The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1921-04-27
OPINION |SIT
CANNOT PASS
MAKING EXTRA
SESSION SURE.
Reported Bill Will Be Mod.
fled Gross Sales Measure
With Direct Levy Added
and Will Be Objectionable
In This Form-Test Vote
BY J. r REED.

~ J. r. A66O.
Charleston. April 26.-With but three
more working days to this session OF
legislature both houses adjourned to-
night without any further official steps
toward the passage of tax bill haV"
ing been taken. The subcommittee
on taxation have not yet announced
Z their compromise. although they are to-
night in executive session with the COM
mittnc of house Of delegates It Is fair
~ we'll understood. however. that the
net result of their deliberations is an
increased direct levy accompanied by a
few changes in the gross sales tax bill
which the interests still declare can
and will be passed. Such action as the
above can mean but one thing; the CALI
] ing of an extra session. 1t Is extereme-
~ doubtful If the bill having as one OF
its principal provisions an increase La
the direct tax can ever pass.
81 Cents Direct Tax.
Tho direct tax advocated in the bill.
according to the most reliable informa-
+ ton. will be thirtytwo cents on tho
500 valuation. This Is an increase Of
twelve cents over the present levy and
/ eighteen cents over the levy for the
year ending June 80, last. This amount
may be increased by cutting down one
OF its provisions which would levy
direct tax Of ten cents for general state
purposes. The other provisions will
stand If the bill is passed. They would
lay the following direct levies: for pay
ing the Virginia debt. s cents "a de-
crease OF two cents): for erection Of a
new state house, five cents; for paying
off the present deficit. nine cents. These
with the levy for general purposes total
!, irt, ,,tttk tulyf t1NA
consideration n possible direct levy Of
UP to ten cents for the good roads bond
issue Of $15,000.0o0 which has been au-
thorized
Concerning other provisions of the
compromise bill, nothing has been given
out officially.
Favorable Report. =
The gross sales tax bill. 1t Is unds
stood, will be reported favorable in tho
house OF delegates tomorrow with a
heavier tax. laid on coal. oil and gas.
than upon the other industries. The tax
laid will not however, be a depletion
tax. 1t is simply 4 levy upon values, &C.
cording to supporters Of the depletion
tax. and does not tax any industry for
removing from the state her natural
wealth. For this reason they arc still
opposing tho bill strongly. The other
provision of the gross sales tax that is
these which apply to manufacturers and
merchants. banks, wholesalers and
other business stand unchanged.
Indications at today's session Of tho
senate point toward Slight change in
the lineup OF the senator's. Whether
this change be permanent, or merely
taken in order to give the compromise
bill Il chance is not known. The test
showing this change which Is hardly
favorable 10 production or depletion
tax came when Senator w. l.. Polling
attempted 10 have his general depletion
tax bill brought up for consideration.
Senator J. S. Lewis. a coal man. and
patron of the gross sales tax, objected,
and upon motion 10 amend the bill
made by Senator Polling demanded the
articles TO be taxed lost by a tie vote
as follows:
How They Voted
AyeS-Bloch, Bowers, Burr, KarnaAa,
Hammer, Hsnshaw, Hill, johnson, MOT.
ton, Polling, Porter, shaekls6ord, ShtAa
and Staats--l4.
NosS-EhApmAn, Coaltsr, DnEnaoor,
9odbsy, Hagsr, Hslrnick, Hunter, LSw1s,
MoClarsn, Sanders, ShaRsr, Stewart,
White and PrsGident Arnold.-l4.
With this lineup prevailing for the
remainder Of the session the gross sales
tax compromise Is undoubtedly lost BY
a tic. There are two men in the ranks
of the noes" as listed who have voted
almost consistently with the other side
up until this time. They arc Senator'S
Stewart and Helmick. If their actions
were prompted by desire TO offer every
chance for fair compromise they may
vote with the depletion tax advocates
when the down comes. In that
case, they will sway the vote since with
both absent men returning the lineup
will then be 1914. Senators Boone and
York being numbered with the gross
sales tax advocates.
Among the other actions Of the day
was the passage by the senate OF bill
providing for an increase TO 100000
from $4,000 for the surety bonis OF
selling annuties. This ap.
plies TO only one company OF the state.
the Fidelity Investment company OF
Wheeling. and was introduced at its re-
quest.
The house Of delegates defeated the
Shaffer burglary bill which would make
that crime punishable by death. The
statements made in Il hot debate upon
the measure were that the punishment
vas TOO severe for the crime no mat
ter how great burglary it might be.