The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-07-04
INCREASE IN TAXES
TO MEET DEFICIT
Governor Hatfield Tells How
West Virginia Is Handling
Prohibition.
LAW NOT CLEAR AS TO CLUBS
General State Tax Rate to Be
Increased 10 Cents on
500 of Value.
LAW NOT CLEAR AS TO CLUBS

state wide prohibition will reduce
our revenues s75o,Ooo a year" said
Governor Hatfield, Of West Virginia
at the jefferson Hotel last night. but
we have practically arranged to care
for the deficit by an increase in taxa
ton OF 10 cents on the 500. Tho
state Board of Control has been given
authority to impose the extra tax when
1t becomes necessary"
Governor Hatfield discussed freely
West Nirginia's "iGid prohibition law,
which went into effect last Wednes-
day. and Its bearing on the States
finances. Tho burden or replacing the
vast revenue loss caused by the law.
he said will not be as heavy as is
popularity supposed. West Virginia has
a remarkably low tax rate, md its
increase by 10 cents on the 500. he
thought, would meet with no marked
objection.
The fact that the State voted TO
write the prohibition amendment into
the Constitution by majority OF 90
ooo votes i'll an election in which
10000 voters participated" said Gov
crnor Hatfield. 'ia Indication enough
that there is an overwhelming senti-
:nent tor prohibition in West Virginia.
we are counting on this sentiment TO
aid il strict enforcement of the law
and in providing the revenue which
was lost when prohibition became ef-
fcctive
roo SOON VET no SAY
WHETHER LAW IL EFFECTIVE:
"Wilt prohibition he "A success I'm
West Virginia." the Governor was
asked
1T has DULY been the law since the
frs: OF this month. and IL Is too early
TO make u prediction" he replied. .'f
believe that 1t VIII. We have a very
rigid law, as YOU know and we intend
TO enforce It. If the size OF the ma
jority that the prohibition amendment
received is any indication then tho
law VIII he decided success"
noteworthy circumstance In Gov
ernor liathclds connection with West
Nirginia's new prohibition law, is the
Tact mat rs presiding officer of the
west Virginia Senate when the amend
nent was before IL. he voted against
1t. lie explained last night that lie
opposed the law in the Senate under in
structions from his district, which was
decidedly antiprohibition In sentiment
III the general election, when tho
amendment was submitted to tho peo-
pie. he voted for It,
Governor Hatfield commented on the
remarkable change of sentiment evil
denced By West Virginia In the two
elections that We're held In that State
on the prohibition Issue. In the frat
election. held several years ago, the
people rejected the prohibition amend
ment by an overwhelming majority
In the last election tho State ratified
.he amendment by majority OF 10000.
NIAJ0UTrY DUE no
DELAY IN TAKING VOTE
In my opinion the majority Was ms
lnrSe az IL was because Of the failure
session after session on the part of the
Legislature to give the people the right
RI .,t, IL
The people asked for the right TO vote
oil prohibition year after year only 10
be denied the opportunity by the re-
fusal of the Senate to Givo the bin the
necessary two-thirds vote. The large
majority returned by the people when
1t finally got the chance to vote on the
anne ndmcnt. is In some measure due
to the long wait"
Much Of the credit for the West Viz
ginias majority for state wide prohi-
btion. said Governor Hatfield must
he given to the Anti-Saloou League OF
that state, which conducted a vigorous
! campaign with an unusually effective
organization.
While the general tax increase
throughout the state. said tho Cover
nor. Will not be more than 10 cents
on the 500. the increase in cities like
Wheeling and Charleston. where the
revenues from the breweries and dis
tilleries formed an important part of
the municipal income. Will lie consid
crably excess of that amount The
average aggregate tax rate In West
Virginia, lie thought. is now about 80
cents on the $500. The average in Vir-
Einia is about s1.50 on the 500.
HOSTILITY MARKED
IN LARGER CITIES
Hostility to the new law. said Gov
crnor Hatfield. is very marked In
the larger cities of the State and in
the Pocahontas coal mining region.
In the small towns and In the rural
districts the sentiment is strongly for
the law. The measure IL the most
stringent prohibition enactment in the
country and if enforced will make
West Virginia the driest State in the
Union.
Many Of the laws provisions are
not altogether clear" said Governor
Hatfield. 1T has not yet been clearly
established, for example. whether or
not clubs will be permitted to keep
intoxicating liquors In their lockers.
one court has just held that n member
Of club may purchase liquor On tho
outside and bring il into the club
house for his personal use"
Under the West Virginia law drug
g:s,s are forbidden to supply intoxi-
cants even on physicians prescrip-
tons. The sale of pure alcohol alone
Is permitted III this manner Snip
merits from out OF the state are per
iIlilltu, but COnSiSnfnentS must ne re-
ccivcd and signed for by the consignee
himself. No limit. however. is put on
The amount of liquor an individual may
Keep on hand.
DON'T KNOW WHEN
DEBT WILL III; PAID
Governor Hatfield, accompanied by
Attorney General y. a. Lily. Judge j.
". Holt of Huntington. and Scptimus
Han. WctZcl County member of the
west Virginia Assembly. came to Rich.
nona yesterday to examine records
hearing on the Virginia West Vir-
Sinia debt controversy. The party
Will return home tonight
when are you going to pay us that
money YOU owe u.s." Governor Hatfield
WIS asked,
II am sure I don't know" he an
:w@red with laugh He die not ap-
pear to mind the dun.
Marriage Licenses.
Licenses 10 marry were issued yes
to-day nv &c