The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1894-10-26
SHAMEFUL
Extravaganza OF the West
Virginia Democracy.
A Vote to Send a Republican
tothe Senate or the Legis-
lature is a Vote
For Better Government.

Democratic majority in the West
Virginia Legislature have stub
bornly fought every measure
brought forward by Republicans
to look into the extravaganza
that has for some time been ap.
parent. AT the last session Of
the Legislature, Hon. w. s. Ed,
wards, the Republican member
ofthe House from Kanawha of.
fered the following Resolutions !:
Tits provided by the constitu.
ton of West Virginia, that the
annual salary of the Auditor Of
State shall be 80, 900. 90, that the
salary of the Secretary of State
shall be 100000, and that the
salary of the Governor shall be
81, 10000"
WHEREAS, 1t is currently re.
ported that the fees annually
paid into the Office of Secretary
of State now approach the sum
of ten Thousand dollars, which
fees, together with the amount
ofone thousand dollars salary,
| fixed by the constitution. are
deemed excessive pay for the
work done in that office ; and
WHEREAS, 1t is currently re.
ported that the sums of money
annually paid to the Public
Printer exceed the enormous
sum of sixty thousand dollars,
being far in excess of all due and
proper expenditures and
WHEREAS. 1t is currently re.
ported that the moneys Of the
people are thus squandered and
perverted to personal and partl-
san use. threatening thereby the
integrity Of the governmental
management of this State and
WHEREAS, 1t is currently re.
ported that the influences of
these offices are daily exerted
upon the floors of the House OF
Delegates aad Senate to prevent
any examination into the work.
ings and accounts of these offices;
aud
WHEREAS, Honest manage.
.ment never fears or opposes open
and candid investigation.
Now, therefore, in order that
it may be known whether these
current reports be true or not,
be it
Resolved -bv the House Of Delegates
and Senate Of West Virginia
That the Speaker of the House
and President of the Senate be and
are hereby authorized and direct.
ed toimmediately appoint a joint
committee from the members of
the House and Senate, four of
whom shall be delegates and
three Senators. and a majority
of whom shall be Democrats, who
shall forthwith examine into the
books, papers. and accounts Of
the said Auditors office, office Of
Secretary of State. and Public
Printer, and ascertain the sums
of money paid into the said offices
from all sources, and to said
printer by State authorities, and
Immediately report their findings
to the House and Senate.
The matter was brought before
the House on different occasions
and always met with the fiercest
opposition from the Democratic
side.
Mr.. Edwards in his address to
the House spoke in part as fol.
lows about the enormous salaries
paid to some of West virginia's
Democratic officials
by his own showing. the an
nual income of the incumbent Of
the office Of Auditor is admitted
to be the great sum of IS, 1914.
The salary SO given this official
ought to be sufficient to enable
him to live well, to pay his own
clerk hire and to save money.
But what does. the Democratic
majority of the Finance Commit
tee and the Democratic majority
of this Legislature propose to
do? BY the Appropriation Bill