Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1915-03-18

1911 were able to reduce the state levy
to one cent on the hundred do1srs val-s
nation while the legislature of 1915 in
special session was called on to furnish
additional revenue even with state
levy Of ten cents illustrates why it
became necessary for the adminstrat
ion to summon the legislature to meet
in extra session at total cost of about
SIS. 600. The 1911 legislature was able
to reduce the state tax without impos-
ing any additional tax burdens. TIE
1915 Legislature notwithstanding A
state levy ten times as large still were
asked to provide additional revenue,
going to show according to this who
have made a study of the States finan-
ces that there has been an increase IN
the expense of conducting the state
out of all proportion to the natural de.
velopment of the state. That fact has
never been brought home to the people.
of the state as fully as it was during
the special session when with ten
cent levy the Board of public works of
the State insisted that 81, 300. 900 more
revenue was needed
1t was apparent from the outset of
the special sessio, that with so many
revenue bills pending including fifteen
cent direct tax as against the present
ten cent tax; bill imposing person
al income taxa gas transportation tax
coal, oil and gas production tax, a
leo Il inspection tax coal royalty tax,
an increased charter tax, and land
tax, it was proposed to raj so Ia -ge
an additional income with these new
tax bills that M one could foresee what
the result would be or why such q
great increase was necessary. With so
many bills pending it became impossi
BILE to agree on any one OF them ard
tn longer the session grew the further
apart the contending Republican ele-
ments grew until on Friday, the day
before the end of the session there was
al open rupture between the two ele-
ments Though possibly approving
some of the bills9 proposed in theory
Eyet when contrasting what it had been
possible to do in 1911 through the eyer.
else OF economy the minority in both
the House ard Senate consistently op.
posed all increases in taxes believing
that such money as was raised in that
way wou' d only be construed as sarc
tioning further extravaganza. Had
there been unity on the majority side
lit would have been possible for the
majority to have passed all the revenue
bills introduced during the special ses.
sion since the minority s representation
in each house was only about one third
Though some of he state institutions
will suffer through the Governor 8 We (
of appropriations in the general bill
passed at the regular session. it il
pointed out as sigri 'icant fact that
1.-The salaries of State House employees
went untouched notwithstandio thu
there has bsen an unaccountable in
crease in such salaries as pointed oul
by the. Democ ats in voting against tht
bills seeking further to increase taxes
To substantiate the statement of the
minority that more economy was need
ed ard as a reason for the opposition
Of the minority TO additional revenus
bills. Senator Scott Lowe in aspeacl
last Friday pointed out that thereceipt'
from all sources for the year e. dine
Sentember Both. 1904 amounted to So.
356, 1853 35 while similar receipts FOL
the wear ending June Both. 1914 amnut
ed to Sc 1854 377 IT, From 1903 to 1911
-eieven wears, the salaries of state
house officials and their current ex
penses had increa sed from 81 09. ITO PEI
vearto S266. 610 per yearsor an increase
of S156. $40 per year. During the same
period new offices were created which
together with their current expenses
for 1914, amounted to $500, 200 making
a total annual increase in maintaining
the state house of $357 040 more in1914
than in 1908. 1t was also developed
during the special session that the 1915
appropriation bill, for salaries Of state
house officials and the current expense
of their offices amounted to S647, 100
or in other words 25 per cent of the to,
tai appropriation bill. Votes therefore
to provide additional revenue have beer
looked upon as countenancing furth.
er increase in salaries and the expense
| of running the government. If any Of
the revenue bills offered had provided
that the funds arising from them were
to be credited the State road fund OF
some other permanent fund, they would
have secured more votes. That for
instance was the position taken by
Delegate Huddleston, of Greenbriei
when he sought to offer an amendment
to the coal, oil and gas production tax
bill providing that ''alf funds arising
| from this act shall re credited to the
state road fund and used only for the
purpose of building permanent high
ways. 2 AS objection was made 10
| such an amendment no opportunity was
i afforded to incorporate it in the bill,
plainly Indicating that the money to be
derived from such additional taxation
| was to be used in meeting the increas-
led expenses of the State.
Mr.. Thnrmond Of Greenbrier stated
| his position very clearly when in an
swer to q question probounded last Fri
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