Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1909-01-14

d stricts and municipalities by pub
ic serS &c corporations. which taxes
are now collected by the state and
turned over 20 the couus,es, etc,
without expense TO the latter
Making the. term OF notaries pub
&c a definite period instead of for
life. with fee to .he state for re-
newal OF the comm.ss ON.
The establishment OF a record tax
on documents adm tied to record in
the offices Of the county clerks, the
tax 20 go to the state.
An amendment to the constitution
Il urged, providing for the q assifi-
latron of property for taxation. with
a provision that taxation shall be
uniform upon all property or the
sg.ue class, this TO secure a more
e table system OF taxation upon
coal. oil and gas properties. rail
roads. etc.
An effc ent leasho'd tax shou d
be enacted.
A license tax on coal. oil and gas
production is sugge-Ted, the tax to
be made upon The gross earnings
from the production OF coal. oil and
gas. This differs from previous
recommendations which provided for
straight production tax according
to production.
SALOON QUESTION
Concerning the saloon question,
which - easily first IN pubic inter-
eat at the present time. the govern
or says:
The platform or the dominant
political party of this state. adopted
a few months ago, declares:
"A large majority OF the citizens
OF the state bellows tina the tarffc
in intoU cat ng liquors Is an evil, and
desire to NIT gate and eradicate the
evils OF such traffic as far as pos
sible. But We recognize that there
IS an honest difference of opinion
as to which 3 the better method
whereby this result may be obtain
ed, whether by statewide prohibi-
ton through amendment to the con-
ditut on OF the STATE, or by what Is
known as local option through a
vote of the people IN each county.
We be ieve that the people are ca
pab 3 of settling this quest ON, and
that hey have the right to settle it.
Therefore we favor the passage by
he next legislature OF a we'll CON
dered and an adequate local option
law and also the submission to a
vote Of the people of an amendment
to the constitut on prohibiting the
sa traffic.
SALOON A WASTE
The present phase of the tenn
perance question is pecu lar: There
is very ft0e hysteria about t, not
so much denunciatron as formerly,
1t Is calm, mighty and determined
movement aga INST the whiskey sa-
loon as an institution, and is based
more large y on economic reasons
probably than former movements.
Business men and other practical
men see that the saloon is a waste:
that its influence in eociety, IN gov
eminent, and It's work, is evil, and
that no good whatever comes from
It. Scientific invest CATION IS more
and more giving a biacker eye to
a'coh0 Public opinion is more and
more demanding the elimination OF
the saloon. There - a d ference
of op MON among those who are
| opposed to the traffic IN intox cat
Ing liquors as So the best method OF
accomplishing this purpose. Two
methods are proposed: local option
which is prohibition within the Local
territory voting for It; and state.
wide prohibition. Those engaged IN
any reform ought never to fall out
about methods, but sometimes taey
do, for we hnd extr-me and ;mprac.
tical men IN every party, organ.
cation and self. The quest on IL
pecu larry one that should be sub.
mfted to the people, because Il IL
one that the people are peculiarly
ntere ted IN and Informed about
That there is suffc ent public sent.
ment TO Justify the submiss' on of a
constitutional amendment thers Is
no doubt. Those who believe thai
local option Il the best plan should
be ready to surrender their belief q
a majority the best; and those who
be eve that statewide prob billion
IS the best should acquiesce in ehe
opinion OF the majority II they be
lteve that local option Is the best
II you enact a proper local option
law, something like the Rose Law
OF Ohio, and then submit the pro
u bition amendment, in my judg.
ment you WI have compiled with
the VIII OF the people; and they arc
competent to choose between the
ltwo methods. n necessary two.
Thirds vote lannot be obtained "a