Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1907-02-09
TAX ON LIQUOR.
Reaches All Glasses Of Liquor,
Malt,s.and Other Spirits.
REMOVAL OF THE SPECIAL TAX
Governor Dawson May Call Special
Session of Legislature to Raise
State Revenue.

ne pfOpWSeu uSW lax ou HQuOE
packages in the bill introduced in the
state senate by Senator Miller, of
Greenbrier county, is an interesting
one. 1t reaches all classes of the
liquor, malt. vinous and spirituous.
sold or offered for sale in this state
after they reach the consignee and be-
fore being offered for sale.
The present barrel law is known to
be very lame as it onsy extends to
malt liquors made in West Virginia
or imported into storage warehouses
In this state and sold from those
places thus relieving the direct ship
ments into this state to the wholesale
or retail dealer from the payment of
any tax.
The proposed law relieves the brew
cries and distilleries of West vir.
ginia from any tax on their products
made for sale or held for shipment to
points outside this state.
The present law does rot favor the
liquor interests to this extent.
The law is based upon the Missouri
statute where 1t was eracted several
years ago by democratic legislature
and sustained by the supreme court of
the state and of the United States as
proper law. 1t Is also move in the
direction of pure liquors as 1t requires
some certificate Of purity and inspec-
ton department with he state auditor
to be the chief head of the stamping
department.
The tax proposed IN the measure
will probably be slightly modified as
the figures given are regarded as the
outside limit but the state authorities
expect the law to be their best rev
enue measure on indirect taxes and II
nassed will no doubt settle for all
time the removal OF all state taxes.
In Missouri where the law is in full
operation 1t is reported that the resi-
dent LIQUOR interests are favorable to
it but it has been bitterly fought by
breweries located outside of the state,
as it operates to the benefit Of local
brewing interests. Whether it will
pass or not is now the question with
the legislature.
Removal of Direct Tax.
The removal of the direct state tax
on property is to be the work of some
succeeding legislature. The present
seems disinclined to find new sources
of revenue for any considerable
amount
The existing state tax rate will, In
consequence, IL cut down at all. be
but modestly reduced. This tax to re-
main will prove disappointment TO
many tax reformers who confidently
expected the legislature 10 lop 1t on en-
tirely. But without other revenue pro-
vided to run the state government the
entire adjustment Of the state tax is
OF course out OF the question. 1t thus
remains for future legislature to
make good the promises that have
been made to taxpayers in this re.
spect.
May BE Special Session.
Governor Dawson, VINO is just recov.
ering from recent illness, is disap.
pointed over the outlook in. this re-
spent and may call a special session OF
the legislature this summer to again
consider the matter.
The only revenue bills in sight be-
fore the legislature are the ones to In.
crease present license taxes. These
bills, If enacted, would give to the
state $250,000 additional annual rev.
enue which would come largely from
retail liquor dealers. The bills pro-
pose that the licenses lor saloon keep
ers be increased from $500 to $3.50
yearly and that the tax en- brewers of
beer be doubled. There are some 900
saloons in the state.
An increased tax of $3.50 per annum
would add about 1926, 900 to the state S
treasury and $4,000 additional would
about represent the increase of the
beer tax This amount falls short,
however, some quarters of mil
lion of the additional sum required be-
fore the removal of all state taxes.