Evening journal., 1914-02-04
SEES DANGER
IN COAL TAX
Naturalization Of Many Re-
sources the Possible Cut
come Mr.. Dole Says
REFERENDUM LEAGUE
TO C0NSf Err SUBJECT

I'm an address before the Roferen
dun League last night the Rcs.
George Henry Dole declared that The
recent act passed by the Pennsylva-
MIA State Legislature levying tax
of two aud half per cent ton on
the price at the mines OF al anthra
cite coal. would do more than any
thing else TO cause the people TO de-
mand the naturalization of all re-
sources upon which the nation de-
pends.
After hearing Mr.. Dole speak OF
the act the league appoint COM
mittee Of three to consider the ques-
tlon. This committee will report al
the next meeting of the league. The
committee is composed of Francis J..
DUPONT. Artemas Smith and Mr.. Dole.
10 speaking Of the tax, Mr.. Dole
said
81 desire TO call attention to the law
passed by the Pennsylvania Legislature,
taxing ail anthracite coal two and one
half per cent. ON the price at the mines.
This taN amounts to ten cents per ton.
1t Is collected by the Pennsylvania coat
merchants at the mines adding to the
bill of coal dealers ten cents per ton.
lt appears on the bin as a separate item.
ten cents per ton for state tax.
"Whilc states have a right to tax per
sonal property. which the coal becomes
when mined. there ought 10 be dis
tmction made between the tax Justly
levied for state purposes and one so
levied as TO be indirectly taN on inter.
state commerce. Adjacent states are
dependent upon the coal of pennsvl-
Nnnla for domestic USES n seems TO
mc TO be morally wrong for state 10
pass law TO place upon other states
the burden OF Its own spll-gOvcrnment.
} Primarily the coal is not the creation
oi any man or state. j was placed in
/ the earth by the Creator Tor the equal
} benefit and usc Of all. There ought 70
/ be clear distinction between the right
oi state 10 taN property within q
| state which is common 10 the citi1ens
OF that state. ana that property which
| ny common right appcriains to AN. and
constitutes a chief export. To me ths
tax appears TO bc am indirect tax ON in
terstate commerce, which the supreme
Court of the United States might an.
null.
1T Pennsylvania has right to tax
coal ten cents ton Michigan can tax
copper ten cents per hundred weight:
Maine can tax the lumber in every tim
Der tree that Is cut; the cotton growing
states can tax every bale of cotton:
Delaware can place a tax of ten cents ON
ieVcry basket of peaches or hamper OF
grapes raised in she State. Thus IN an
Indirect way the Federal law preventing
a tax on Interstate commerce can bc
set at naueht
1t is evident that amy local opposi-
tion can be met and overcome by the re-
lduction of home iaNc- 60 such Il degree
as 20 make the indirect tax ON inter.
state commerce desirable.
The levying OF tax ON coal by
7 Penns, lyaniu is doing more than any
other event in popularizing the demand
for the nationzation of an mines and
resources upon which the people of the
entire nation depend For II one State
indirectly lcvic. tax on exports. thus
compelling other states 60 pay for its
internal government. other states must
do the same 10 cquaiize.
81 introduce this subject for the
purpose of suggesting its reference. 81
worthy. to a committee TO bring the
matter before the Interstate Com
merce Commission, and before our
own legislature. If advisablc-tO do So
At the present time there Is a case
pending I'm the Supreme Court of
Pennsylvania In which the consutu-
tionality of the act is being attacked