Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-03-05
GOV. WHITES INAUGURAL.

store, is included in b general wreck.
GOV. WHITES INAUGURAL.
Some inaugral addresses are like
some political platforms-meant for
present effect only, their promises and
solemn pledges totally d~isregarded
afterward.
The Register does not mean to be un-
fair to the new Governor and insinuate
tina his inaugural address, the full text
Of which will be found elsewhere,
lacks sincerity, or that he does not
mean to keep his promises of reform.
Indeed, he makes so remarkably few
of the latter and those few SO obscure
and involved that he may be said to
make practically one at all, which
probably is as we'll. In fact, Governor
White winds UP with the statement
that he only hopes his administration
may be as successful and honorable
as his predecessors, so it is evident
he sees small room for reform or m
provement on the methods OF h Hon.
George Wesley Atkinson, to whom he
ladies out "taffy" ITO an extraordinary
extent. Mr.. White was wise in not
making this statement before the cleo
ton.
The new Governors address, the
Register is compelled to say, is mos
commonplace and embarrassing. A
large section of it consists of an apOl-
ogy for the fact that he is an Ohio
man, or, rather, that he is not a ma
tive West ViIginian. But Mr., White
ought to feel no difidence on that
score, for West Virginians have be-
come quite used to the rule of Ohioans
in their State affairs, as elsewhere.
Indeed, under the rule of the grand
old party the native West V~irginlan
has long been at a discount in favor
of the imported article. Mr.. White
should NOT feel called upon TO apollo
gize. He is simply in the same boat
with a whole lot of other excellent
West Virginia Republicans, including
the big Senatorial boss of them all.
Gov. White does not enjoy the pre-
dicament in which the reckless extrav-
agance of the late Legislature has left
the State administration. The incom-
ing Executive" says he feels the re-
sponsibility of the situation keenly
and unless the relief hoped for from
legislation, raising the license taxes OF
corporations and other measures, ma
terializes, some of our institutions may
have to be temporarily closed down
or an extraordinary session of the Leg
islature held to raise revenue" Thus
are we likely to reap the consequences
of the pirate raid on the State treas
ury by the untrammelled Republican
majority of the late Legislature.
Gov. White makes at least one rec
fermentation which the Register can
commend most heartily and endorse
without reservation, namely. "to stop
the practice of boards of public insti-
buttons exceeding their appropriations
for building and current expenses. Cut
the garment according to the cloth;
or else leave the garment not begun
or unfinished. Interest bearing obli-
cations created by boards without au-
thority of law, are contrary to public
policy and intolerable."
This is an abuse which has grown
up under the lax management of State
affairs and institutions by Governor
Whites party friends and associates,
and is as he we'll puts it, "intolerable."
Gov. White does not openly defend
the fee system but his resort to subter-
fuge in connection Herewith amounts
to the same thing. Here is all he has
to say on that subject:
The proposed constitutional amendment
as TO the fee system may be all right as
far as it goes; but it does not go far
enough. 1t takes little courage to strike
at two or three State officials, and we
\di III oiit IA 1oAitONhiS bhS Nio VI sNS
fee system as to them. even without a
constitutional amendment. But is that
the whole sum of our duty? For twenty
years I have consistently advocated re-
forms in our fee system, but the reforms
should be extended outside of the capitol
building, as well as include all within it.
Gov. White should not have stopped
| there. If he knows Of any instances
of this abuse approaching in fragrance
these of the Secretary of State and the
auditors Offices he should let us know
about them. For the present the people
will be we'll satisfied to have the re-
form include only those inside the
capitol building. who now are receiv-
ing in addition to their salaries hand
some fortunes every year in fees that
ought to be turned into the State treas
ury. Instead of attempting to reform
this system the late Legislature in
creased the fees.
At the State capital yesterday
NHocerc Afl;pcop opd White epoo ond