Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1904-03-26
WILL CALL LEGISLATURE
Special Session Will be Con-
vened Early in the Spring.
WILL ADJUST TAX QUESTION
Committee Of West Virginia Republicans
Reached Compromise Agreement In
Washington tuesday.

The great tax reform issue on the
direct lines of the tax commission bills
was fought out in Washington Tues
day and the tax commission has
practically won out, the license tax is.
sue being postponed until subse-
quent legislature.
The remaining features are to be
submitted to a special session to be call
ed this spring.
The general committee met at the
New Willard, all the committee being
present excepting W. M. o. Dawson,
whose proxy was represented by Gov
ernor A. B. White. The session be-
gun at noon and at 5 p. IN. adjourned
to meet at after "a careful considera-
ton of the subcommittee disagree
ments. At times it looked hopeless
for settlement but in Intervening it
was ascertained that an agreement
could be reached on basis of COM
promise, involving the administrative
features of the tax commission bills,
"a in ALL. eight without amendment,
16 with amendments.
But the tug of war was the abolition
of the direct tax, and the Hubbard
Sturgiss end won a notable victory by
the resolution, providing the referen-
dun of this question by the legisla-
ture to direct vote of the people.
This proposition was too irresistible,
ard after full discussion it was unsn-
imously adopted. Hon. A. Ct. Dayton
moving its adoption. The following
is the resolution:
1--WE recommend that special ses-
! sion of the legislature be called in the
hope that it will pass:
''First-The administrative bills
upon which the subcommittee of
four have agreed and NAV agree. =,
"Second-In view of the opinion
expressed by some that certain pro-
visions of the state constitution are in
the way of abolishing all direct state
and state schools taxes, measure.sub-
mitting to the people an amendment
to the constitution repeating such
provision.
''Third-An act abolishing the pre-
sent direct state and state school taxes
about one-third in 1905 and abons one
third in 1906, in case said constitution
al amendment shall have been adopt
ed by vote of the people, the residue
in 1907. /"
The work of the committee in secur-
ing the settlement has made every
great reforms move slowly and the
basic principal of the tax'reform move
ment is to abolish all direct state tax
les which will now go to the people.
The special session will be called as
soon as all the amendments are re-
drafted and in the hands of the gov
ernor. The committee continued its
session in closing up the details yester.
day. 1t is thought that the work will
be disposed of by the end of this week.
1t is regarded by those not tied up
or prejudiced, that this disposition of
the tax question makes Dawson the
logical candidate as the reforms to be
carried out must come in the next
state administration and that the
man who makes the fight for true tax
; reform could be the only safe one
with whom to entrust the carrying
out of the same 4; that none but trusted
men should be put on guard, that the
reform plan might be ruined or its eff
fects nullified if placed in unfriendly
/ hands.