Sistersville daily oil review. [volume] (Sistersville, W. Va.) 1902-1905, 1904-04-07

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derstand what is proposed to be
done by electing Dawson Cover
nor as to taxing OIL, gas and coal.
1--WE think when the mater is un-
derstood every delegate IN this
county will support him. OE
course, the Democrats favor this
tax reform, but as 4 Republican
may be elected Governor it's to
the interest of every taxpayer to
see a tax reform candidate is
nominated for fear he should be
elected.
Mr.. Teter has nothing to say,
and is being openly supported by
the Standard Oil company and
it's gas companies, and he is also
supported by the B. & o. railroad
and by the Coal trust in this
State.' The fact that these trusts
and tax dodgers are all for Teter
ought to satisfy all sane voters as
to where he stands on the ques
ton. Mr.. Dawson has written
an open letter to S. 7. Mallory,
of Parkersburg, in which he
states his ideas of taxing oil,
which is certainly reasonable and
Just and if in force in this county
would save our people thousands
of dollars in the way Of taxes,
and would work no hardship Oh
any one. Here is the letter IN
full:
Messrs. S. 7. Mallory, D. A. Beat
ty and H. P. Kingsbury:
Gentlemen Your letter dated
March 2Sth was handed me this
morning about 10 o'clock by Mr..
Mallory. In it you state that "at
meeting of the various parties
representing the oil and gas in
terests of this and surrounding
vicinity you "were appointed a
committee to request my position
in the matter Of relating to the
taxation of oil and gas.
You further say: "We feel that
the interests represented in the
production of both oil and gas
are of vital Importance, not only
to us, but to this community, and
in order that we can act intelli-
gently we desire to know the at
tiude that you maintain relating
to the taxation of these commod1-
ties"
Your interests are important
ones and should be treated with
justice. l am a stockholder my
self in two corporations produc-
ing oil and gas; one in this State
and one in Ohio. For this reason,
and for the broader reason that
the government should always be
just to every citizen and interest,
want to see the oil and gas in
terests justly treated.
Whether the oil and gas inter-
ests are paying a just share of
taxes is a question of fact. If
they are paying such share, they
should not pay more; if they are
not, they should pay that just
share. l do not think that they
do now pay that just share, and
l base my opinion upon the report
of the Tax commission and other
data. This subject is discussed
on Pages % to 80 of the Tax
commissions preliminary report,
and again on pages 33 to 30 OF
it's final report. The Tax commits
sion states that about 15,OO0,OOO
barrels of oil are annually pro-
duced in this State; worth (if the
price of oil be 81 per barrel, 3d.
100000; or at $3.50 per barrel,
$22, ,500,000). I do not find that
the commission states the value OF
gas produced annually. Il write
this hurriedly, as you request an
immediate answer, and have not
time to examine the reports thor
oughly.) The commission finds
that this property does not pay a
Just share of taxes, and says
(page "a, final report: "The Oil
and gas so produced is immedl-
ately consumed, very large por-