Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1921-04-12
JOUR- VANISHING MILLIONS AND
STATE TAXATION.

STATE TAXATION.
Why Does Not West Virginia Do As
All Other Gas Producing States
Have Done.
TAX CAST
WHY TAX GAS?
Because:
Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas and every
other gas producing state is doing it.
There is no question about the con-
stitutionality of law imposing tax
on the gross revenues of gas pipeline
companies.
The gas business is a monopolistic
business and for the special privilege
of amassing millions by monopoly an
adequate license or tax should be i'm
posed.
The gas supply Of West Virginia is
very rapidly being depleted and the
state is having nothing left to show
for it.
More than three-fourths of the gas
produced in West Virginia is being
piped out of the state to the enrich
ment of other states. Of the 278
billions of cubic feet available last
year only 81 billions Of feet were
used by West Virginians.
If the gas companies undertake to
pass the tax on to the people to pay
| the people of other states profiting
by its use will pay it, as West Vir-
ginia has a Public Service Commits
sion to prevent them passing it on to
the people of our state for the small
proportion of the gas they use.
Gas, flowing under the ground,
like water flowing over its surface, in
fact belongs to the people and the
people should share in the millions
| it produces.
If this monopoly is not taxed the
people will have to pay the states
bills out of their own pockets in the
form of a direct state tax, or gross
sales tax, as is now proposed, which
in fact is form of direct taxation
in disguise.
| 4 per cent on the $50,000,000
gross revenue of the gas companies
will raise 100000 in revenues and
this is neither burdensome nor con-
fiscatory, but reasonable and just.
AND BECAUSE-THESE COM
PANIES HAVE BROW-BEAT AND
HOODWINKED OUR LEGISLA-
TURES AND DODGED 1T TOO
LONG ALREADY.
Ohio has been collecting a per cent
on the gross revenue of gas compa-
MES for many years and is collecting
this on all the gas exported from
West Virginia to that state. Mary
land collects 2 per cent; Pennsyl-
vania eight-tenths sof one per cent |;
| Oklahoma 2 per cent; Texas 3 per
cent in like manner. Kansas collects
per cent on gross receipts and
Louisiana has provision in the state
constitution giving the state the right
to impose license tax on severance
of the natural resources of the state.
About one half of the ages export
ed from this state goes into Ohio on
which that state collects A per cent
while we get nothing.
The total available supply of gas in
this state for last year was 278 bill
lions cubic feet, of this amount only
81 billions feet were consumed blythe
people of the state. The local con-
sumption is growing less every year
and the expectation is growing
larger. Eight years ago we used
within the state about 33 per cent of
the gas production. We are now
using about Is per cent.
| There is now pending before the
Legislature bill placing a sales tax
on everything the people use of one
half of one per cent every time the
article changes hands and many
argue and believe the people will in
the end have to pay it. If not they
may be forced to pay direct state
tax of increased productions.
THE WOMEN SHOULD ACT.
| Since the women have been en-
franchised their letters and petitions
will have as much weight and effect
before the legislature as those of the
men. They should not fail to ex-
press their views as any member of
the legislature likes to know the
views of his constituents so he can
properly represent them and he will
take it as favor if you write him.
Do it now, as the session of the legis-
lature is growing short.
| This sentiment for taxing gas has
been crystallzed by the failure to col
lect the transportation tax on gas
which has made large deficit in the
revenue of the state.
After you have read this pass it on
to your neighbor to read and if you
favor the tax on the gross revenues
of the gas pipe line companies and
believe we should at this late hour do
something partly retrieve our lost
revenue from failure in the past to
place an adequate tax on gas, and if
you believe the people of West Vir-
ginia are entitled to some slight re-
turn for this great luxury which is
nearly all going to other states to
comfort, benefit and enrich their
people, write your senators and rep
resentative at Charleston, and do it
now, as some form of taxation must
b provided at the present session of
the legislature to raise tn money the
state must have