The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1914-01-14
Extra Session
Of Legislature
PROPOSED LETTERS RECEIVED
BY OHIO COUNTY MEM
5ERS YESTERDAY.
Speaker George Thinks That Much
important Legislation Is Needed
Ohio County Members Not
Enthusiastic.

Ohio county members Of the Leg
lslature yesterday received copies OF
the letter sent out BY Speaker Tay-
lor george. suggesting a call by the
members OF the legislature for an
extra session OF that body. The fol-
lowing Is copy OF one OF the letters
addressed 20 one OF the Ohio county
Il gislators:-
January 10. 1874
My dear sir; I understand from a CON
Nefsauon mat have just had with the
state audito- that We viii be about "A
million dollars short la revenue FOR the
present fiscal year. and presume Il will
This shc' tage viii have 70 De met by
the legislature
mink a tax on both the production
ana transportation OF oil and gas. the
as we want to do something That viii
conserve both oil and gas in this state:
and unless We DO. ~ viii only be a mat
sumed.
I think a primary law ought 10 be
passed In time 10 be effective for the
hoinlnatloi's TO be made this year.
am VT ting you and the other mem
bers OF the leg stature TO ascertain their
views upon the question OF requesting
the governor 10 call special session FOR
these and other matters
Are you willing TO sign a request ror
a special session tsee section 10 OF ar
ucle s OF state constitution.
In the event that a sufficient number
Indicate their willingness to sign a re-
quest Tor, special session. formal
papers viii be prepared by myself ana
Mr.. Woods OF the senate and forwarded
10 such persons Tor their signatures.
am anxious to have your views upon
this matter.
Thanking you in advance for a prompt
reply To this letter. wishing you album
dant success. and with the kindest per
sonai regards. 1 beg to remain.
Yours very truly.
WILLIAM T. GEORGE.
Also copy OF the reply made by
the legislator in question:
Honorable william T. George' '''''
Philippi. ". Va
Friend George: In reply TO your
esteemed letter OF the 10Th inst. which
l have Just received. would say that,
for some time past. 1 have understood
that there would he a shortage in reve-
nue. FOR the present fiscal year. and that
this. OF course, would have to be met in
some way.
have always been in favor Of a tax
on oil and gas, and have taken the posi-
ton that II was unjust that the citizens
OF our state should be virtually deprived
or the benefit from this great natural
resource with which we have been so
bounitullN favored hy nature. To me u
has always seemed wrong that our state,
which has been thus favored, should be
exploited for the benefit OF distant sec
some reasonable compensation for the
depreciation which must inevitably re-
suit when these resources have been eN-
haustcd.
A. TO a primary election law. you
doubtless remember that ] did all that
! could to pass such a law at our last
session. As TO an extra session, ] am
very doubtful Of the wisdom of calling
one at this time
tSigned)
IL is understood that most. IL not
all, OF the Ohio county members Of
the Ohio county members of the leg
islature are opposed TO an extra SEES
sion. Hon. John p. Arbenz. Hon.
Fred +. Faris and Hon. Harry Weiss.
when seen yesterday. all stated that
they thought that an extra session
was hardly necessary, and were not
inclined TO favor II. All OF them are
strongly in favor OF oil and gas taxa
ton, but they realize that il will be
very difficult 10 pass such legislation
in a short time. and certainly not
without some considerable discussion
OF the measure and development OF
public sentiment. Hon. Julian G..
Hearne. state senator. and State Sen
atOr O :. Marshall, are also under