The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1922-12-16
NEELY FAVORS
DEPLETION TAX
ON BIC THREE"
COAL, OIL AND GAS
SHOULD BE TAXED
Hopes Incoming Legislature
Will Afford State Meas
ures of Relief
By DWIGHT H. TET6R

Charleston, ". Va. Dec. lJ.--"l favor
$ TAX on the naiura! resources Of Wc*;
Virginia. I:y that ! mean depletion
AK on our coal. oil and gas resources.
sl!d United States Senator Nj. VI. NectS,
,he dominant I,."re q: the meeting u!
ia, Democrats :ncmbeIS or III, lcslS.I-
tune. Ia sesSiou here today.
Sunator Nee!y arrived IN The scene nj
operations well IN advance oc the van
guard of the newly elected legislature.
and has been huSily engaged receiving
the congratulations OF his admirers AMI
comforting on eCis!aiivc and party ma
ter. with leading members in the Dem
oc:at!c party.
In an interview today. Senator Nec:T
Expresses himself at hc!ns grat!ncd over
the recent :r!umph Of his party At the
lulls He did not place the credit for
his own election OH any OF the other
members OF his party solely on pe3r-
cratic Principles. the campaign wa p,
or the personality or personal foN T.
ing OF the successful candidates them-
selves Rather. ne said u WAS because
OF the desire OF the people Of West Viz
sinta for change in the form OF gov
q nment they havc been receiving for
the past several years. and their hopes
tha: the Democrats would give them Il
more bus'ness-!ike, n more representa-
tive and more economic rule.
Hopes for Relief.
1T Is my firm belief" said Senator
Nicely. that the people W! III receive from
thc hands Of the newly elected leglsla-
ture the measures ~ relief they 20
earnestly desire and they 50 lady
need"
II have been talking with large
number Of the members Of the senate
and df the House and am firmly con-
v!nccd OF their sincerity and their in
tcgrtty. Most Of them were elected on
platforms for reduction OF taxes and
conservation OF expenditures. I believe
they will fulfill loyalty their campaign
Pledges insofar as existing conditions
Will permit
big Three" Dominate
When asked for an expression Of his
personal views regarding needed lcsis-
latton. Senator Ncely declared himself
In no uncertain terms az follows:
II favor 4 tax on the natural &c.
sources Of West Virginia. Ry that |
mean depletion tax on our coal. oil
and gas resources. Large and wealthy
companies composed Us rule o: men
IINlIlS III pllcI SldNtS, u'll 'l'lNt W..
most important industries industries
which have not in the past paid their
just amount OF taxes 20 the state.
They have acquired n great political
power In West Virginia. n power which
reaches Into both our great political
parties. and through this nnwcr they
undermine tho integrity Of many Of our
past legislatures. These interests have
so far escaped 4 Just taxation. but l
sincerely believe and hope that this
new legislature will not he fooled into
repeating the action Of former lcCis.
laturcS in granting every wh!m and
wish OF those Jlrc" great interests.
Police and Militia
1T favor the abolition az either The
state police or the National guard.
There Is no carthly scasc IN Tire state
of West V!rG!nia's supporting tho two
great semi military and law enforce
mon, departments. etthc" oe which
could and should perform tho srrvir"s
OF ho'h with all tho efficiency Mr"l"d
b. ,hn state. Along with this l"::i$.a-
t!rn | favor the absolute abolition Of
CONTINUED on PaEe Fourteon.)