The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1914-06-22

Business Men
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ovr.)


$50 a year; $4,000 to s175, 900
1870 year; $4,000 to $500, 900
SIS year: s200,sss to $500, 900
80 a year: 100000 to 100000
sl05'a year: 100000 to $500, 900
$40 year; 100000 to 81 900, 600
s175 a year; over million, $175 TO-
first million. and $50 for each mil
lion or fraction in addition.
Many business men. in discussin,
the question, stated that they woult
refuse to pay the tax II the city Of,
ficials insist on collecting, and vii
go into the courts. Several even in,
timatcd that should the city authorl
ties insist on payment, that the loca
corporations would unite. and figh,
the case. The courts would likely
be asked TO enjoin the city from col
iecting and the city would be forced
to spend 4 large sum of money, Just
at time when 1t is endeayorlng 10
save wherever possible.
Unless council rescinds It's action
of Tuesday night, bitter legal bat
tie is sure to follow. causing the ex.
rcnditure of large amount of the
city's funds, when they could be
used in other and more advantageous
ways.
In discussing the question with
General Alfred Caldwell, prominent
local attorney. yesterday afternoon.
he made lengthy stateemnt cover
Ing the situation thoroughly. Gen.
eral Caldwell had taken the time 10
look into the matter quite thorough
~. and talked freely OF the powers
OF the council and cited court rul
ing In which municipality had
been refused the power to make IN
assessment. and this was used MS an
example TO show that the city oil
Wheeling has not the power to place
a tax on corporations that are pay.
Ing license to the state.
in discussing what might result
from any attempt on the part of tho
city Ia; o,Fo,no ,io .oo.ta ...,t..
rnos,1ar til $50 sI'"'. rssos"
stated that the city would be placed
",om,d nooa.so ,u, 49, -. ~ IN,
:, Iasoaso 90 ~ "a's ~ "e npe,''
rosort ~ ,a.,a, '"s W. WI,
,1on,o.t TO- .,,.a a.. ss"'"s, :" !" ss'.
coma.aI 5,a,,,,.a,, s.,.,! ."' "'"''e'
~"e'"' s"'u"e'' a"'"'
IN the short space Of time thai
nave had to look up the question,
may have overlooked some charter
authority TO look into the levy or
corporations within the city. Al,
though this is plausible. ] think
nave made such sufficiently close
investigation In the charter 10 cause
me 10 be OF the opinion that have
thoroughly read the clause which
council relies upon as giving Tho
city authorities the right to imposl
an annual license tax on corpora
IONS
u infer that council claims iii!
right by virtue OF the following
contained III section 36 Of the char.
Ter OF The city Of Wheeling. passed in
/ l3o7 by the legislature. t0-wit:
Section "G-Council may by or.
dihahcc. require city license for per.
sons conducting and carrying on the
following vacations or lines of bust,
ness:
's*''"
20 for any business or vacation
for which the state may now or here,
after REQUIRE license
Il will remark that the portion
TINT the section omitted to save
space. and represented by stars. per,
tains to practiciHg In the city If spe.
ciftc business. such as conducting (;
brokerage business Of various kinds
loaning money, MS pawnbroker
keeping and conducting a pool room
etc.
CORPORATION Defined.
"ln my Judgment, being a corpora
lion is not n lI,sii;ss or vocatio,
INV miro than - ,inty n nrtyota ;nAI