The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1921-04-22
SENATOR HELM|CK
With GROSS SALES
TAX OPPOSITION
DEFEAT OF THE BILL
IN SENATE PROBABLE
Coal Interests Try 10 Whip
Senator Hill Into Line
Bu ]. q. REED.

charleston. ". Va. .tr:!, u All I'm
Dortant dcvelnpm"n; cam" today IN INC
tax situation when Senator y. l.. hc'-
; mick madr known his intentions 10
stand against the gross sales tax COM
promise or against any other tax which
involves similar methods or !cvlcs. 1hlS
IS sgnlicant. since Senator HeInlcA'
who comes from Tucker county, repre-
cnts large coal holdings He Is an opera
tor himself and has been generally
claSscd as favorable TO the coal com
hinc. He indicated today that while he
may not support 4 production tax IN
any Of the forms in which it has so far
hccn advocated he will most certainty
not auprov" IN" gross sales tax.
Senator Nr.lnirn'S statement greatly
Increases tn" chances of passage for the
d"plct!nn tax and probably tolls the
death "kn"l for the compromise Dill.
Even depletion tax advocates felt yes
tcrlay' that the chances were slender.
The best they hoped for was an even
break. Today they sec defeat for gross
sales taxation IN the senate looming up
almost az certainty as we'll rs great
" Increased chances for the production
tax bill.
In the house Of delegates there is a
growing belief that the production tax
bill and the gross sales bill will be pre-
sented at the same time. Delegate
Harry A. Weiss. OF Ohio county. whose
signal victory in the committee room
Yesterday secured recognition Of the
production tax bill, seems 10 be expect
ing some action withing the week al
though nc will not say anything Tor
publica tion. The tax commissioners re-
port shows that the Weiss hi! or. B.
SID will produce s6,60000O annually.
Coal Interests straining.
Meantime the coal interests are
stra!ning to regain the lost ground OF
the past few days. Senator 7. r. Hill.
or Middlebourna. now holds the vote
they want the most. The machine mem
hers have. according to nopulo- gossip
declared they will defeat local measures
in which Hill is vitality interested un-
less his vote IS cast in favor or tho
GToSs sales tan.
Senator Hill has q measur" which
would create state normal school at
Middlebournc This is the ono thing
Tyler county has asked during this ses-
sion and would ordinarily have been
granted them The bill was held MP in
tho finance commi;te" and reported out
only when it could lie used as 4 club
over the head Of itS sponsor. 1t is
rumorrd that this alleged "sugaring orr
Will be carried through in An effort to
force the senator from Tyler county to
take stand opposite to that which 1t
is assorted II" previously took.
Fight on water Power.
Thr water power bill now retains the
confer o. the stage in tho senate. The
railroads. ard other interests whose
powers Of eminent domain are held TO be
IrsS than those granted the power com.
panies ar" beginning 10 aid opposition
fnrrtc!lng what may develop into de-
trr1n:ned fight. The effect Of such con-
tsst on the tax problem when the
"frading" begins can only b" guessed.
The Sanders resolution to delay the
passage Of any hydro-electric hill until
after an investigation by stat" COM
mission IS undoubtedly gaining friends.
The resolution was passed over today
in order to give is proponents time to
study The legal phrasing Of the bill more
thoroughly. 1t is understood that the
principal point of attack will be amend
ments attached To the bill by the COM
rittee on forestry and conservation at
the request Of c. 7. billings. Of Wheel
ing and written in over in" objections
Of some members OF the committee.