Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1900-10-13

ttdly Jduhts anu stsau caTouSAis, the
Democrats party OF this state did
their full and equal share OF tha1
wringing in the last Legislature cd
whose action complaint is made. The
slight increase in this appropriation
was advised y the last Democratic
governor, VINO voluntarily went be-
fore the finance committee of the
Legislature end urged that a sub
stantial increase was necessary.
No West Virginian should criticize
the administration for the attend.
ance OF the chief executive OF the
state, with his staff, upon the ocea-
sion of the dedication of the tomb
., the great Grant at the expense
OF the state, TO whose patriotism.
ability and exalted services the m
ton and this state are so deeply in
deotfd for the preservation Of the
Union, " hich made the existence OF
tn State OF West Virginia possible,
any more than he should think Of
criticising the Democratic party for
having placed a statue Of the late
Senator Joan r. keuna, ia the Capt.
tol at Washington, at the expense OF
the state. 1t was eminentl, proper
that West Virginia, the Child OF the
Rebellion, of al other states. sAould
be represented at the dedica tion %
the monument OF Grant, one OF thu
heroes of that war. The executives
OF a number OF the States attend.c
In the same way at the expense OF
| their respective states.
Secretary Of State 's:0ffice.
The office of secretary OF state.
when properly managed, is a source
OF large revenue to the state. This
revenue is made up from the initial
tax on charters of corporations, tho
tax on the state seal, and the sale OF
law books printed by the state.
Since the beginning OF the present
administrator, it has yielded to the
state $125, 1870, that sum being tho
amount OF The legitimate receipts of
the Office for a period of forty-one
months.
During the first forty-one months
OF the last Democratic administra~
tion there was paid into the treasury
OF the state from the same Office only
S46,4l9.24. Nothing more was pad
until after the election In November.
1896, when an additional sum OF $780,
$50 was paid, in desperate effort TO
make up tn, shortage of a default-
ing public officer of the Democratic
administration. But it was vain ef-
fort Ii did Iot reach the amount
due. After the state government
passed into the hands of the Repub-
lican officials, they succeeded, at the
end of long weary months of working
and waiting, In obtaining $4,000
more from the outgoing Demscratdc
officials on this account. Whether
that is all that is due the state frc~r
that source will never be known. II
is impossible to know. As to wheth-
er 1t is or not, the public must de-
pend upon the honor of the ex-state
officer himself, as he kept the only
books relating to considerable
amounts. This is true OF the
amounts received from the tax on
the state seal. There is no record by
which to 'check it up" From this
source alone the present administra-
ton has paid over an average of $153.-
30 per month. Under the Democratic
administration the receipts from the
same source averaged only $64.35
per month.
The entire amount received by the
state from this office for the four
years of the Democratic administra-
tion was $96,349.24 against $125,12e.70
for forty-one months OF the present
administration. The average MONTH
| ly receipts under the former admin-
lstratIon was $2,O07.50 and under the
present administration $3,o5190,
difference of more than 100000 q
month in favor OF the Republican adj,
ministration.
The secretary of state is ex-ofieio,
superintendent of public printing.
AS such officer he purchases all sta
4 Il
tIonery and printing paper and issues
u out to the several departments,
and measures, estimates and APP
proves all jobs of printing and bind
ing. 1t will be readily seen that
here is place where incompetency
or recklessness will cost the state
dearly, and where there Is fine
chance for dishonest superintend-
emit to avail himself at the expense
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