Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1904-07-30
EXTRA SESSION is NOW ON
Tax Reform Measures to be the
Principal Issue Discussed.
SESSION WILL LAST TEN DAYS
Call Was a Clever Stroke by Governor
White, aud is Aimed To Steal The
Democratic Campaign Thunder.

/ Charleston, W. Va. July 26.-In
obedience to the call of Governor
White, the lawmakers of West Vir.
ginia convened here TODAY in special
session to consider certain tax tills,
and their gathering is fraueht with
particular import to the state cam
raign. now almost launched. The
session is expected to last week at
least. and ten DAYS at the most.
When the authenticated, impulsive
governor slapped out his call for a
special session he stirred MP the ami
mails. State Auditor Arnold O. Scherr
and others of the administration and
highparty councils wagged their heads
sagely and doubted the party wisdom
thereof. To gather the solons under
republican responsibility in the midst
of camaign was argued as poor
politics. furthermore the special
session opponents argue that there is
no need for haste in passing on some
of the measures which have already
split the republicans into two camps.
and they saw in the same vein that it
is better to let well enough alone until
after the November election.
GOVERNOR EXECUTES COUP.
But while there are many who be-
lieye Governor White made blunder
there are others with keen vision who
assert he has made one grand coup.
They point to the vague Endorsement
of state tax reform by the republicans
in the Wheeling convention and the
apparent throw-down of tax reform
after the nomination of Dawson was
secured, and say that. because of these
popular impressions, the democrats
were preparing to come out for tax
reform in positive and convincing
/, fashion at Parkersburg and also insert
in their platform cannonading
arrangement of the republicans for
alleged bupcombe business. The OBJ
servers OF the situation who see these
contingencies ahead declare Governor
White shrewdly knocked the pins from
in advance by calling the legislature
in special session to pass certain tax
measures already agreed to by rival
elements of the republican party at a
conference in Washington last March.
This conference was composed of a
general committee of 10, and ~ of the
o6 bills originally drafted by the state
tax commission we're agreed to without
change, half a dozen were amended
and the vital issue of taxing coal, oil
and gas production were ordered out
of the way for the present campaign.
To enact into laws the bills over
which there was no friction the Day
-Blizzard-T corporation wing
and neutrality-suspicious. tex
commission wing agreed to have a
special session of the legislature,
which. among other things, should
pass a hill allowing the removal OF the
state tx on land, TO be voted on,
however. later by the people. I'll Q
abolition of this direct land tax Is
what Dawson, calls the keystone OF
the arch Of tax reform.
TALK OF EXPENSE.
To cut down tile expense Governor
White has requested Sneaker Meats
and President May to cut down the
armies of attaches in both houses to
the lowest possible working minimum.
and particularly by the Dawsop-White
cohorts there will be strenuous efforts
made to rush the session through. The
democrats are already saying it will
be a useless expense and they have
multip piled the figures at an appalling
rate, putting the sessions cost at $50. :
600. Tue reput licans will try to keep
it down to $l5, 200.
Another factor in the already COM
plicated state of things is the sus-
pi.ion that, after all. the legislature
may not be asked to pass on bills pre-.
, viousIy passed by committee OF re-
publican gentlemen in the city of
WASHINGTON. Ipstead of the COM
promise measures the real thing with
out alloy may be dished up in start
ling surprise. The governors call
unexpectedly states the session is to
consider bills drawn by commission
appointed in 1901.
A TROUBLE is EXPECTED.
Several humble lawmakers are ex-