The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-03-01
Special Dispatch 10 tho 1ntelllgencer.

Governor Atkinson has vetoed House
Bill No. 172. to amend and re.enact Sec
tons and S. OF Chapter T5, OF the Code
OF West Virginia. The sections provide
that employees shalt have prior lien
on the real and personal property OF his
employer for payment for their labor.
The act amends the law and gives the
employe prior lien on the products Of
his labor. which would disastrously ar
feet innocent purchasers. Governor At
Mnson gives at length reasons to show
that the amendment would cripple labor
more than any other class. The obiec-
lions he files will interest all classes.
the laborers. the employers and the
purchasers, and are given in full, as fol-
lows:
The intention and purpose of the au-
thor of this bill are absolutely right,
When one man works for another he
should be compensated FOR his toll. for
two reasons specially: First, because
ne earns his wages; and. second he IS
presumed under the law of political
economy, to have added to the wealth
OF his employer as much or more as the
amount agreed to be paid to him for his
toll. No man will employ another. un-
less he expects to receive more in re-
turn than he contracts 10 pay to the
one he employs for his labor. II / en-
gage 4 man to work for me. and agree.
10 pay him $50 per month, the pre-
sumption IS. under the laws Of political
economy, that he adds TO my accumu-
auons, or wealth. as much or more
than agree to pay him: otherwise, nv
purpose In employing him Is to defraud
one or more of my fellow citizens. The
laws OF common sense and common rea-
son. and, indeed. the law of God. de-
eiares that Hthe laborer is worthy OF his
h,Ee.' No man should give to another
MS time and his energies without be-
ing properly compensated for the same.
Eridently the intention Of the author
OF this Dill Is to require every employer
OF labor to pay the wages of the man or
men he employs to aid him in CARRYING
on MS business. This Is risht-forever
fight. No honest, well-meaning mau
can question this proposition: and no
honest citizen can, or will, attempt to
eohtroFert the same. But this bill as
understand II. does not wholly rest
upon this principle. II Il stopped here.
no one could induce me to not approve
IL heartily. | believe In the principle
ana the duty of protecting the rights
ana the interests OF the working people. )
LABOR produces wealth. and wealth can
pe produced In no other way, A ION
OF iron-ore in the mountain-side Is
worth but little. perhaps not over ten
cents IN real value: but when Iabo.
takes hold OF 1t, digs 1t and smelts II.
value IS thereby added to 1t. The ore
IS worth ten cents per ton as il lies In
its original state. 4 ton of this ore
Is dug and smelted, and bar of iron
Is produced, worth. say So, which when
worked into horse-shoes. will sell for
go. The hand OF skilled labor Is again
applied TO this same bar OF iron. and IL
Is made lnto-knife- blades, and the pro-
uucI Is found to be worth $1,000. Other
skilled laburers take hold of this same
par OF iron. and they work It into cam
hric needles, and 1t is worth SO 600
sun others apply their sRiIl and toI,.
anu they transform It into hair-spr;ngs
lor watches. and 1t Is worth 500. 900. All
ms increase OF value Is the result of
Hpor. So, no one will presume to saw
mat labor and labor only, does NOT
produce wealth. Who. then, Will un-
Hertake TO say that labor shall not be
properly paid?
Some Illustrations.
There are two kinds OF employers in
the world. One is honest-the other is
dishonest This bill is an effort 10
make all men honest That Is 10 saw.
siie purpose OF the bill Is to require
VERY employer Of labor. By a state law,
~ pay the salaries OF the men he en-
lGoyS- This. in principle, Is right. and
a.. honest. well-meaning people will not
htieinpt to controvert II. But another
principle Is involved. which eyidentIv
WAS not forcseen by the author of the
"i!i before me. viz: The rights of inno-
Stnt purchasers OF the products of the
.anoTefs, who. under this bill. are given
p'IoF lien upon the real and personal
property OF their employers for the ar
ucles they produce.
proposition the first: No man sbo,,JJ
"oFk Tor another without being maid
-~r ~, MS labor. Proposition the second:
ne man who does the work for his
,ts"PioEer should have a first lien upon
.," rea' and personal property Of his
s,TLp.oysF. These propositions are alb
,o,use'y Just. But what about the in
tsHts OF innocent third parties, who
may become involved? I can readily
~ ho% this bill will require all en-
t,.9setS to pay their laborers every dol.
rTnt ,%I ,hat they owe them. (and this Is
a,s .,sM0' but there is another paramount
p nars"on upon which | am compelled to
n naSS. VIZ: Innocent purchaser OF tho
".gI9Gts OF labor.
10 Illustrate: am coal merchant In
,,nc.Anati. | order ten barges OF coal
I'm ;:o1l a coal operator In the Kanawhn.
onns am asked TO advance 81 900
paIT T"io raI purchase, or, indeed? Lmay. have