The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1909-09-03
The CARDINAL
I POLICY OF HIS
ADMINS TRATI0N
The State Is Losirg g
Millions Each
Year

| WHEELING, Sept. "a systematic
campaign for either production tax
OF natural gas Or legislation regulating
pump pressure that will prevent its
shipment without the State Is being
planned by Governor William e. Glass
cock and will bo made the cardinal
policy OF his administration.
Tho governor yesterday revealed his
plan in a statement which is the most
momentous official utterance he has
made since ,he became governor 1t
sounds tho slogan for the next legisla-
tnre with slight possibility of con-
sideration Mt nn extra session. The
governors plan also has the approval
of Senator Scott.
The governor arrived in Wheeling
Wcdn es,lay night and stayed over
night at the McLure House. leaving
yesterday morning in company with
Senator Scott and ex-Congressman D.
B. Dovencr for Rock Springs. Park.
where he addcssed the reunion OF the
Tri-State G. A. r. Prior to his depar-
ture he accorded an interview In re-
snonse to question concerning the
probability OF an extra session.
| II will not call an extra session OF
the legislature" said the governor,
until I am convinced that that body
will carry out certain needed reforms
to which the marty is pledged or enact
certain legislation that think should
be enacted. I have been making sys'
tematic inquiries all over the State
concerning this proposition. and am
not prepared to say that think the
time is ripe for me to assemble the
legislature for the consideration OF
such matters. It would be a. useless
expense to reasscmble the present leg
islature unless We were reasonably
certain that it would agree to the pro-
Erummc that might be mapped ont for
it.
Tax on Natural Gas.
| "Or chief Importance among the leg
islaton I shall favor and urge Is the
imposition of production tax on nat
ural gas. I consider that the main
issue in West Virginia today. Those
who are best informed tell me that
moro than half billion cubic feet or
natural gas is being shipped ont OF
West Virginia every dny. we are now
feeding large number OF pine lines
that reach into Ohio and Pennsylvania
cities, while another is projected to
Baltimore and another to Cincinnati
1t Is impossible to obtain accurate fig
llres. but 7 am reliably informed that
mt least IS per cent and progably 30
per cent OF tho gas produced In West
Virginia is pumped out of the State
for the use of manufacturers In other
States. for the convenience OF people
who live In cities in other States and
for the enrichment OF capitalists who
live in other States and invest their
profits In other States. In return for
this enormous wealth which Is being
| carried from lis the state OF West Vir-
gnia gets practically nothing In rev.
enue and nothing in benefit from It's
natural gas. To my mind 1t Is wrong
that we should permit this enormous
waste Of our natural resources to con-
tinuc without making an effort to get
some compensation.
Two Courses open.
1.-Two legal courses are open to lis.
We may either impose production
tax which II lnid even Mt very mod
crate rate would raise sufficient rev.
onue for the State for NIL purposes. or
we could enact Legislation limiting the
pressure In such way that gas could
not be pumped great distances beyond
orr borders. This has been tried IN
Indiana and upheld rs n valid exercise
of the police power. The second
course would not raise revenue. hut II
would retain in the state great pro
portion of the supply that is no"
pumped elsewhere. and conserve oul
resources for our own benefit.
81 am prepared to say that believe
that 1t is our duty to ourselves and
our children to adopt either or both Of
these propositions.