a natural person, and then again tax the
property in the name of the individual
owner. Another feature proposed to COM
pei bank cashiers to give to the assessors
the cash balances of firm and individuals,
which balances should be listed for taxa
ton, without regard to the possible debts
of the depOsitOrs. Col. O'Brien urged that
this sort of thing deserved attention be-
yond anything else. He called
attention also to the fact that
one of the leaders in the taxation re
form" scheme was the ayowed agent and
employee of London and New York holders
of the bonds known as ''VIrginias," and
said his object was to enhance the revenues
of the State with the ultimate purpose OF
securing the payment of a portion of the
securities.
The discussion continued at great length,
and was interesting all the way through.
Once proposition was made to invite the
members-elect of the Legislature from
Ohio county to meet with the
Committee on Finance and Legislation,
but the matter was not favOrably enter
tanned, one gentleman saying he had heard
one of the members-elcct make iOrcible OBJ
lection to what he termed the 'interier-
ence" of outsiders" with his official
duties. The Chamber of Commerce knew
what it wanted, it represented the material
interests of the city in a way approached
by no other organization, the body was IA
miliar with the needs and
desires of the mercantile and manu-
featuring interests OF the city and
county, and he thought it would
be far better to make known what was
wanted in Legislative committee meetings.
The time had come for business men todrop
politics out of sight in matters etfecting
the general welfare, and if members failed
to come to the relief Of and protect the
interests of the City and County they
should be given back seat.
Finally the Committee on Finance was
instructed to look after the taxation laws,
and the Committee on Legislation was
given charge of the proposed amendments
and new laws on the subjects of assign
ments, attachments, collections, etc, the
Committees to call a meeting of the
Chamber at such time as they saw fit,
when final action would be taken.
President Logan was made member OF
each of the Committees mentioned, his
information on the subjects before them
bein extensive and valuable.