The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1919-03-20
HARMER AND MoRToN
GIVE .TEER REASONS

IL AMI I1OhION
GIVE THER REASONS
Especial Dispatch to The IntclligcnGcr)
CHARLESTON. W. Va, March ~
Senator Harvey ". ltarmer of Clarks-
burg, in a statement before the senate
this afternoon. explained his vote
against the Virginia debt hill in oppos-
ing q direct tax extending over u period
Of twenty years for the payment Of the
debt as Il discrimination in favor or
Virginia and against West Virginia and
her best interests"
The Harrison county representative
was one Of the nine senators voting
against the measure and one of the two
who made statements explaining oppo-
sition 10 the measure. the other being
Senator t. H. Morton. Democrat, OF
Webster Springs. whose opposition 10
the direct tax provision conceded with
the view of Senator Harmcr. The vote
on the bill was 20 to 8.
Il was the first member of the senate
TO stand upon this floor and declare my
self in favor of tho passage Of reso-
luton providing for the payment Of the
Virginia debt on the judgment renocrcd
by the supreme court of the United
States in favor Of Virginia and against
the state Of West Virginia. declared
Senator Hammer. According to- the
terms Of the compromise settlement out
lined before the joint session of the
legislature by the Hon. Randolph ltarrl-
son, representing the Virginia debt
commission. and later embodied in
senate concurrent resolution NO. Q.
adopted on the 18th day Of February.
1919, and I am now ready and willing
to carry that resolution into effect and
to vote for proper bill for that pur-
pose
I'm so far as tho purpose of the bill
now on its passage is 10 carry into citect
the compromise settlement and 10
pledge the full faith and credit OF the
state of West Virginia in the payment
of our half of the costs Of tho suit. the
cash payment and tho bonds TO be issued
and delivered to the commonwealth or
Virginia in full settlement and satisfac-
ton Of it's judgment against IN" state
of West Virginia. ] am in full accord
and now ready to vote for it's passage.
But the bill goes farther than that.
II discriminates in favor Of Virginia and
asairtse West Virginia and her. best In
tcrcsts-
IN section VIII it provides: Tn or
der to provide the revenue for the pay
mcnt of the principal and interest Of
said bonds, as hercinbeforc provided the
Board of Public Works Of this state is
authorized. empowered and directed TO
lay annually Il tax upon all the retu and
personal property subject 10 taxation
within this state, sufficient to pay the
interest on said bonds. accruing during
the current year. and the principal Of all
bonds to be purchased or redeemed dur
ing that year. as hcrcinbeforc provided.
The form Of the bond provided to be is
sued in section Of tho act refers and
makes it part OF the bond as fully and
at length as if copied and set forth in
the bond Those bonds become II con-
tract Of obligation on the part Of West
Virginia that can never at any time in
the future be impaired. modified. chang
ed or set aside by an act of it's lcgiSla-
ture, or by any amendment TO this act
and il rrcvocably fixes upon and COM
mits West Virginia To the direct form
Of taxation upon all the real and per-
sonal property subject to taxation with
in the state for the period Of the next
20 years no matter whether tho state
can at any time within that period raise
or collect more than enough revenues
from other sources to moot all her de-
Inands and To pay annually the bonds
and the interest. IT is unjust for Virgil
MA 10 QflDdTl lHlS III Us. anu u IS uI-
wise for us to grant il if it is demanded
"A direct tax is not the proper or
equitable method Of raising revenues
Several states ARE seeking 10 got away
from that system. The government did
not resort to ii even in time Of war
when many millions OF dollars were nee
cssary 10 be raised to carry on the war,
West Virginia probably has moro
sources from which she can raise rcvc-
MUGS by indirect taxation than has any
other state. Therefore | cannot and
will not vote 10 IIX II direct lax upon my
state for the period OF tho next 20 years.
as this bill in its present form docs
without any shadow Of doubt. when it,
need not o." so by amending section S
as was proposed. | therefore vote no."
Morton's Statement.
II am opposed IL tn" bill" Senator
Morton declared "bucauSc there is pro-
vision in the bond hr CONTRACT this hill
authorizes, which makes the act part
Of thu obligation fully and at length.
The board Of public works IF the state
Is authorized. empowered and directed
Ia lay annually n tax upon all the real
aud personal property subject To taxa-
tiun within the state sufficient to pay
the interest on Hnid bonds tn h. pur-
chased or redeemed during tn" year
which taxes shall h" collected in the
usual WHY and paid into the treasury uf
IN" state 10 tn" credit Of the "sinking
fund" and shall not he liable for APP
preparation for any other purpose. II
am opposed to it because this section
binds fulur" legislatures and prohibits
them from providing II revenue for this
purpose in any either manner. | nm op-
posed TO IN" bin h"CariS" in thr read just
mcnt Of the finances IF the state.
brought about by tho world war. future
legislatures should hr left free to deal
with financial questions ~ tn" very
right and Justice may require"
Il am opposed to the measure because
i, has a tendency Ia fcrmrnt the unrest
and nsatfHrHction among The masses.
in which they feel that those most able
la bnar ia" burdens "f taxation arc cs-
Gaping w!,h"u, their just share hcinEi;
Land upon them.
''EinaIly I am opposed In tn" revenue
feature Of the hill h'cauSc the untold
wealth IL thu" state - aggregated in the
hands Of IN" few with special privileges
Granted them under the laws. and own
iru Tins vast wealth and possessing
These. special privileges. this is Il mrn =
sur. closing the avenues in IN" less for
IuuIt.- These owners of wealth should
h.. rrGu rcd to pay u greater Portion Of
,hr taxes than they have heretofore
been required Ia pay.
Crock rxprrimcnt"rs have Snccrr'l"d
i'm making u satisfactory hutnnohtlr