The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1919-03-31
EXTF||Il|i( SESSION
To RING FINAL
CURTAIN TODAY
DEBT SETTLEMENT
BILL TO BE PASSED
Senate to Retire from Its
Stand for Special Debt
Tax Levy.
Sv TEOS. D. MAYS.

Srccial D.spl!ch 10 The int"lhTenccr.
CuAEI.E:STrN. W<~'Na.. March .So.--
Indications point to ADJOURNMENT tonlor-
row OF the extraordinary session OF tho
West Virginia legislature. which con-
vened on March II. the senate yesterday
having passed tho oil and gas tax plll
and the state police measure. Virtually
the only matters Of Importance remain
ing include the passage "f the West Eir-
winja debt settlement bill by tho house.
concurrence Of amendments 10 that bill
hy the senate concurrence of amend
ulrnts t. The substitute oil and gas Tx
bill bv tho house and passage OF The en-
else tax measure.
Up to the Senate.
It is not known what action Will ."
taclin bv tho senate with regard TO the
Virginia debt settlement bill. The meas
ure as passed by the upper branch OF
,h.. legislature provided for revenue ror
r,nv,nrnt Of the Virginia debt by direct
taxation The house in considering the
Nill amended this feature. relieving the
state of the direct tax proposition ana
rruvilnG for the payment OF the hohus
TO be retired yearly and the interest out
Of unappropria;ed funds in tho state
treasury.
The bill also provides that In the
event there are insufficient funds unap-
propriated 10 pay the bonds and inter-
est. the board Of public works Is thcn
authorized and empowered 10 lay Spc-
c;al tax for the raising Of such needed
revenue.
Tho primary purpose OF the OIL anu
gas tax bill. which originated in the
house Of delegates. was for the purpose
Of supplying revenue for payment OF
tho Virginia debt. The fight over TINS
feature resulted in both branches re-
sorting to dilatory and fllbustcring tao
tics, the session having been cXtendeo
ten days longer than was necessary.
Victory for the Eouse,
The senate in seeking to force the Is
sue with the house Of passage OF mo
Virginia debt bill postponed action on
the oil and gas and police measures. The
house, however. was equally as dc'er-
u,incd. and finally emerged the FlctoF'
The house Is to meet tomorrow morn
ing at 10 O'Clock. The debt bill VII!
likrlv be one nr tho nrsr matters con-
sidcrcd It is thought that final action
will he given in short order now thal
thc tav on oil and gas is virtually as
Sured.
The senate adjourned Saturday night
without designating tirnc for reconVen-
ting and Il is more than likely that the
hcr3v will not meet until o'clock To-
morrow afternoon. Members Of the
legislature have long since grown urea
Of tho work, and the machinery Tor
speeding the hills through for final ac-
tion will be thrown into high gear from
the start
Senators opposed to the oil and gas
and police bills voted for these meas
ures yesterday afternoon in ord2; 10
move a reconsideration tomorrow should
there be q chance Of defeating either OF
the measures.
VIII Stand Pat.
Thost favoring the enactment OF such
! legislation arc expected to stand pat
however, and chances OF eitner oei's le
called are slight 49,,
If is nor known lust what action will
| no taken By the senate on tho tax taa-
! trrc Of the debt settlement bill Shoulo
! they decline to concur IN the amend
r,ents made in the house. n conference
/ committee will be appointed - ilght
! out the differences between the TWO
| houses. 49,
Passage Of the oil and gas tax Dill
! indicates that tho senate Will not insist
! on tho direct tax provision.
It is rstirnat I'd that tn" oil ana gas
TAX bill. If it becomes law. will bring in
approxin,atcly $1.nno. N0n annually. and
The excise tax bill. If passed hs no"
drawn. will bring into the state treas
ury about 100000 annually. The nc"
license tax bill is expected to or1ng IN
Sn,r thousand extra, SO that total al
anproxImately s1.5oo.ooo additional tc
present revenues will have been pro
vided Il the program gets through.
This. it is said. will put sufficient rcT
enue in the state treasury to make j
unnecessary to lay any extra direct l"V!
above that now in force, even. to mcc
fcoutinucd on Pago Ntne.)