The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1896-10-02
But TRUE
Democratic Legislatures Com
kpared With the Republican.
GRAND REPUBLICAN RECORD.

GRAND REPUBLICAN RECORD.
rhs Records show That as Compared
with tho Republican Legislature the
Democratic sessions Were Costly. Cor.
rnpt. Incompetent and vieiou, "A Sting.
Ing Rebuke Of the Democratic Platform
BY Hon. r. W. Morris.
" Hon. p. w Morris Of Richie county,
who has served several terms in the
State Senate and House OF delegates, and
who was q member Of the last Legisla.
ture, tthe first Republican body in q
quarter Of century has an additional
article in his uaper, the Richie Gazette.
showing comparison Of the records Of
the Democratic Legislatures with the
Republican one. Its . stinging rebuke
70 the infamous Democratic State plat
form and we give it in full, as follows:
The platform adopted by the late
Democratic State convention attacked
the Legislature Of 1895. which was Re-
publican In one branch, in vile and
false way The Legislature was the
ablest. most industrious and most hon.
est that has assembled since 1870. and
it's work surpasses that of any Demo.
cratic Legislature the State has ever
/ known.
Unlike the first Democratic Legisla-
ture Of this State, it went to no ex-
tremes, did not pass any partisan meas.
ures and failed to call q costly constitu-
tional convention.
The Legislature Of 1895 completed its
work within the constitutional limit Of
% days, something which Democratic
Legislature rarely ever did.
It unanimously adopted early in the
session a resolution to the effect that
West Virginia is not responsible for any
debt Of tho old State. and thus gave
notice to all lobbyists that it was not
worth their while to attempt to influ.
ence its action.
It founded two good schools to bene.
fit the mining and negro population of
the State.
It passed a school book law. which
will save the people Of the State SEQ, 900
per year in the price of books; and il it
Ind not been for the delay of Demo-
cratic book board, would have saved the
people $4,000 year.
II appropriated Sl75. 900 for criminal
charges which was 10000 more than
the Legislature of 1893 appropriated,
made necessary by q deficiency under
the Democratic State administration.
1t passed 81 acts of local and general
benefit comprised in zee pages OF COM
pact. sensible. grammatical matter,
among which were law making the
educational institutions of the State
nom bipartisan in their management, a
law providing for board of agriculture;
alaw giving the people of the State five
months public school; law establish
ing the county of Mingo and many other
useful laws.
For this work 1t paid the members of
the Senate. including mileage, s5,s47.4O
and members of the House of Delegates
including mileage, SIS, 70s.60. Total.
$2l ,b51.00. For the work it did it was
the cheapest Legislature ever held in
the State.
It appropriated to the public printer,
Democrat, for all purposes $2S, OOO. 90,
and that official has threatened to resign
because it was not sufficient to fill his
Democratic NAV. He has not carried
out his threat at this writing.
1t was absolutely the freest from sus-
picion of corruption of any legislative
body the State has known.
How does this splendid record com.
pare with that Of Democratic Legisla.
lures?
The Legislature of 1893 was strongly
Democratic in both bodies. It sat
around for Do days with its feet on the
desks. some Of the members drinking
good whisky and smoking good cigars,
the latter in the hall OF the House while
1t was supposed to be in session, and
was Immediately reconvened by the
Governor to pass the appropriation bills,
which it had failed to pass. It then
took IL days extra in which to pass
these. In its total sessions of 81 days it
did not pass one bill of Importance, and
but few of any kind.
This Democratic Legislature of 1898
appropriated for pay to members of the
Senate s7,149.4o aud to members of the
House of Delegates. sl9,O59.oo. The
total was s.6,s)S.4O, or about $4,000
more for dong nothing than was paid
the Republican members for Intelligent,
beneficial work.
This Legislature appropriated to the
a Ra The mirror
IA "a doesn't lie. II is
WI NJ not fatterer. Its
A-N - story is plainly