The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1905-03-07
THAT MILEAGE GRAB.


With stroke of the pen Governor
Albert B. White saved the people of tn
state OF West Virginia four tnousaAi
six hundred and eighty eigat dollars and
ninety cents when ne Xatoed TIL legisia.
tive appropriation bill for the extra aes-
sion allowing the senators and reprasen
tatives mileage expenses That were never
sustained. Albert B. White in his Of
ficial capacity a governor of the Com.
monwealtn of West Virginia never did
more fair, just or equitable thing w1en
he vetoed that mileage grab and of ali
the things in the record of mis- admins.
tration that he can look back upon with
qualification ana a feeling of sense Of
duty done taat one stands out in con
spicuous prominence
Wnen taa mileage grab bill came up
in tine House thu Representatives quar-.
relied and wranglrd over the propriety Of
the thing, some contending that it was
legal and some That il was not and some
claimed that they aad no moral right to
the extra mileage pay while otners
thought that insomucn rs it was legal
the matter had no right to moral con-
sidsrations When it came down to tie
vote, however the representatives-wi'n
the exception of few whose sense Of
justice was not overshalowed by mer.
cenary greed-Democrat and Rapublt
cans alike, generously and philanthropy
cally allowed themselves nearly FIVE
thousand dollars of the peoples money
for-nothing. When ii came up TO the
Senate That body passed the measure
without much discussion probably under
the impression taat ii wrong aad baan
done it was not of their fault but taa
fault Of The lower house. When it cana
up to the governor, however, for fiual
action that gentleman again showed
That ne was serving tae interests Of
the people, as he has done all through
mis- administration, and killed the bill
by ais official veto.
How in tle name OF common sense and
justice the 1egislators at Charleston
could see any moral, legal. or any other
kind of right in allowing themselves
extra expense money for expenses never
sustained is difficult of contemplation.
The precedent set down in other legisla.
lures and even in the national legisla.
ture as well as the thought that they
were greatly underpaid no doubt actu
ated them 10 the thing
The matter Of insufficient salary ought
never to have been considered at all.
When tn states legislators were elected
to serve their constituents they knew
what their pay was to Be. Taey knew.
too, or should nave known, what ex.
Panses they would incur in going to and
from Charleston and in staying there
during the session of the legislature. III
they were going TO lose too muca money
in being legislators they should not hava
sought the Office The fact of tie matter
is tn legislators went to Charleston u
serve tae people and not to lraw salar,
Inc veto OF the mileage grab was
Characteristic Of Governor Waite.
Throughout all his administration ne has
acted with impartially and justice and
shove all a strict integrity in ais honest
convictions q right and wong, He ma,
SHOWN that he wa serving tna people
Of the state A. its executiy, head to thr
best of his ability and not Tor ais own
personal euls.
Albert B. White stepped down from
the gubernatorial chair leaving elan
and honest record behind him, record
of watch not only ne himself. but every
citizen Of tae state may welI b. proud.