The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1904-07-29
EXTRA SESSION OF LEGIS Ia TURE
OF WEST VIRGINIA BEGINS

MY opinion, warrant tile e0nveniHg q
your bodies In extraordinary session.
The provision for reassessment of
rae real property Of the State in 1908. it
bring five years since the last assess
ncnt, Is another matter, believed which
If ITSELF iustiies convening your botIies
in advance Of the regular session Of 1905
The proposed change, in the methods
Of assessing certain public service cor
porations and the creation OF the Office
Of Tax Commissioner are most desire Bile
and worthy Of inrmediate action by the
law making power. The provision for
the creation Of Tax Commissioner
deem very important. because II is al
assessing and taxing departments Of the
State.
In every light we may view it. the
measures as agreed upon by the Com
mittee of Four. il enacted into law by
your bodies. are ample Justification for
convcning you in extraordinary session
at this time. AM confident that the
people Of tae state viii regard it 50.
Certain proposed license taxes, about
which there haze been much controversy
and discussion. are not included in the
r,.,y sour.os If revenues provided 4 tho
.h;iIs ~ ,bo co,,,rittc. ~ r,rr /, mol,
m far the pronosel reduction. IN direct
SO 4ovcs =. ,forcs,id ,nl noss;,,y,.
it is just ~, well that this is 20, pending
the decision by The people as to the pro
posed constitutional amendment we
can ali agree. trust. with the coneIn
sions OF the Committee OF Four. 40 far
as they have gone. and thus enact into
law and complete tho first steps towaris
tax reform. When tine people have ne,
cd upon the proposed constitutional
amendment, we can eafely leave to otdcr
Legislatures. fresh from the people. the
determination Of such proposed license or
special taxes as may be necessary or de-
sirable. It seems to me that what is
proposed now is wise and safe 1t is
right to give the people the opportunity
TO express their wishes in a constitution
al amendment Then, il the amendment
is approved, tine succeeding Legislature
can move on by other legislation to Sc
curing the needed revenues TO administer
the State government. We reach th
end sought in that event. in three years
by gradual reductions and without in
jury or injustice to any persons or in
terests.
1t was with the profound conviction
that it was my duty to do 50 thai
nave called the Legislature together to
consider the bills in regard to the tax
assessment and revenue laws in relation
to the disbursement of revenues" as pre-.
pared by the Tax Commission and sub.
sequently amended, revised and added to
by the COMMITTEES OF Four, including
constitutional amendment permitting
the abolition of all direct State and
State school taxes. trust that you,
as members of the Legislature, will
agree with me that the measures pro-
posed are proper. necessary and desirable
In accordance with a promise made to
the delegate from Hancock county, late
in the night of the last day of the regr-
lar session of 1908. when the bill foI
that purpose failed 10 be reached fo'
final passage by the Senate. have in
eluded one local bill in the call. namely
the consideration OF inc propos't'on g
create the independent 'enoo, d's'fie' q
ohes'er' iiancocS county NY promise
was CONDITIONED on my ascertaintns th'i
'ne. measure proposed was meritori'r-
ana necessary. nave c're''''lS INVEST
gated me mater ana approve OF ~
same ana redeem the conditional prom
use then mace DS 'hei"aihg II IN ~
call.
The appropriations authorized inelii'
the expenses OF this session and Of any
legislation nacted necessitating appro
printions therefor: to supply the omis