The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-11-12

WASHINGTON, d. c.. Nov. 12.-
In the matter OF Federal taxation
West Virginia is destined to rank
high In the list Of States for the year
5917 1t will move up from place
near the bottom OF the list to a po-
sition near the top. Special war tax
alton ON the coal industry will be re.
Bp6nsible for 1t.
The ablest auditors and staticians
Of the coal industry have figured it
out that SO per cent of the earnings
from West virginia's chief resourse
Will go direct into the Golfers of I'm.
Gle Sam to help him win the war. All
other taxes that the. coal industry has
70 bear brings the total up to Is
cents on every ton of coal shipped
from West Virginia mine, the tax
experts say, during the year 1917.
Next year the total tax to be borne
va ton Of coal will be so cents, they
lay, on the assumption that the tax
rws remain as they are.
West Virginia is expected to pro-
uce 100, 100000 short tons of coal
MS year. That means that the coal
Industry will pay direct to the Fed.
RIAL government $S0,000,00O. Uncle
sam gets that before the operator
and the stockholders get their share
Of earnings. From these individuals
interested in the industry, it Is esti.
mated, that total OF S25 100000 will
be paid annually to Uncle Sam.
In other words, on the basis of
these figures, which have been care.
fuily prepared by statistical experts,
est Virginia's great coal industry
II pay into the National treasury per
mum. at the present rates S1$5,
10000.
The bulk OF this huge sum comes
from the tax on earnings, and the
50 per cent figure that each company
VIII pay is an average minimum es-
Innate, It varies according to condi.
lions and circumstances which at
tach to and surround each and every
7eparate mining operation. In some
nces the rate, as at present fig.
!, goes as high as 30 cents. In
meantime State and local taxation
iplds9a usual.
IN 1918, 1t is forecasted, that there
viii be considerable decrease in the
total sum OF tax money that the gov.
rument will receive from the West
lrginia coal industry. assuming that
le government continues to insist
that the price Of coal at the mine
shall continue on the 50 basis fixed
py the President In his order OF Au.
gust 81. It should not be forgotten
that that is the price basis on which
the c.Ai companies and Individual Oh.
eratoYs In West Virginia are doing
busi1e less today. For, 1t should also
be Remembered that the Presidents
reyif Sion Of this price upward by as
I>esfts the ton was done for the coal
ggers and mine laborers solely and
one, and not for the operators. The
tier are not expected to profit one
lniiy BY that As cents additional al.
IoWance on coal at the mine mouth
II any OF them do, "they will find
themselyes in trouble" These are
the words OF Counselor Minis, the
'Rht bower of DR.. Garfield. Thus, II
plain, that the additional As cents
Permitted by the President October
makes no changes In the operators
arnings, and he is Just where he
TODD In relation to. prices for his
Qit1ut to that date. His prices are
liie 50 basic prices. -,
The reason why there will be
very considerable decrease In the
sum OF tax money which Uncle Sam
will take from the coal industry OF
West Virginia next year is due to-
1e met that the greater part OF this