The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1907-01-31
TAX LIMIT BILL HAS
VERY ROUGH TIME
State Senate Receives the BIN But
With Quis An Icy Nit,
mp Say.
me sQuApaIn OVER m.
Amended Form iay Likely Pass
Both Horses and Be
come Law.
BY w.HvcARs.

SnAhLESION, Jan. 30-The
fate of the Republican party In the
State hung in ahe balance Monday
for an hour. between and O'Clock
p. M, when the bill limiting county
levies to 80 cents on the 500 valua-
ton came up on it's second reading
and for amendment in the senate.
This bill is duplicate OF the one
he house knocked about and for the
second time sens 1t back to the COM
mittee. This is the bill which the
State Grange and all the farmers or
CARNATIONS endorsed.
When 1t came up in the senate
with a recommendation that It pass.
it was attacked first by Senator Ball
sy. Republican. of Grafton. His at
tack was backed by Littlepage. Kidd
and Campbell. Democrats. Then
Senator'S Marshall, White and Mont
gomery, Republicans. made an on
slaught in the bill. while Senator's
Foreman. Blue. Talbot. Ashburn
and Leftwich, defended the bill.
1t was the same old battle Of the
Democrats and Insurgents" against
tax reform and the administration
against a bill, the defeat of which
would have meant the undoing OF tax
reform and the defeat Of the domin-
ant party.
Bailey moved to amend the bill by
increasing the maximum levy to IS
cents, while White OF Mingo, moved
to make 1t 40 cents. For an hour
the question was fought ON the floor.
Foreman. Blue and Talbot called at
tention to the fact that under. the
present system with its increased
valuation. 80 cents would raise as
much money as SO cents under the
old system and that IS cents was the
constitutional limit. The effort to
kill the bill was defeated, but It was
amended so as to make the maximum
IS cents instead of 80 cents.
The bill provided that the levy
terms of the county court be the
first Tuesday in July. This was
knocked out and the levy term under
It as 1t now stands is indefinite and
vague.
Senator Marshall struck at its
vitals by moving to amend ii so as to
eliminate the tax commissioner, leav-
ing its enforcement with the county
courts. This would have been
worse than death to the bili-death
to the party.
After prolonged discussion an
aye and no vote was taken which,
without the president, resulted In "a
tie. Then to those who realized the
gravity of the situation, was the sus.
pense telling. But when Presiden,
McDermott realized his vote decided
the fate OF the bill as well as the
party, his mo" rang all over the
senate chamber. and the Democrats
looked as II grim winter had pinch.
ed their faces-hope of success 30
near. like fleetlng phantom, was
gone. IN
1t is now safe to say the bill, not
perfect, but yet safe, will pass on
its final vote in the senate and be
passed by the house. But 1t was a
close call.
To Senators Blue. Miller, McDer-
mott, Foreman and Talbot belong
the greatest honors in the fight for
the new tax system and the party.
Senator Thorn. who would have
stood pat for the bill. was confined
to his room with sickness.
The action on the tax bill and
some other moves today has disput.
ed the confidence of many in the be-
lief that the senate will pass the rail.
way commission. the two-cent fare
and the fellow servants bills. The
action of both houses this week pre-.
cludes the idea Of the present session
transacting much important bust.
ness.