Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1903-02-07
Senate Passes Resolutions Not to
Consider Them,
TEXT OF The RESOLUTION
Other Business Transactions Of the Legislators
Yesterday That Are Of Interest.

port Of the tax commission and accom-
panving bills, 80 far a. thew related To-
revolutionizine Of The methods OF as
sessment and collection Of taxes, be
not considered at this session. The
resolution referred to had been under
consideration by the finance and judi
ciarv committees. They reported the
folio owing substitute, which was ADOPT
ed.
"Resolved. That it is the chs Of
the senate that such Of the bills pre-
pared be the tax commission which
provide for change in the general
scheme Of our present system Of taxa
ion should not be considered at the
present session for the reason that the
people OF this State should be first af-
forded an opportunity to acquaint
themselves with the recommendations
of Hthe tax commission as to such
change, and give expression Of their
views to the members Of the legisla-
ture, il being the opinion of the senate
that the report of the commission is
substantially unknown to the people of
the State at this time. = Thus the
question of consideration of the meas
ures which have created more talk than
any subject of State interest in many
wears has seemingly been settled, so
far as the senate is concerned.
The bill regulating bonding and
surety companies doing business in
West Virginia was advanced to third
reading in the house. after the adoD-
ton of an amendment req uiring the
deposits put up by foreign companies
to be not less than $50, 600 and not over
s75, 900.
The bill relating to the r~eorganiza-
ton of the State prison having been
made a special order of business for the
house came up and was disposed of.
The salary was was finally placed at
81. 600 per wear and the appointment of
warden taken from the hands of the
governor and PLACED with the S tate
prison board.
Here is a complete copy Of the reso-
lution introduced in the senate by Mr..
Colcord, which was the fatal stab at
the tax commssiicn's report and all the
labored bills arising therefrom. The
resolution was the result of a caucus
of Republicans senators. and its power
was known before it was introduced
the -enators give their reasons, as the
reader viii see.
Resolved, That it is the scene Of
the senate that the report of the tax
commission. and the various bills pre-
pared by the commission to carry the
same effect, SO far as they affect the
assessment and collection of taxes,
should not be further considered 10y
the senate at the present session for the
following reasons:
Eirst-Because the plan proposed
singles u for special taxation the
product of the coal mines, oil and gas
wells, and leaves untaxed the product
of the iron and steele mills and furna-
ces, glass factories, tanneries. in fact
the product Of all kinds of manufac-
lures in the state. thus making dis.
elimination in favor of one class of
property and against other classes of
property for taxation purposes, that,
even We're such a law constitutional,
it wonld be so inequitutable as to
arouse the indignation of toe people
and threaten the continued develop
ment Of the res uTces of our state.
Second-Because the most needed
change in u present system is to
D Divide means of discovering for tax
alton the vast amour Of personal prop
erty. now escaping the payment of any
taxation whateve. and it appears that
the plan pronos"d by the tax commits
SIGN would tend TO promote Ibis evil
rather than provide "a Iemedy for
against il.
Third Because the proper consid-
Grafton Of the proposed measures and
pAlA'A 20 AcA-AlApn lANtlt4litA lEltLtlO ANA
made necessary thereby would consume
vastly more time than will be at the
dlsDosal of the legislature this session.,
and. in addition tine risk to be assumed
as TO whether such proposed legisi, -
ZION would be constitu tioual. is most
serious, for, # such laws were held to
be unconstitutional, the state would
be left without any tax laws. and,
therefore, without revenue.
And, further, because the due o ii
ST. eration Of the proposed measure
wo4ld @~'eat the enactment Of much
nee leo Legislation Hy the present SEES.
soD vi me legislature.
@oarth-Because the fundamental
reason for the o37-e & Registrations to
provide additional revenues necessary
for state purposes. II Is con Iusiyely
shown nv tine lrbli.ha4 .tat.r,a,t