The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1919-03-25
OPERATION
OF GAS N|EH|S
AGAIN SHOWN
In Hearing by Senate Finance
Committee on the John
Gas Tax Bill.
By TEoS. D. MAYS

Especial Dispatch to The lntclIiscncer)
CHARLESTON. W. Va. March "a
Discussion OF tn" itApracttcabllIty
rather than the "practica bility" of the
oil and gas bill IN tn" senate chamber
by the senate finance committee. 10
which the measure WAS referred Tor
consideration last week. and general
gossip following the hearing. indicated
an to adverse report 10 the senate
tomorrow afternoon.
Investigation into tho merits of tho
bill. which If enacted would provide
revenue to the state estimated At about
two million dollars annually. was con-
fined in the main to. Interrogation OF
parties in the oil and gas business as
to the practiclbil!ty of enforcing the
measure and the great expense neccs-
sary.
The hearing was in progress for more
than two hours. the result Of which.
il is believed. will be an rnfavnra BIZ
"cpoEt to the senate. The house COM
n;ittee reported the measure adversely.
! but tho minority report Wis adopted
and the bill was passed by Il vote Of
81 to 81.
1t is alleged from some quarters that
the committee is packed" In the
event OF q majority adverse report on
the measure, which is regarded as vir-
tually an assured fact. it is understood
that a minority report will he submit
ted to the senate Should this fail IN
adoption. it is certain that interesting
developments will follow.
H. a. Wallace of tho United Fuel
: Gas company. Il 4. Quay of the Manu-
facturcrs' Light and Heat company and
Charles Kimble of the Ohio Valley Re-
tinery company appeared before the
IN 20 Lo oh n
bill. Other gas men present. on the
floor were 4. G.. Altizer of the United
Fuel Gas company. Col. Fred Paul
Grosscrp OF the Charleston Dunbar
Natural Gas company.
Delegate W. S. John, author OF tho
measure, took part in the hearing. and
interrogated those appearing before the
committee. He admitted that some ply
sical difficulties Of enforcing the oil and
gas privilege tax were evident but
maintained that such a bill provided an
equitable tax on the oil and gas in
terests. and at the same time operated
to the great benefit of the state, which.
he said, is To operate in conjunction
with the Steptoe gas bill in keeping oil
and gas in West Virginia. making he
position of those commod;.ie:. out Of the
state sufficiently high r. pring new in
dustries into West Virginia to benefit
by the low fuel rate.
The gas interests exhibited charts and
maps showing the network OF pipe fincs
covering the state. They declared that
costs Of installing the necessary meters
for measuring gas, as proposed in the
bill, would cost from $4,000 to s2.400,-
900 for each company. in addition to
necessitating a large number or men for
clerical and other work In connection
with the operation Of the measure.
It was estimated that the United Fuel
& Gas company would be compelled to
install between 6n0 and 700 meter sta
tions. while the Manufacturers Light {.
Heat company figured that between 400
and 500 meter stations each costing
, from $4,000 to $4,000 each. would be
necessary for this company alone.
On question 1t was admitted that q
direct tax could be levied on total pro-
duction, or on the gross earnings Of the
! various gas and oil producing companies.
! A meeting Of the finance committee Is to
be held tomorrow morning at 10
O'Clock. and it Is expected that a report
will be formulated at that time, to be
made to the senate ct the afternoon ses-
, sion
The John oil and gas bill was passed
by the house as means Of providing
revenue for payment Of the Virginia
debt, and 1t is generally believed that
the house will force the senate to some
action on the matter.