The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-10-26

lars Of license tax was lost TO the state
yearly beginning with 1914, and over
100000 was lost on account OF the
strike in the Paint and Cabin creek
coal fields in 1912, and $l,2S0,00O has
been expended to relieve the crowded
condition OF the state institutions since
the year 1912 yet with the lost of
S650.000 of license revenue our direct
levy for state purposes is only $4,000
greater than in 1897. with all OF our
progress.
How can you sustain your position
that tax reform has proved failure?
The people are interested and wish an
answer from you specifically upon
these interrogatlons.
IF 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
S2.75 per capita cost which is the
amount. being expended for the main
flamenco OF our state and which repre-
SCENTS an amount lower than state with
even less population than ours, the
direct state levy this year would have
to be S1.29 on the 100 valuation in
stead of five and one-half cents?
AS is the case under tax reform,
how do you explain this IL your asser-
lions are true as TO the failure OF the
Dawson tax laws which you have cir
culated throughout the state quoting
from q speech Of yours delivered re-
Gently in Wheeling, pointing to your
predictions when candidate in 1904.
~ nf 81
pended during my administration was
appropriated by legislature in 1913,
for permanent improvements at state
institutions, the complexion OF the Sem
ate OF that body being fifteen Republi-
cans and fifteen Democrats with a
Democrat presiding. This amount was
appropriated by the Legislature for the
purpose Of relieving the crowded con-
dition OF our state institutions.
do you condemn these expendi-
lures? Do you condemn the fifteen
Democrats who voted for these appro-
priations and made possible these ex-
pendItures? What part of them would
you have cut out?
You have criticised my administra-
lion for being eXtravagant and for the
creation of new Offices. The public
service commission was created. the
compensation department was created
and the health department was created
during the legislative sessions of 1913
and 1915. Which one OF these depart
neuts would you abolish II you were
governor OF West Virginia?
~ take this method Of addressing
you because you refused to meet me in
joint debate TO discuss these issues
so that the people might be properly
informed
You hold up the Dawson tax laws
as being failure. l have submitted
facts taken from the tax commission
er's records, which are indisputable
and which prove conclusively that az
ter this year, II the present revenue
laws are left upon the statute books
with the exception OF the direct levy
to enlarge our state institutions or TO
repair them. no direct levy will be
necessary for state purposes.
'lf the Dawson tax laws have proved
n failure, as you would have the people
believe they have, how do you explain
that the state OF West Virginia is now
practically being run upon indirect
methods of revenue instead OF direct
methods Of revenue. as was the case
from 1897 to 1904 which represents ghe
period that your party uses in prepar-
ing all data in presenting records with
which you attempt to prove your con-
illusions?
I'm conclusion, Mr.. Cornwell, if you
do not believe in indirect methods of
taxation, what kind OF taxation do you
favor? The people are anxious to
know"