The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1921-01-17
Sales Tax on ". Va.
Corporations Advocated
Plan Under Consideration By
Legislature Would Exempt
Realty and Personally Up
to o$4,000---Committee APP
polntments 10 Be An
nounced Today

Sr.c.:t Dispatch TO INC laicil:Eenccr.
! Charleston, w. Va. Jan. l6.-~Mem-
hers OF the. house o. delegates state
here today that the greatest trouble in
solving West Nirginia's ;aNation' prob
lens had been already settled ~ con-
ference between representatives OF the
states corporation interests this Aft
erroon. The tan problem. they agree. Is
the most important matter TO come be-
fore the session OF legislature now IN
progress.
Indications during the early days o.
the session that Goa. OF aHd gas. ana
railroad Interests would clash over the
methods OF taxation watch they would
support were fulfilled at the conference.
t IS said. The interests arc said. how
ever. TO have reached an agreement.
whereby they will not oppose any equi-
table tax affecting all alike.
The methods OF laying the tax are
now under discussion among the more
important members OF bot,I house and
senate. j. \. Strother. delegate from
Mcdowell county. and probably chair
man ot the house judiciary committee.
states that the tax most taroraoly men-
toned IS one on gross sales.
This tax" he says. would affect
all corporations equally. II would also
yield additional income BY reason or
the fact that where product passes
through the hands OF more than one
concern two or more taxes are collect
ed upon il. The matter Is now being
considered by number Of the states
most prominent attorneys who declare
that there IS no doubt ot its consl .tu-
t!ouality.
The proposed amount OF the taN
would be about one-halt cent or the
hundred dollars. and would. according
10 estimates which have been made.
Weld revenue OF between three and
four millions. The only question OF It's
final approval Is whether or not Il VIII
satisfy those seeking heavy rroduc-
ton tax OIL gas.
"The aim is to secure an Indirect tax
that will he most far reaching in its
application and lessen the amount now
paid to the support OF the state BY the
small land owner The bill as II is now
being discussed. will contain a claus"
exemptIRg real estate and personal
property up to the amount OF $4,000.
Direct taxation on other property will
however be continued.
"A bill providing for such taxation
IS now being prepared. I do not know
who will introduce Il however. or how
soon IL Will De Compleleu
sssk . slies Of Grssnbr1sr.
Among the arrivals in the city to-
day vas DR.. James McClung. of Rich
wood. Nichols county. ex-senator from
that district, He SIN Charleston In the
interest Of r bin to be introduced which
VIII take away a tract OF some $4,000
acres from Greenbrier county and add
Il to Nichols. The chief aim OF the bill.
ne says. Is to open up road from
RfchWood TO Webster Springs. The tract
m question. which lies between the
Cherry and Grcenbrlar rivers. must be
crossed. A mountain pathway. he con-
t!nues. is tho only way OF crossing the
imncnse tract. which has never bean
developed By the county to which Il
now belongs. If the bill is passed. Nc
holas county will at once prepare &"
hpen the road. whicn will give easy
access to the southern part Of the state
from Webster county. The tract IS a
most as large as Ohio county and has
population OF ESQ. Considerable op-
position has been shown toward the bill
already by coal corporations owning q
portion OF the land. The alleged reason
IS that with It undeveloped. as II now -
Continued on Page Eleven-)