Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1903-03-25
Who Are the SDendthritts?

has taken up the question of the
current expenses of the last legisla-
ture. In this effort the Index is
seconded 10y the Wheeling Register.
These papers charge reckless extra
vagance and abuse of privileges on
the part of the legislators, and
wilfully misrepresent and malign
the majority side. They devote
three or four columns of their editor
al space TO discussion of the ones
ton, but it does not require half
that space to expose their demogog-
uery and malicious misrepresentation
of facts. In the first place a COM
parsion is made with the legislature
of 1898. In fair comparison con
ditions should be taken into consider
alton, and the Index knows that n
COW under the Cleveland regime in
'93 was hardly worth the price of
pound of butter now. Everything
was cheap then, legislatures included.
1t was a cheap country. 1t gives a
working man an empty feeling about
the stomach to think fit. The State
was penniless, and, if member of
the legislature had spent fifty cents
at one time for personal expenses,
he would probably have been arrested
on suspicion. But a great change
has come over us meanwhile. The
State has experienced a phenomenal
growth and development. Her in
dnstries have multiplied and her
wealth piled up. To meet these
new conditions and demands the
Legislature has been increased from
81 members in '93 to Il6 in 1908.
This increase in membership, to-
gether with the great increase of
interests to be considered, demanded
material increase in the number Of
attaches and neccssitatcd large
increase IN current expenses. I he
plea is parsimoniou- one. The
State neither stands nor falls by such
an item, but, if the gentlemen will
insist on the importance Of the pin
money question, let them shut off
their Democratic leaders, who by
their dilatory tactics and long-wind-
ed speeches, robbed the State of
time worth more in dollars and cents
than can possibly be figured out of
the expenditures for attaches as un-
necessary or cxtravagent.
Granted for the sake of the argu.
meEt that the expenses Of attaches
was extended something beyond the
limit of necessity, a house resolution
to increase the pay Of a certain list
of attaches defeated on the ground
of conservatism and economy, was re.
considered and passed on motion Of
the Democrat from Barbour. (See
journal, January 2s). The last
page on the list received his appoint
meut and pay on motion Of the
Democrat from Gilmer. (See Jour.
nal, January 3O). The last compli- /
mentary appropriation out Of the
contingent fund was made on the
motion Of the Democrat from Put .
nam. (See Journal, February 25l.
Every single resolution appropria-
ting money for these purposes was
supported by the Democrats, and, if |
there was "wasteful expenditure of |
public mOney"by thislegislature, the |
Democrats not only endorsed it, but
were active and aggressive in their
efforts to bring il about.
in speaking Of tic general financial
condition the Index says: "There
Is now an acknowledged deficit Of
over $500, 900 in the States reve-
nues." Here our esteemed contem-
porary is either seriously in error or
WIlfully publishes false statement.
On the first day Of this month the /
States treasury showed a cash bal |
ance to her credit Of 5000, 600 after
deducting railroad taxes due counties
and the Mail is ready to stake its
reputation on the prediction that at
no date between the present