The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-03-10
GOSSIP FROM
THE CAPITAL
(8y W. r. KEYSER)
(Stan CorreSpondenp


CHARLESTON. W. Va. March g
Though admitting that his introduc.
ton OF the bill proposing a tax Of one
tenth Of one cent on every dollars
worth Of farm products raised In the
state was a facetious move. Delegate
Fred b. Durham. OF Fayette county.
insists that the bill is just as fair and
equitable in its provisions as a bill
levying either a production or inspec.
tion tax on coal.
Mr.. Durham holds that the bill
providing a tax on every ton OF coal
mined In the state for the support Of
the state department OF mines is aim
ed at certain industry and is there
fore discriminatory His bill. which
Is a parody on the coal inspection tax
bill. the word operator being
changed to farmer" and other
changes being made in conformity,
would be only fair, he holds. to pro-
duce revenue for the support OF the
state department OF agriculture and
the maintenance OF the agricultural
extension department of the State
University.
Delegates representing leading az.
ricultural counties insist that the
farmer already bears more than his
share Of the tax burden and has for
years helped support the state de-
partment Of mines and the miners
hospitals. maintained solely for the
benefit OF the coal industry II would
be almost impossible. they say. to put
into practical operation the bill sug-
gcsted by Mr.. Burnham
The introduction OF the bill created
considerable discussion.
Former Governor A. Il. White. OF
Parkersburg. arrived In the capital
last night To spend a few days on
business. The former chief executive
Is utterly opposed to an Increase in
the direct tax rate to raise sufficient
revenue To maintain the state govern
mcnt. In feet. he believes that the
system Of direct taxation should be
abolished altogether. and that the
states revenues should come from in
direct sources.
Delegate W. w. Pilchard. member ~
the lower house from Brooke county.
who has been confined TO his room
Tor the past few weeks. suffering from
an attack OF small poX. was again In
MS seat yesterday. He has entirely
recovered. None Of the other mem
bers have contracted the disease
though some would prefer Il rather
than the sore arms as a result OF the
recent vaccination. provided 10 didn't
result more seriously than with the
Brooke county delegate.
To Delegate r. VI. Hinerman. o,
Marshall county. there Is something
lacking about the extraordinary qes.
sion. lie appears as man who has
lost his best friend The reason
There IS no bill Of which he is patron
no measure which he Is called upon
10 defend
During the recent regular session. /
the young Marshall county delegate
was chairman Of the committee on
forestry and conservation. and as
such. had charge OF the enactment Of
me hydro-electric bill He worked +.
hard for the passage Of this measure I
and fought down an Amendments /.
W INCH were designed 10 weaken IL In ,
any way. Also. he was patron 81 the
pure food act. which passed tho
House but was lost on the senate cal. I
endar during the rush Of the anal
week Of the session.
There is wide difference Of opln. 4
ION az Co what viii be- the result of I
Inc enactment ~ the White bills. pro. /
posing 90 Increase the charter ices
M resident and non resident corppr. .
'uons Tho bills propose an increase
nj hiiy per cent Boo each. which would
create. Do o. estimated by some. about
10000" now revenue or 5000 600 lr
'IL each year. Others are of tho opi4.
.u1. however. that the passage az
these measure will eventually Io.a
hD .iaf. money h8rius their r1rf.t
Ton un tho ground that foreign cor
Infa'i1na viii withdraw from frl
state and that others will reduce fH.I-
dfiiHI stock fD tho lowest possible
amount 10 UII also tend they aay. f1
t''r corporations from entering West
virginia ON the other hand Gun
1"rinrs ~ The measures refer fo tho
Tact That tho corporation charter f4v
.n West Nire.rIa Or lower than bob most
other states. and that DO would NOT re
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