The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1910-10-20

may get there for he and Mr.. Scott
have their fingers in the same pie and
ne do not know which Will pull off /
the biggest piece. He gave for a
reason in speech at the court house
that the companies would fight 1t and
that they did not want trouble and
therefore they had part of ii Left off
.Jusi think of US rleCting man TO tie
II. S. Senate who is afraid TO fight.
and why do we elect men TO office VINO.
have saved The corporations such vast
sums of money? The same that is
said of Mr. Hubbard may also be said
of Adam LlttlepaEe, as | understand
he vas the instrument two years ago
in defeating the same bill and all the
excuse he had was that the operators
would take the tax off the miners and
ne thought they had it hard enough
as it was, but he and Mr.. Gaines have
their fingers in the same pie ana the
corporations have confidence in them
and we dc not know which will pail
off the big piece, but seeing their past
record can We hardly have any hopes
cnanic or laborer?
In our State we have three great
railway systems, we assess them at
$4,000 per mile. rolling stock includ-
ed, If this is their actual value accord
ing to the report of the Interstate
commerce commission their net earn
ings will pay for them in less han
three years and they are growing<6et-
ter all the time, or in other words they
are clearing over 30 10. per cent. How
does this compare with the farm~r
that does not make two per cent. WITH
hard work and is growing poorer
For instance farmer or laborer
saves money and builds a $1,000 home
it don't produce anything. yet it is
taxed each year SO that it becomes a
burden and it is but one product, is
there any reason why the profit that
is made in the State by the railroads,
coal, oil ard gas should not be taxed
as the farmer. If this could be done
how fast would our State grow rich
and in a few years our state would
be rich in taXables so thact the rate
would be small.
What is the solution to this state
OF affairs where the inhabitants are
fast losing their homes? I have heard
it said that nine tenths of the people
live in rented houses. Is there not n
remedy? Suppose all taxes was de-
rived on products that went to market,
this would exempt the laborer's home,
the farmers living and everything eX-
cept what he sells. and that in this
State would be so small that he would
not notice it. but how would it be
with the great corporations that con-
| roI the products of wealth. they would
kick. but it would be just and II
would reverse the present state OF
affairs
Better still would be the SOcialiStlc
principle where the State would own
the means of transportation and haul
on say ) per cent. profit as is done
cent and the minerals at the same
rate. which would he sufficient to pay
the expenses OF the state, school the
children. build roads. etc. leaving the
home owner free from taxation. This
would change these barren mountains
into green fields where they would
! he grazed with cattle. !sheep 3tn.{
goats and the farmer could buy mis-
| feed for less than ne could raise it
! here. For instance the fertile West
can produce feed at one-fourth OF VIVA;
We can here. and then suppose it was
| hauled for j, per cent profit. this would
make their 81 or 50 hay Sc or .. 20
| Toes at - cents and oar coal that
! labor puts in the cars at > cents per
bushcl would then cost them or
cents instead of from 81 to 80 cents
! per bushel as the case IN the North
west. they they could be kept warm
and We wouldn't have TO starvc.
! shelterl"ss. many of them rendered TN
emplcyable by our inhuman industrial
system.
On every hand We find apologsts
+ for the system. seeking TO eXpla. n
these ugly conditions. The workin z.
men spend their money :Ut drink IN
stead OF providing for their families.
The women are thrifticss and cxtrava
CANT" they say. The apolocists sec
only effects. They nave no vision
! The preachers with their ccmiort.