The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1914-02-02
TAX ON GAS
W. c. Crimes Of Keyser Makes Some
Nery Pertinent Remarks With
Reference 20 This Important
Matter.

on TINS SUBJECT lonE before this time.
However. IL Is not too late vet. The
failure TO enact such a law has fbst
TO this State millions OF dollars. The
enactment OF such a law now will
save TO the State millions of dollars
Someone has said that such a tar Is
not rightly called production tar. q"
but should be called destruction
tax" The latter Is the better desig-
nation. Gas. like the air We breathe.
Is made only in Natures laboratory
IL was evidently intended by the Gre
ator for the benefit OF mankind in
general II was not made that a few
might exploit II and derive great
riches from IT,
The only way the people in general
can receive any benefit from this
splendid product OF nature is to place
a destructive tax" upon the produc-
ton.
Some members OF the Legislature.
though. are afraid that their constit-
uents will have 10 pay this tax OF
course. the gas COMPANIES will do
nothing 10 disabuse their minds in
respect TO this. but on the other hand
VIII employ very sauve agents TO
represent them at the capital OF
course. these lobbyists will see that
the peoples interests are properly
, looked after. Now. what | can't un-
derstand is. IL the consumer will have
10 pay the tax, why the gas COM
panies are so much Interested in pre-
venting legislation along this line
am Informed. but am not sure that
my Information II correct. that about IS
per cent Of the West Virginia gas IL
used without the state. Vow. granting
that a production tax Of say one cent
Per thousand cubic feet. will raise the
price OF gas one cent to the consumer
TO the average consumer this would
9Lhount 10 less THAN ten cents per month.
nv return he would get hack from con-
sumers without the state three cents FOR
every one paid out by him. This would
De indirectly. but Just a. effective as N
paid directly 10 him. FOR IL would save
mat much In taxes a penny saved Is
"a penny earned"
price Of gas will be raised one cent TO
The consumer OF gas within the state by
reason OF the production tax. know n
saS company that has paid over a hun
dred per cent in dividends in less than
three years IL has been paying like
dividends for eight or ten years and
still has all its machinery. piTe lines
casing. tubing. etc. left. This company
sold It's gas for many years at ten cents
the enormous dividends OF the gas COM
panies. am sure the public utilities
commission would not permit them to
within the state. We are not concerned
with the price paid by outside con-
sumers. In fact. I have always Thought
that II Is not right for the gas com
panies Co charge consumers within the
state. even those who live right in the
EdN lltius as much rs those consumers
who live hundreds OF miles away in an
other state. As IL is We must be help
ING TO pay the gas bill OF the fellow who
lives in Cleveland. This Is wrong The
public utilities commission could and
would regulate this matter. and protect
our own consumers. y Is our safe
guard. and consumers OF the state need
have no fear.
J have thought OF another plan which
u seems TO me would both bring a great
deal OF money into our treasurery, and
also build up our Industries. II is gen
orally conceded that West Virginia is
not deriving the Industrial benefits that
n should from its great natural re-
sources. Gas is easily TRANSPORTED ana
this resource has gone 20 build up great
"a way To- prevent its transportation ana
compel those who use II 10 locate here
We would soon have veritable hive OF
INDUSTRY within our borders. our cit
les and towns would flourish as the
green bay tree.
We can't prohibit the TRANSPORTATION
directly. That would he In violation Of
our Federal Constitution. We can how
ever. impose uniform production tax
or. say three cents per thousand cubic
,tel- ne object or such a Law would
he to raise revenue. II would undouhf-
coy De- constitutional. since there would
ne o." distinction between consumers OF
TINS state and other states. and no one
would deny our right 10 raise revenue
IN such a manner. Let the gas compan-
les. necessary. raise the price or gas [
won admit though. that II would he
necessary 70 raise the price to State con-
lAiT NNAll De "A matter Tor the
contested
nut for the sake or argument. 7 am
going 90 admit the price would be raised
that is. n production tax OF three
cents were placed upon gas produced
N"w, what ] propose H.. At the same
TIM" the law providing Tor a production
tax is enacted. that another law be en-
acted To encourage and promote the To-
cation OF Industries iu our state and
9ht Ntttlement Of our waste places. This
law should provide for the payment ~
Two cents per thousand cubic feet TO ali
consumers within the State OF West Nfr-
Eiuia gas. This would De great Induce
fueut To- manufacturers To- locate WITHIN
our state Even n they did have % pay
one cent production tax within the state
n they stayed without. they would have
20 pay ihrce cents. u would cost the
i''.-i,le OF lhe state nothing % pay this
bonus They would make money For
every two cents paid out by way Of
bonus, they would receive three cents
hN way of production tax. Besides thev
would receive three cents from am gas
furnished consumers without the state
10 The court ~ a very few years mill
out treasury-every dollar ~ which
would go back To- the ueor,ln 60 adyapc.
tgucan"n. to build and maintain charita- I
.l' INSTITUTIONS aud good roads. Besides |
the gas tax We would Eet thousand
more dollars in taxes from the indus
tries that would surely locate mere ana
DINER benefits that come along with iu-
tustrial development
some ~ the western states maintain
'..'..' '. NNtHNf anu pay our or their
state treasures thousa mis- Of dollars Tor
ihc adNertaemeut Of their resources
DIS Del good. bat tho West virginia leg
l-I"lnfe can du more for West virginia
~ me enactment Of such n Law th4n i
thousand boards Of trade can da in ,
thousand years. and n1 without one
'tnl cost 10 The people. yes. do DO AN
ana besides bring millions OF dollars f,
our treasury. The state Board OF Trade
ought o. Got behind this movement
10 mt opinion tho law 90 encourage
ana int tor Industries bY paving ID homie
'i west lfEiniH EHa used hr Consumer.
within fnr state would bs r0uafItuffon,f
80 one viii dispute enc right ~ fb.
STATE q" DO This He many OF tho western
-Itif. are nov doing OF cunree fI.
western states du not follow this precise
fiNUd. Iuf a difference 600 the method.
ought NOT f0 affect the rouefifufi0r4flf,
'I iN' measure. Ir amy case DO Ir rr1rs,.
ItIn H.f OF The state frfH arfrt fU fsrfa.r
.NNN. irtNN HUN encourage daNs TurrrFrf az
iNf STATE If course. we w.urII want
II' Two measures separate that b. tao
l". enacted. The one providing for ID
IfnnIl iiUu ftr Hu Eat. tho other f1-
Ifnfr"iLHF industries. etc Then ff taken
.' iNf uIiFl states courts they unrff
nave fn HNt upon each .ersrlfsfv arI
''n.idrrfN apart from thor other -rt.
reduction Co.'s would boz form fr4r
Dr. me only constitutional question. ~
VOWED. Tho courts would NOT rn Irhfrf
iNf purpose expressed .n tine 4.f fo rr.
r'NrHEn Industries They could rrf f,r
Irlg'I thnf would Ie tho rnrr0ef