Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-07-24
A TAXATION ISSUE
One in West Virginia as Well
as Wisconsin.
RIVAL CANDIDATES
THOSE REPRESENTING BOTH
SIDES OF THE QUESTION.
Result of a Commissions Report
Threat of an Extra Session Of the
State Legislature.

West Virginia is at present the scene of
a political movement very similar to the
one which is distracting the republicans
OF Wisconsin, although in West Virginia
| the question has not yet assumed the Sc
rious proportions that 1t has in, Governor
La Follette's state. In both instances the
question of taxation is at issue, and the
contest is between the corporations and
other interests of the state.
In West Virginia the issue may involve
| the coming elections, in which a leSisla-
ture to choose the successor to United
States Senator Scott is to be elected, as
well a governor and state ticket. Rival
candidates for governor are in the field,
espousing the opposite sides of the taxa
ton question Thus far the senatorial sit
uation has been kept clear of that matter,
but Senator Scott is being opposed for
| other reasons and his reelection is con-
tested.
The Issue Broadly Stated.
Broadly stated, the issue as to taxation
Is a proposition to equaliZe the taxes on
farm properties and real estate and to
place tax on railroads, on the output Of
coal and natural gas. with certain addi
tional license taxes. Naturally, the great
coal and railway interests of the state,
which, in West Virginia. are almost pro-
pOrtiCnately powerful as they are In
Pennsylvania, oppose the new plan and
thus far have succeeded in preventing it's
being put into operation.
The new system was devised by a tax
commission. authorized by the legislature
and appointed by the present executive.
Gov. White. The commission was COM
posed of democrats and republicans and in
cluded some of the ablest men in the state.
1t recommended the abolshment of the
state tax on land. which was equal in every
county, although the same classes of land
might present great differences n value. In
lieu of the state taxes, each county should
levy it's own land taxes assessed by a
board of well-paid men of good standing,
the taxes to go into a county fund. In
that way it was argued every county
could deal with the land question its
peculiar merits. In a state with the di-
versfied typographical features of West
Virginia this system was urged as more
equitable. The counties were to pay the
state for the care OF their paupers, insane
and criminals
To supply the deficit in the state funds
which would be crea ted under such sys-
TEN 1t was proposed to place tonnage tax
on the output of coal, tax on railways,
on the output of gas and to license all pro-
fessions. Gov. White indorsed the recon-
menda tions of the commission and bills
were introduced in the legislature to carry
them out, but the bills failed of action and
the Legislature adjourned without changing
the existing system.
An Extra Session Threatened.
Now Gov White threatens to call an ex
| ira session of the legislature to take the
case up again. Opinion is divided on the
advisa bility of the call, and there Is much
argument throughout the state upon it.
The corporations fighting the idea and
making every effort, it is said, to swing
public sentiment against it.
Gov. White is not eligible to reelection,
,E..r Z luyV f Eacf oini.I ia
sonal fortunes are not involved. He has
entailed the fight, however, upon his secre-
tary of state. Mr.. w. NJ o. Dawson of
Charleston who is a candidate for the
gubernatorial nomination on the issue of
favOring the new tax system.
State Senator c. w. Swisher of Fairmont
is candidate for the nomination, and is
opposed to the new plan. Elk Representa-
tive c. =. Dorr of Addison and Mr.. Charles
Teter of Philippi are also in the field
The United States Senators.
Thus far the two United States senator's,
Elkins and Scott have managed to steer
clear of the tax issue and both at this time
are deep in the TALL timber. Senator SCOTS
trouble is SAID to be geogra phical, rather
than personal, although there are some
business side lights to 1t. Both the sena-
tors are from the northern part of the
state. and now the men in the southern sec
ton claim that there should be geOgraph-
| ical division. and Mr.. j. l.. Caldwell is
urged as the candidate of the southerners.
A fire in Senator ScottS rear has been
started by II. G. Schmulbach of Senator
Scott's own county: Mr.. Schmulbach is
wealthy brewer of Wheeling, and he and
| the senator are rivals, it is said, in some
| railway schemes. Mr. Schmulbach is now
| talking of swinging his forces to Mr.. Cald-
we'll and if he cannot get it himself, at
| least bowl out Senator Scott.
+ The democrats are said to be as badly
| divided over the tax question as the re-
| publicans. Material interests and business
associations are said to dominate rather
| than political considerations in the align
| ment of the citizens of both parties on this
| question.
A Big Boom.
West Virginia is on tremendous boon.
| everybody is trying to make money. and
! materialsm Is said to be paramount. Capt.
| tai is flowing into the state, coal mines are
| being opened oil and gas wells driven, the
! forest exploited and every industry on the
| boom. The farmers are making money, the
! merchants ale busy and factories of all
kinds are rushing their hands night and
! day.
| This great boom Is utilized by the
| of their enterprises They claim that 1t
would be unwise to in any way check or
! limit the opening of new workings CT the
! conduct of old ones
The state is thought to be safely repub
| lican. 1t went republican In the last cleo
| ton by 10000 majority, and the republicans
claim that so long the existing prosper
| ity continues there Is no possibility OF
| democratic success.