Pioneer press. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1882-19??, 1914-03-21
west virginia Dot only has tha

| unrestricted use OF this most conve-
nient fuel and light product at an
average rate considerably lower than
her 'neighbors, but in addition the
| lions share Of the money received
from the sale Of her gas in Ohio and
| pennsylvania comes back to her
through expenditure in the search for.
production and purchase Of more gas.
III the state wants to commit itself
to the policy of restricting the pro-
duction is it ready to pay the land
owner his lease rentals while the gas
is being held for the benefit Of future
generations?
II the state is not ready to commit
Itself to this policy by putting up the
money for the benefit of all it's people,
what just right would it have to ask
the gas company to tie up its money
ia the pursuit Of this policy?
In either case wouldn't it be rather
hard on the landowner, who might be
up against it financially because he
couldn't lease his land or derive any
money from that source now, even
though 1t might benefit his pCsterty?
OF course, all waste should be stop
ped. Economy in use is a cardinal
point CT conservation
Q-WHAT PART HAS THE
MANUFACTURERS LIGHT G. HEAT
COMPANY, ITS OFFICERS AID
AGENTS, TAKEN IN MAINTA!Nlr4G
LCeRlEs IN CHARLESTON 10
PREVENT THE LEGISLATURE
From PLACING A TAX UPON THE
PRODUCTION AND TRANSPORTA-
TON OF OIL AND GAS?
A-The Manufacturers Light &
Heat Company has never maintained
any Hobbies in Charleston for the pur-
pose Of preventing the legislature from
placing tax on production or transpor-
tation Of oil and gas or for any other
purpose, and has never spent a penny
for any such purpose
Gumshoe methods do not appeal to
us. When any public matter affecting
the interests Of this company Is i'm
pending we will bring it out for open
discussion with the people, as the
sovereiSns of the state, through ad-
Vertisements in the newspapers, like
we are doing now. We believe this
to be both efficient and honorable.
We would here point out to those
oVer-WiSe critics who condemn US
because we have gone to the people
III this open, public way, their absurd
Inconsistency when they say TO us:
Why do you publish these Open Let
ers and take your case to the peo-
'!e?' and then in the same breath
Hccuse us Of having a lobby in our
interests to influence the legislature
e charleston. In other words, is it
air or square to deny us the right
20 present our case anywhere, either
o the public Or to the legislature,
either publicly or privately?
Q-WHAT rs YOUR PURPOSE IN
DISCUSSING THE GAS BUSINESS
WITH THE PUBLIC?
A-(Taken from a letter written by
Mr.. John E. Gill, president Of the
company, to a West Virginia State
Senator) 1--WE want all the people Of
the state to get interested in the gas
business and learn as much as they
can ABOUT 1t from any source which
IS reliable. Only an informed public
IS capable OF taking care of it's own
best interests in public matters, and
we feel that our case is so clear and
fair that it can be frankly entrusted
20 such public for solution. Thus
you see our motive is a combined
one-for the good of the state and
for our own good as well, because we
believe that what is best for the peo-
ole is also best for US, and vice versa"
Q-iS NOT YOUR PRESENT tx.
TRAVAGANT ADVERTISING iNTHE
NEWSPAPERS THROUGHOUT THE
ENTIRE STATE MERELY AN EE
FORT TO SU6S!DiZE THE PRESS?
Awe are using and paving for
advertising space in the newspaDers
Of West Virginia because this is tho
best way to state our views to all the
people Of the state. We are able thua
to talk over our affairs with the en-
tire population which we could do in
no other way. BY United States mail
the cheapest it could be done wou1d
be many times as expensive. even If
The address Of every person in the
state could be obtained. which Il