Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1914-04-02

SERVING THE RESOURCES WHICH ARE NOW
BEING FAST DEPLETED WITHOUT SUBSTAN-
TIAL BENEFIT TO THE STATE?
A-As already has been shown (Which the ques-
ton manifestly disregards) the state has received
and is receiving enormously substantial Dement'S ana
returns possibly greater than the OIL and gas peope.
West Virginia not O1Ay has the unrestricted use
of this most convenient fuel and light product at an
average rate considerably lower than her neghbors
but in addition the lions share of the money received
from the sale of her gas in Ohio and Pennsylvania
back to her through expenditure III the search
for, production and purchase of more gas.
If the state wants to commit itself to the policy
Of restricting the production is it ready to pay the
land owner his lease rentals while the gas IS beng
held for the benefit Of future generatlOnsY
If 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
eas company to tie up it's money in the pursuit OF
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
III ney from that source now even though it might
b4neft his posterity?
Of course, all waste should be stopped Economy
in use is cardinal point of conservation.
Q-WHAT PART HAS THE MANUFACTURE
Frs LIGHT & HEAT COMPANY, ITS OFFICERS
AND AGENTS, TAKEN IN MAINTAINING LOB
LEGISLATURE FROM PLACING A TAX UPON
THE PRODUCTION AND TRANSPORTATION
OF OIL AND GAS?
A-The Manufacturers Light & Heat Company
has never maintained any lobbies in Charleston for
the purpose Of preventing the legislature from pac-
ing tax on production or transportation of oil and
gas or for any other purpose, and has never spent
penny for any such purpose.
Gumshoe methods do not appeal to us. When
any public matter affecting the interests of this
pany is impending we will bring it out for open
discussion with the people, as the sovereigns Of the
state through advertisements in the newspapers like
we are doing now. We believe this to be both efficient
We would here point out to those over-wise
critics who condemn because we have gone to the
people in this open public way their absurd incon-
ss7stency when they say to u.s. "Why do you publish
these Open Letters and take your to the peope?"
and then in the same breath accuse us Of having
lobby in interests to influence the legislature at
Charleston. In other words is it fair square to
deny us the right to present case anywhere,
either to the public or to the legislature either
publicly or privately9
Q-wHAT IS YOUR PURPOSE IN DISCUSS
ING THE GAS BUSINESS WITH THE PUBLIC?
A-(Taken from letter written by Mr. John
~ Gill, president OF the company, to West Virginia
State Senator.) eve want all the people Of the
state to get interested in the gas business and learn
as much as they about it from any source which
is reliable. Only informed public is capable of
taking care Of it's best interests in public mat
tiers, and we feel that is so clear and fair
that it can be frankly entrusted to such public for
solution. Thus you see our motive is combined
onefor the good Of the state and for our own good
as we'll because we believe that what is best for the
people is also best for us, and vice versa
Q-Is NOT YOUR PRESENT ExTRAvA-
CANT ADVERTISING IN THE NEWSPAPERS
THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE STATE MERELY
AN EFFORT TO SUBSIDIZE THE PRESS?
Ave are using and paying for advertising
space in the newspapers Of West Virginia because
this is the best way to state views to all the
people. OF the state We are able thus to talk over
our affairs with the entire population which we could
90 IN no other way. By United States mail the
cheapest it could be done would be many times as
expensive even # the address Of every person in the
state could be obtained, which it can't Surely our
way OF doing it is far from extravaganza
AS for f'subsidizing the press,,' that is a cry
as old as journalism and used only ~ arSoas uhasa