West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1909-02-18

TAX reform administration. State
Tax Commissioner T. L. Town
send has been before the legisla-
ture pleading for the production
tax and has submitted an inter
esting array of figures why it
should be put on. According to
his method of computing values
the oil interests are worth $685.
100000, but they are only as
sessed for s27, $4,000. The gas
interests are worth SOB, 100000
and assessed at 100000. The
capital invested in coal operations,
exclusive Of land, $115,OOO,OOO,
whereas they are assessed at $685.
100000.
Now We want our Republican
friends in Preston to read the
above figures carefully, for many
of them thought THE ARGUS was
disappearing the new tax laws.
These figures have been furnished
by the state administration and
they should convince the average
Republican that they are not
Democratic campaign lies" as
the Preston County Journal has
been telling them when The AR.
GUS told the people that the farm
ers and small property holders
were the only ones, except the
railroads, who were being assessed
at the "true and actual value"
The Journal frequently denied
and vehemently declared that the
Dawson tax laws were framed to
catch the big corporations, which
1t alleged had been escaping just
taxation under the old laws. THE
ARGUS submitted time and again
the assessment on oil and gas and
challenged the Journal to dis
prove its figures, which it failed
to do. Instead it resorted to its
old chestnut of democratic cam
paign lies" and that THE ARGUS
was opposing the new tax laws
for political reasons. But THE
ARGUS was willing to bide its
time, for it knew full well that it
was only a question of time until
the tax reformers" themselves
would have to verify the accu-
racy of The ARGUS figures and
statements.
AT last We have it and the Jour
nal dare not dispute the figures.
State Tax Commissioner Town
send, who was speaking for the
Dawson administration, vindi.
Gates THE ARGUS and proves that
the Journal, either ignorantly or
wilfully, misrepresented the tax
laws to the people of Preston coun.
ty. 1t matters very little to the
people which. If it was ignorant
OF the provisions of the tax laws
and the method of assessing GER
tain property it should not have
exposed its ignorance in such
manner. It's representation of the
tax laws was not fair to the people.
Many will probably wonder
why Gov. Dawson is so anxious
to impose the production tax upon
coal, oil, and gas at this late day.
There are various reasons. In the
first place the Republican party
could not have carried the state
without the aid and assistance of
these corporations. Secondly, the
time has come when the admin.
istration must have more revenue.
and it cannot get this extra reve-
nue. without the production tax,
or else further increase the taxes
OF the middle class oftaxpayers.
Gov. Dawson is willy and astute
IN the game of politics, and he
knows that a further increase in
the tax receipt Of the middle class
would mean the loss Of the state
to the Republican party. It is
not the increase in taxes that is
worrying Gov. Dawson, but the
loss Of the state TO his party. The
governor has not held office long
enough to satisfy his longing for
The "aesh pots Of Egypt"
The ARGUS, however, feels per-
'ectly satisfied since the Dawson
administration has vindicate1 its
position on the tax laws, and to |
show its brotherly spirit il ex-
ends its sincere coincidence TO
he Preston County Journal.