The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1878-05-09
oovEESoR MATHEWS TALKS.
.Tsu. u hat He Thinks About the
rapyict Labor Question AN" Tue
siate Debt.

u.TslIs " hat He luinks Aoou' 'he
r.rvirt Labor Question anu the
STATE Debt.
va copteuse from an interview with
c,ysrpor Mathews, published in the
CHARLESTON GreeHbaeL League of the 4th
Instant, the following:
.Y,n sre aware. Governor, that the
v,rLingmen OF the 5 a'e are taking
,..., interest in this matter OF convict
,bo, Whist are your views on that
ubecI7"
The workingmon," said the Govern.
a, "present taeir case with great force
,n3 isirness. They urge that the en-
r.5yment of this labor. under the con-
i,,ct sys.em. 10 the ordinary pursuits OF
ina artisan and meChsnlC, taroWs them
o,tcfempsoyment, destroys the business
Of those who employ men OF their Pur-
,a. by brnglug t. competition
,,.,per product, made by cUnvicLs hired
ol, bv the State. To make the convict
81 at.,apportinl, ne honest workingma',
.h-y .sl, is made \ PsuPsr and 10 re-
r.y- tle State OF the burden OF support
irg ,ap convict IN idleness, he Is caused
70 rrcs honest mrn into ;dlcuess;
they. instead Of the State,
p,y directly, ss well rs IL
directly, for his support, ana all this
without saying anything Of the demor-
sfzs.ion among regular manufacturers,
vtich convict employment occasions.
Now, recognize tho force OF this srgu
asHt, snd the needs OF those who present
The impression prevails that the
B5rd Of Public Works have control Of
The letting of penitentisry lator. This
l,n error. The directors of that insti-
...lOn have, by law, the control OF the
-,yer. l do not think they are dis
paed TO use their power unwisely.
AT the next session OF the Lcglsls'
lure shall fully express my views on
,.y subject. l may now state that
think plan can be devised which Will
relieve the State of the burden Of sup
pr.ng her cOnvicts in idleness, and at
,,s same time avoid the evil results OF
pscln. them in competition with her re-
ipsc,abe lsbor. For example: 1t may
bs possible 20 use their labor in the con-
E'lc.ion # pabi5 improvements that
would not otherwise be built. This would
throw nobody out of employment, 1t
would den ora .izs no regular business,
l1d It would be hign.y benetciAl to the
State"
In regard tu the State debt, the Gov
s,Hor thought that the State OF Virginia
and her creditors had attempted a settle
nert without the operation of West
Virginia. The Virginia funding bill had
Mechanically changed the character Ct
ne old debt, be said, and go far as Its
.sgs obligation was concerned, many
thought West Virgins. by the action of
Virgins and Virginiss creditors, had
Dsen released entirely. However that
night Be, the people of West Virginia
could not consent that portion OF Viz
sHss debt should be arbitrarily sssigned
'aeu snd they be held as rePonsioIo for
ia payment.
a have noticed" said be, that some OF
sae Virgins statesmen refer with evil
dsct satisfaction TO the ordinance Rdop-
led BY the Convention which met at
Wheeling June 10th. 1861, consent on
Tie Psrt Of Virginia u the creation OF
We, Virginia out of part ot her terri
'o'!. They point TO the FAC: that this
ordnance declares that Wet Virginia
ha.l assume her equitable proportion OF
.as public debt of Virginia prior to
January lst 1851. The Walker Fund
i,g Bill has q similar re! erenCe. Now the
Ho1ble with this quotation is it does not
s'is' enough. 1t omits very material
eNn. The ordinance in question not
'ay provides that West Virginia shall
s'lne her equitable proportion of the
'iglns debt, but it lays down tAe
'.'e Tor sscertsining that propor-
.oa 1t is TO be ascertain ed by chsrsi 3
'fglnls with the entire revenue pslu
'a'C her treasury by the counties com
Psrs Wes. Virginia since the passage
" 'ae IAw Authorizing the creation Of the
q" part Of the Virginia debt Il think
~e aW wss passed in 1924 and the hrst
yylls Issued 10 1929 and credtIhg her
."u 'helr share Of the current expense
!he Ststa Government tor all pur-
P'e', sod with the Cost OF tho public
EVpe'iy within the limits OF tlis State.
lave no! made the calculLtO On myself,
w learn from those who have that &C
.o'lIng to this basis Virginia would
.yae out in debt sbout 100000. At
=! -! rate If Virginia Statesmen rely upon
'-s ordinance OF the Wheeling Conven-
~. ,yl 70 settle this question. they must
"Is Inc whole and 1t part of 1t"
governor Mathews had been informed
-. ~ ull not doubt that large Investments
-. -. been made BY various persons in
20. N are called West Virginia cernf-
'' ~ The Investments had been made
,,s'y low figures, and in the hope that
,. ,'-. would take such turn as would
,,I' handsome profit to be realized.
rS,a ~ a,a not think it possible that any
Ssle could succeed which had for its
si,. ~ Tie recognition by the Legislature
-! undue proportion Of this debt.