The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1905-03-29
81 spreadlns Over the ssate$ of4 West
n Nirslnla leading Men axe n
n Up-E xtraets
From Letters---.''' Eyerlastlnsly Right,
Sand, win WIN etzel WAXING s;44
;,,s Up 70 a Realization OF Issue. \, NJ

], and VIII VIM Yetzel Waking Il
sss Up 10 a Realization ct Issue. n
slnce$ the discussion Of, tax reform
was begun In the columns Of 3 the
Morgantown Chronicle by George q.
Baker each mall brings to him many;
letters Endorsing the position he has
taken, from d fewsof which liberty Is.
taken To- make extracts, SS5a
Hon. Alpheus Garrison. Senator
of:this State, writes as follows: Il
Hon. George G. 4 Baker, Morgan.
town, W. Va, Dear sir:-I have ex.
amlned your article on the tax ques:
ton and am we'll pleased withsyour
views on the matter. tits as clearsto
me that coal, oil and gas should be
taxed us well as other property. II
coal, oil Land gas4are notgreal estate
them 1t is personal; II not personal
then It Is real estate. The constitu-
ton Of West Virginia provides that
Iall$real and personal property shall
he taxed equally, then why not these
articles be taxed as we'll ms horses
cattle, sheep, etc: Soc constitution
Of West Virginia, page 54.s articleS1O-7s
says, taxation shall be- equal and uni.
form throughout the State and all
Etnroperty, both real and personal,
shall bo5 taxed In proportion. otis
value to- BIO ascertalned as directed
bylaw, etc. 4 am n believer that 1.-THE
constitution sis our first law or the
guide by which all laws are made.
No law should be passed 10 conflict
with y the constitution Of Tie State,
Therefore a law to exempt coal, oil,
gas, etc, from taxation is a violation
Of the constitution Of the State Be.
fore atlawto exempt them a changesof
Fahe constitution would be required.
$ssS am sure you would not
want TO put burden on your sneighbor
of which you are not willing to bear
your share, neither do we want ito
bear more than ollr share Of equal
taxation. Yours; "a. Garrison. "a
Anotlicriletter, from which We take
some extracts, Is written bySone d
the leading citizens 81 the Kapawha
valley, by Hon o ID, Elill:ofs Kendalia
! VIVA who says, among othei
things, as follows: George G. Baker
ESQ: Morgantown, w: Va. NY Deni
Sir:S5T;I have Just read with "a great
deal, of satisfaction. your letter re
Gently published Il In & the Charleston
Daily Mail, in which YOU ably, and
fearlessly discuss the taxing or the5oi
and gas interests Of this State And
/ fully concur In your opinion, and &
write togcongratulate YOU on the$bold
stand YOU take against these cold
blooded corporate Interests and I'M be
half%of Justice and Of the common
people OF West Virginia. " 4 n
IT do not know your politics. but
knowing as ! do that statesmen put
incipleEaboyeS party, I hope you vii
pardon what | am about to say, but
you are made out Of the kind sof ma
|terial out Of which statesmen. and pa
;ltrIots are made, and some. day l hope
4 TO see you governor ofsthe State 81
West Virginia. I. 8re
gret5 to say IT. but craftsmanship il
la thing of the past In West Virglnia
and II the common people, {irrespec
Tive ofipartyr do1not arise to- the needs
iIofSthe hour and elect better men $as
their representatives In the govern
ment, and thenSafter$ they are elected
see that they do their sworn duty
4 the rights Of the people, as guaran
i teed to them BY the constitution.@wil
4 be ground sto8 powder and all lib
erty will be lost. The times call fol
4 honor and craftsmanship that putt
4 strong, brave fearless; bratny mer
|i1mnnbued with those high principles q
principle and honest public service
! above partisan politics, and puts TIL
man above the dollar In tho admins
, tration Of the government. The hon
lest: mantle true statesman n a tin
I lP.e ii -shrinks from the rotten polit
ical method which its9is nee essafy t
adopt to secure an election TO pubiit
office office q, and i'm consed uence We ses
sI n lo 'I them In the modern legisla
tive l,'s halls h In closing 4 wish YOU the
utmost success, and desire to assure
|yous that if5I can be 81 any use to yolS
Twill only be too glad toShe1p. you'll
iiatiy way can. Asking pardon ;|foi
taking up your valuable time 4 and
thanking you In advance. etc.,I L am am