The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-03-14
than IN appealing for a Continuance OF
q policy which tho Spanish government
has demonstrated It's lmpo.cncy to carry
out
Nj. Hnel,r ON The chIlton ,is,.,r.


Fucker. In reply 10 the criticisms OF the
state administration. and OF him In par
ticular, with reference 70 the treatment
OF the Chiffon shortage, Is very much TO
tho point and gives ample reasons for
the fact that the attorney general has
not brought a criminal prosecution
against Chiffon; also for the collection
OF moneys frpmforelgn corporations that
had illegally paid their taxes to Chiffon,
who was not the proper officer 10 receive
them. The letter which will DO found
elsewhere, Is addressed TO the Charles.
ton Gazette. the Democratic organ at the
state capital, which paper has been un-
usually vicious in Its criticisms OF the
administrations course, aud has been
impugning the motives OF the governor
and other state officers.
Mr.. Rucker defends himself and the
administration from the unjust charge,
which implies about everything short OF
collision with Mr.. Chiffon in the affair.
and no shows clearly that under his con-
structon ofthe law. he Is following out a
proper course. He declares that his first
duty Is the collection of the money. and
that there Is no intention OF forcing the
corporations to pay their taxes twice;
that onthe payment the Chiffon short
age the money will be repaid, and that
II the Chiffon shortage is not recovered
he will ask the legislature 10 refund the
money. His duty now. however, Is to
hold the corporations responsible for the
results of their own ignorance OF the
law. He must follow out the duty that
10 imposed upon him by the law.
Mr.. Rucker points out that II an In
dictment Ia to be brought against Chill
ton, the duty belongs to the prosecuting
attorney OF kanawha county. II crimi-
nal proceedings are necessary there Is a
time to take such action. The Gazette,
in commenting on Mr.. Fuckers letter,
totally Ignores the matter of the attor-
ney generals action regarding the COL
lection of the charter taxes from the
corporations, and reiterates its absurd
proposition that the administration Is
holding back the Chiffon matter until
the campaign gets hot" and that then 1t
will be rushed" 1t also thinks Chiffon
should be in the penltentiary. and criti-
clses che administration because he is
not there. The points concerning the
mater made by Mr.. Rucker are totally
ignored.
Considering the unjust criticisms of
the administration officers that appear
in the Gazette, reiterated after Mr..
Fuckers logical explanation, and the
enthusiastic desire exhibited by the Ca
ze.te 10 see Chiffon sent to the peniten-
tiary, regardless OF the circumstances
surrounding the case which might make
such an effort impossible, and consider
ing also that the Gazette Is the organ OF
the ambitions OF a rival faction OF the
Democracy which has every reason TO
see the power of the Chiitons cut off. It
seems that the Gazette, in resor,lns to
unjust means and untruthful imputa-
tons against the state administration.
Is not moved altogether by an unseltlsh
and patriotic desire to see justice vlndI-
Gated.
The personal anlmus is well, under
stood. The Gazette knows that the adj
minlstration officers are taking the
proper and legal course in the matter
and will recover to the state treasury
the money, or as much as possible, tina.
is due 1t. There IS more behind the Ga
zette's assaults than may be evideT. 20
the uninitiated.