The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1911-02-23
FOR School and Road Pur-
poses in State of West
Virginia.

A number OF persons who have
been asked to sign petition for the
production tax on gas have felt that
that petition was too indefinite in al
number of ways. Following IS the
gas tax measure as presented by SEN
ator Silver, S. B. No. 81. and by Del
esate Mccauley, H. b. No. eel:
a bin imposing a license tax ON the
privilege OF producing natural gas,
and fixing the rate OF such license tax.
BE It enacted by the legislature OF
West Virginia:
Sec. /. No company without state
license therefor shall engage in the
business OF producing natural gas.
Sec. 2. on every license to engage
in the business OF producing natural
gas there shall be charged three-fifths
of one cent for every one thousand
cubic feet of gas produced.
Sec, .. Every company liable at
the time this act talkes effect, or
which shall thereafter become liable,
TO pay the license tax in this act pro-
vided, shall make report in the
month OF October in each year, yeri-
fed by oath, in such form as the state
board OF appraisers and assessors, by
this act created, may prescribe, which
report shall show the following facts:
First: The name OF the company.
Second: The nature of the COM
pany, whether a person or association
of persons, a firm or n corporation.
and II an association or corporation.
under the laws of what state organ
lied.
Third: The location OF its princi-
pal office, and the county or counties
in which such business is conducted.
Fourth: The name and postotfice
address of the president, secretary,
auditor treasurer and the superinten-
dent or general manager.
Fifth: The name and postotfice adj
dress of the chief officer or managing
agent of the company in this state.
sixth: The actual production Of
each gas well for the year or frac-
tional part of year such we'll was in
operation next preceding the first day
OF October.
Seventh. Such other facts and in
formation as the said board of APP
praisers and assessors may require
in the form of report prescribed by it.
Blanks for making the above state
ments shall be prepared by the said
board and on application be furnished
by the state tax commissioner on or
before the first day Of November in
each year.
Sec. 3. The auditor, the attorney
general and the state tax commits
sioner shall constitute board named
1.-The State Board Of Appraisers and
Assessors of which board the state
tax commissioner shall be ex-officio
president, and the auditor shall be ex-
officio secretary. In the absence Of
either the board shall appoint one Of
its members to act pro tempore. The
secretary shall keep minutes Of the
proceedings of the board and record
the same in proper book. The board
shall meet on the second Monday in
November III each year in the office
of the state tax commissioner, and
thereupon, or when received, the
state tax commissioner shall lay be-
fore the board the reports returned
to him under the next preceding sec
tion. The board shall proceed to as
certain and determine the amount Of
natural gas produced by every COM
pany doing business within this state
for the year next preceding the first
day of october. The amount pro-
duced by each company as escertained
by said board shall be held and
deemed to be the amount of gas pro-
duced by each company as ascertained
dar year beginning on the first day OF
January first next succeeding, and
shall serve as the basis upon which a
license tax shall be assessed against
such company for engaging in its bus
mess in this state. The board may ad-
journ from time to time until the
business before 1t is finally disposed
OF. In case Of the failure or refusal
Of any company to make the report
require by this act, or 10 furnish the
board any information required by it
the board shall inform itself US best
it may, on the matter necessary to be
known, in order to discharge its
duties under this act, and make as
sessment of the license tax of such
company therefrom. And at any time
after the meeting of the board as
herein provided, and before the final
adjournment thereof, any company
interested shall have the right, or
Written application. to appear before
the board and be heard in the matter
Of the determination of the amount
OF gas produced. After the determi-
nnation OF the amount of gas pro-
duced byany such company the board
shall fix the license on the production
thereof according to the rate pre-
scrlbed in section two; and It shuli be
the duty Of the secretary of the board
TO notify each company by notice sent