The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-04-26


revenues Of the past admin
Loss from iiauor licenses own -
based ON receipts. from pre-
vious year. Auditors re-
port. page SD ............ S3i.l7s -
A total from all sources of. s7os, 1870 as
To pay this deficiency OF S70SITs.is
there had been levied for the two years
prior to our session the sum OF si.7oe.-
6si.75 by increased lcvies for 1884
over the levy OF 1919. The state levy In
1919 having been one cent and having
produced 4 revenue amounting 10 sll1.-
ss2.sS (Tax commissioners report. page
.slD In 1913 the levy was Increased TO
six cents. and in 1914 20 ten cents. which
produced the following amounts. The
Increase In 1914 OF five cents on total
valuation OF ti.et3.3i5,5fS produced AN
increase in the taxes over 1919 90 the
state fund of ss2t.65T.l7
The increase OF nine cents in the state
levy for 1910 over that OF 1912. based on
the same valuation 49, for 1918. produced
a gross increase over 1912 OF Si.11S.-
sS3-9s. and 4 particularly call attention
at this time that this amount was I'm
excess OF the regular sources of income
from license taxes. charter fees. etc.
The total increase AS you will note for
the purpose OF meeting deficiency OF
s7O6.19O.45 was si.7io6fi.T5. Notwith-
standing the fact that this amount was
collected ostensibly for the two purposes
set out. we were asked at this session
To provide for deficit Of S62i.2l6.O7.
tpagc IL. governors message). Making
a total that we were asked to provide
OF S2.364.S57.S2 TO compensate the state
for the loss OF revenue which would not
have exceeded s706. 1905.
Vow. gentlemen, We did not claim to
De expert accountants, nor do we claim
20 have unusual ability. but as ordinary
business men We deemed IL prudent be-
fore providing this money to make in
quiries OF those men In charge OF the
state funds. who came to us and asked
that we provide this money to take care
OF the deficiency. We said: You must
admit that In 1913 you collected certain
excess moneys for the purpose Of paying
Tor the Paint Creek strike. that In 1914
you again collected the money necessary
to make up the loss Of revenue BY rea-
son OF the prohibition amendment. These
come to us aud state there Il still n
deficit OF S62i.2i6.o7. This is a situation
that pc cannot understand. before we
viii feel justified, In any manner. to pro-
vide for the payment OF the alleged de-
exist"
No explanation OF these facts has been
made. The appropriations that we're
made were ruthlessly cut by the COVER
nor In q manner and In the districts
where ~ was believed the denial OF these
appropriations would bring such local
pressure TO bear on those who dared to
oppose the arranged financial scheme:
that they would be compelled TO pass
whatever revenue MEASURES we're desired
by the governor. in order that local in
stitutions would receive the money they
the appropriation for West Liberty nor
mai school. for which all OF US had
worked so long and were so much inter
ested In having. vas to be the club that
would force me 20 support the revenue
program. and while no one was more in
terested In seeing this appropriation raid
and the buildings erected for the West
Liberty normal, could not see my way
clear to enact legislation TO provide "A
million dollars year for two years and
I which would have caused the district
which ! represented to pay 90 the state
treasurer about IS per cent OF the same
or 100000 In needless revenues in order
that We might have returned to US as a
grand beuefactton the sum Of SIS 600 1
say advisedly might have returned TO us
this amount. as We well know that the
passing OF an appropriation does not giNe
you the money. Al previous sessions 81
the legislature, money has been appro-
rriated for buildings that has been
scent ia other manner. West Liberty
ITSELF. the nearest u ever came TO re-
ceiVing money from the state. was TO
have had appropriations made TO "a for
the purpose Of erecting new buildings.
and never received the money. The only
certainty there was that the Panhandle
5000 81 increased taxes and might
nave returned t55. 600. / do not believe
that the citizens OF this district would.
had they been In my place. cared to Sc
cure this appropriation at so great a
price. This same condition Is true a.
70 every other OF our Institutions. IL IL
I
revenue was not TO have come from the
Panhandle. but was TO come from n pro-
auction tax on coal, oil and gas. and
which would not effect this district
claim. and will prove that there was
never any intention or desire upon the
rart OF the governor tn his revenue pro-
gram to place n production tax on coal.
oil or gas. Notwithstanding HE contin-
ued statements and Notwithstanding the
statements Of the local mouthpiece for
the administration. there never was a
I 70 IN he urH If h.
/ secure the taNes In this manner The
: subject OF taxation was deemed so Inn
portant by the governor that IN his reg
ular message he told US that he would
, treat this subject later IN n special mes
sage. call attention 70 this special
message on page 2s. after having enum-
Grated 10 the members the various
methods In which this necessary rev
enue could be procured. he concluded
With the recommendation and that
recon mcudation taken from page Is Of
Ms special message on taxation. reads
a. follows.
1t IL easy 70 see that there are many
written IN 20 law that would result In
tho raising ~ Substantial revenue that
would not BE- - an oppressive character
which YOU have rrised substsr,isi 80.
nue. some have suggested the idea thaf
We should give the b1ard ~ public works
the right 20 mise twcnty-eent direct
levy and adopt NJ other uethods ~ fax .
alton 90 not approvs Of this idea Tor
she reason ~ itq great inraultv and
that this time De- just g. good ~ better.
than any future time for providing addi-
tional means Of raising revenue AND !
Ears EsTLY RECOMMEND THAT A
TAN HASEU IRON THE INCOME IDA
~ ApOrTEn ny YOJR HObr 10
gETHER WITH ~ ANNUAL. LICENSE
TAN FOR TIE HOLDING OF TRACTS
OBJ LAND ~ EXCESS or B 600 ACRES
BASED UPON TiIF FOLLDWT
RATES THAT rs. ONE-HAIF Of ONT
FFF CENT. NEr INCOME AND Five
AND TEN CENTS REspECTINET.Y
BASED FrpN TffE GWAUff ATTp
HOLDINGS OF LAND
q ron carefully considerfne this recon
incubation 7. as your representative
realizing that The power % the admins
trafion would b. used o. produce the
revenue On the manner desired ~ -
pressed nnd that 81 ruld such demand b.
complied with. that the goat a. usual
would b. the First district. uartfruiarfv
On view - the statement found or mage
- or the same message fn which DO vas
pointed out that tax on an things
mined or manufactured within the afafe
Tor the purpose ~ ceiling. tax 90 b. de-
tcrmiucd BY the value % the production
~ the point ~ sale. whether within the
state or without and seeing therein alb
rulutelN no provision IN regard 20 vvhefh.
cr or not profit should be made ana no
provision that although q factory might
- operating or running ~ n ioas or
EHNmENHH r. - a.