Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1910-01-13
SOUNDS NOTE
OF WARNING.
State SsRatOT Roland E. Chase Calls AtteR-
lion 10 Evil Now MenaCing South
vests Greatest Industry

The following letter from State Sena-
tor Roland E. Chase, of this Senatorial
District, bearing on the proposed ton
mage tax on coal, sent out to a num-
Der of persons, clearly indicates the
position that gentleman will take in the
matter should the question again come
up at this session of the Legislature.
Senator Chase takes the view that the
passage of such law would not only be
heavy burden to the coal operators of
this section, but would materially him
der the progress and prosperitity of the
entire Southwest; and he is, therefore,
preparing to make a vigorous fight in
the Senate to prevent, if possible, the
passage of a law levying such a tax,
and he will, no doubt, be aided in his
efforts by the other Senator's from this
section of the State.
CLINTwooD, VA.
Dec. %, 1909.
1t looks now very much like we are
going to have another fight in the Vir-
ginia Legislature this winter to keep
the coal and minerals of this section of
the State from being over-burdened
with taxation. Two years ago Senator
Folks, of Richmond City, introduced q
bill placing tonnage tax on the output
of mines and this bill was approved by
the Senate Finance Committee, to which
it was referred, this committee report
ing the bill with the recommendation
that it ''do pass" But with the help of
many of our leading citizens of South
west Virginia, this bill was defeated on
the floor of the Senate. 1t was believed
at the time by many of our leading coal
men in this part of the Virginia, that
the Folks Tonnage Tax Bill, of two
years ago would have closed down al
most, if not sll, of the coal operations
of Southwest Virginia.
Senator Folks afterwards introduced
in the Senate, which was passed, res
olution providing that the Senate FL
nance Committee should, thirty DAYS
prior to the 1910 session of the Senate,
meet and hold a session of the commit
tee; so, in pursuance of this resolution.
this Finance Committee has been in ses-
sion for sometime and will re-assemble
next week, while the Senate will as
semble January 18th. Unfortunately
for this mining part of Virginia, we
have no representation on this impor-
tant Senate Finance Committee, there
being no member of this committee
west of Roanoke So, We are unfortu-
nately situated in reference to this COM
mittee. 1t appears that about the only
interest that the State Finance Com
mittee has in the coal industry of South
west Virginia is a source of revenue.
1 am, indeed, surprised to see the
stand taken by Judge VIM. F. Rhea, a
member of the Corporation Commission,
who appeared few days ago before
the Senate Finance Committee and
asked that an expert be appointed tc
assess coal lands. Judge Rhea being
from our part of the State, am sur.
prised that he has taken this stand.
Judge Rhea is reported as having SAID
to the Press of the State that this ex.
pert would bring hundreds of thousands
of dollars into the State treasury.
This looks to me very much like we
are going to have another fight in the
Legislature this winter somewhat simi-
lar to the one we had two years ago, Sc
write you that you may take this mat
ter up with the coal people of South
west Virginia so that an organized fight
nav he made against anv attar,1nt tr
unduly increase the burden on the Goa
interests of Southwest Virginia.
With best wishes, am,
Very Respectfully,
ROT AMI T. GuACu