The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1905-04-11
IGEORGEC BAKERS
letter TO5DILLON
BEScoLEcTED FOR
THESPAsTaFlVE YEARS FROM
CORPORATIONS.
SUBSTANCE AND NOT SHADOW
WANTED-THEsLA CITED TO
COVER THE CASE.
MorgantowI, ". Va,
ApyilI10, 1905.

SL&D@hSEEHGgSHINT--- aFgCIs etrEs |
Morgantowl, W Va,
III n April 10, 1905.
Editors West Virginian:
Dear Sirs7-At the request OF Hon.
Charles ". Dillon, tax commissioner,
tufepddy toe letter receix. ID from him
5ated April 1906, as to taxing oil
and gas leases and ~leaseholds back
d period Of five years, ! have gwen
him the following op.nlo.i.
You say am not Just sure that
thesesleaseholds can be assessed for
haa taxes for a time not exceeding
I'VE years, under the law exis ing
prior to the last session OF the Lcsis.
Iafnre9 II ;
E5haye no doubt on this subject
shateYer. If there is a doubt. Why not
gfye j In favor Of the plain, common
people, the farmers and home owners
q tile State. To test the question
stItS cost butte song. ! have before
ne the two records sent to me BY the
clerk Of THE Supreme Court Of estate
3 South Penn Oil Company from
Marion county, and Carte: VS.. Coun.
Court Of Tyler county" In the
Turner ease the costs were sti2.50
audSin the latter case saic.
Id other words to the citizens Of
Nannngaia county, it would not cost
f,em Ten cents apiece to test this
question, which If successful, means
atSIeastSf ftysmillion dollars for prop.
rBs@hich has never been taxed in
Virginia, and admittedly 80 by
yefg dill ami sus producer in the
pee II we Do not try to do it, then,
as the Democratic party has accused
us Will certainly look as If We arc
stI1ling In with the trusts AID cor
partitions, instead Of the plain people
% an State and a Just ~retr!bution
silt follow.
The Plain Law.
Under section 60 chapter 80 of the
cnd provides @lf the assessors
discover that any taxes on persona
prqperty were omitted in any :ormeI
year not exceeding five; lie shall ente'
same, with interest thereon, ii
MS Fsrsonal property book" TIL!
law 5 constitutional for it vas lonl
since contested in the 18TH w. "
asesainld$$you@il II note that It does no
sxcept tile Scorporatton, but It say
ahy taxes on personal property w,ler
emitted I'M former year shall be Ell
eredS fora term not exceeding fly
Tsars Tits personal property book.
All Are Equal.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS never ititent
el II put the Incorporation higher tina
the Individual under the constitutio
md let II escape taxes, Q II it did,
Kunids be unlawful and unconstitu:iol
lss$andy you as tile head OF the! tax d,
partment appointed BY the goyerno
whoEwas elected by the people, will |
expected to make the fight on beha
of Tie common people. say tn
Win no spirit q critlclsia whateve
5at simply to photograph the trut
specially when It Will cost in 70,
comfy 81 KanaWha, with Its lars
ponItudatttfon III you have aay oil or s,
productions there or coal leases n
three pennies apiece to test the qua
iion To the Supreme Cou:t and hac
New under chapter 81 aecticn
f the code tits the duty Of the stf
Itgry attorney Of each CORPORATION
shalf thereof to make return to y
%Issessor3 Of the district wherein
Business is carriedEonss of its proper
D Sssessmenta las required by s.
ien d chapter % ,of the code A
ms section "a chapter fyes;
penalty andsa iorfsEureif}t Il
nek done.
Necessary Information
Sessssn n ehaptor u, sliaer WI!