The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-10-26
Wants to Know What Tax
System the Democrat
Favors.
QUOTES SOME TAX FACTS
Cornwell Ignored Entirely
Open Letter Printed in
Charleston Papers.
Especial Dispatch to West virslnian)

John J. Cornwell backed down tonight
In his speech hero and failed to reply
to an open letter addressed to him
, by Governor II. d. Hatfield submitting
certain questions to him for answer
in connection with Cornwell's widely
heralded statement that his prGdlc.
tons of 1914 as to the failure of the
Dawson tax law system had been
realized.
Governor Hatfield pointed out in
his letter that Mr.. Cornwell had re.
fused to meet him IN point debate and
he took the opportunity to ask him
about certain facts bearing on the
statements Of Cornwell as to his pre-.
dictions OF failure of the Dawson tax
system. Cornwell made no effort to
answer the Governors statements in
which 1t was pointed out among 9th.
er things that II the same system OF
taxation prevailed now as during the
Democratic regime in the state ending
in 1897 that the direct levy today
would be 1.29 cents on each 500 valu-
alton instead of nine cents.
A large crowd Of Republicans was
attracted to Cornwell's meeting OK.
pecting him to reply to Governor Hat
fields interrogations but he passed
them over without making any effort
to reply.
The letter OF Governor Hatfield to
Cornwell which was published In the
local newspapers today was as fol-
lows:
Dear Sir:-You have recently
refused to accept my challenge
to meet me in Joint debate for o
discussion OF the issues OF the
campaign in West Virginia, which
you have seen fit to raise. BY
reason Of the fact that You have
made certain statements regarding
the present state administration
and you haye refused to meet me
for a discussion Of these state.
ments, I desire to submit to YOU
the following questions. and hope
that It will be your pleasure to
deal with them in your speech In
this city.
Very truly yours,
Fl. D. HATFIELD.
"You have in your present contest
for Governor, attempted to sustain
your forecast when 4 candidate for
the same office in 1904 of the failure
OF the Dawson tax system. at which
time you opposed tax reform and have
declared that the predictions made
in your former contest have been
realized II so. how do you explain
this recorded fact? The average last
ten years OF Democratic administra-
ton in West Virginia for state and
state school tax was rs cents, % cents
for state and 10 cents for school pur-
poses making total Of 80 cents. while
under the last ten years OF Republic
can administration tho averas" direct
tax for state and state school pur.
poses was SO on the 500. sending
back 3h cents of this SO levy for tho
support of the free school system,
the state government.
The direct tax collected In 1897, the
last year OF the Democratic admins
tration was S547.000 on 25-cent direct
levy on the $500 valuation. In 1915
a 51a cents levy out OF the 0 cents
was laid for state purposes. which rails
ed s643.000 only $4,000 more than
was raised by the 25-cent levy for the
same purpose In 1897, notwithstand'
ing our state institutions have more
than trebled in capacity, with ninn
additional new state institutions, to
gether with the creation OF the Tax
COMMISSIONERS office, Board Of Control.
Compensation department., Public Ser
vice Commission. Agricultural depart.
ment. Health department and with an
increase in our states population OF
100000. How do you account for the
fact that only 100000 more In direct
levy was necessary to take care Of all
this progress, II the Dawson tax laws
have proven to he failure, as you
would have the people believe them to
be-?
"Six hundred and fifty thousand dol
lars Of license tax was lost to the state
yearly beginning with 1914, and over
100000 lost on account Of the strike
in the Paint and Cabin Creek coal
fields in 1912, and S1.2S0,00O has been
expended to relieve the crowded con-
dition OF the state institutions since
the year 1912. Yet. with the loss OF
$3.50, 900 OF license revenue our direct
levy for state purposes Is only 100000
greater than in 1897, with all of our
progress. How can you sustain your
position that tax reform has proven
1.-THE people are interested and wish
an answer from you specifically upon
these interrogations.
III the old method of taxation were
still in effect which you advocated in
1904 do you not know that to take
care of our states progress on the
$2.75 per capita cost, which is the
amount being expended for the main.
tenance Of our state and which repre-.
sents an amount lower than states
with even less population than our,
the direct state levy this year would
have to be $l.29 on tho 500 valuation
instead OF 5ia cents, as is the case
under tax reform.
How do you explain this II your
assertions are true as to the failure
of the Dawson tax laws?
Practically all OF the $1,2S0,OOO ex.
pended during my administration was
appropriated by legislature in 1913,
for permanent improvements at state
institutions, the complexion of the Sen.
ate Of that body being fifteen Republi-
icana and fifteen Democrats, with a