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


His duties are to execute and carry
out the VIII q the people as expressed
through their representatives and en-
acted into law. He has to do that
largely through various boards Of adj
ministrAtion. The term OF four years
Is long enough to pass In review, in my
Judgment, the merits of every member
Of every board, and the Governor who
has responsibility for four long years
should have at least the privilege of
passing on every member of every
board during that time. The recent
legislature, which met in biennial ses-
sion, has conferred upon me such pow
ers in a majority of the boards of the
various public institutions, and it is
therefore not out of place for me to say
that / believe in bipartisan boards
and minority representation thereon;
at the sam time having a majority
representation with a practical work
ing majority. Power equal to the re-
sponsibility should always be confer
red. My endeavor will be to secure the
best possible membership for these
boards of administration and to pro-
mote their utmost efficiency There is
lIO I0Ou OA tACSC bOdt 10 ~ tlQSC
wish to deal directly or indirectly with
the State IN furnishing supplies for
these institutions, or to seek TO appoint
relatives to service therein. The test
of membership on these boards should
be a disinterested desire to serve the
best interests of the State. This course
is the only one that will deserve the
commentator of fair-minded citizens.
l heartily endorse the words of Cover
mol Nash, of Ohio, who, in being in
Quoted into his high Office last January,
speaking of the various institutions,
said: During my term of office | do
moi desire that changes shall be made
therein, unless the interests of the in
mates and the public good are to be
promoted thereby"
Our State has been developing In a
marvellous in the past few
years. In the decade just closed, our
| population increased over 25 per cent,
and we to-day have about one million
people. Our natural have
been developed in an amazing manner.
Our manufactures are many. prosper
GUS and varied, and in iron, steel,
woodworking, pottery. glass, brick,
wooden and refining industries we hold
a high place. We are the first In rank
mons our sister States in production
| of oil and natural gas; second in coke;
almost, If not quite, second In coal;
and first in production OF hard-woods.
while these things are true. and NIL
us with pride, our very growth and de-
velopment have been so rapid as 10
force a new and grave financial pro-
blem upon US.
In the splendid inaugural address
of my immediate predecessor, Governor
Atkinson. he expressed the belief that
from our developing resources we
| may look for money enough for all
our needs. and with which we may be
| able to lift all our public institutions
to a higher plane of usefulness" I'm
| fortunately, our taxation laws are so
| crude and defective that, while our
population has increased ~one-fourth.
and our actual wealth probably doub-
led in the past ten years. the latter does
| not show an appreciable increase on
the tax duplicate. Our taxable valua-
lions of realty show but little gain
under the late re-assessment, and our
personality valuations are not gaining.
Something Is IdUlSdiiy WINS "HN
these conditions exist. We want to
treat the developing corporations, such
as railroads and mining and manufac-
turing enterprises employing labor and
building up the State, with the utmost
liberality. The work of developing is
! going on rapidly. and we want 1t con-
tinued until every county and every
mineral valley has ample shipping and
commercial facilities. Without check
ing this growth by restrictive or bur
densome taxation, and yet relieving,
if possible, the burdens on the mod
est home-owners and small farmers.
who in my Judgment are taxed more
proportionately. under our present sys-
TEN. than their more fortunate and
weather. %neighbors, is a problem CALI