West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1905-03-02
SOLITARY AND ALONE.

torneys for nonresident corpora
tions. He cites with both gusto
and gles the Statutory Attorney
Book No. I" of Preston to prove
his allegation. But it proves moth.
ing. He cannot produce the evil
dence Of one lawyer, up to the pres
ent time, or the record of the pro-
ceedings of any political party in
convention assembled, that have
gone on record protesting against
the making of the Auditor the stat
utorY attorney for foreign and non
resident corporations and turning
the fees into the State Treasury.
Like the learned gentleman he is ne
resorts TO the technical flaw picking
to defend vicious fee system which
the common people have been de.
nouncing for the past thirty years,
during which time "Unus Populi"
stands solitary and alone as the sole
defender of the Secretary of State
fee system.
The political party which he
swears allegiance to, and which he
defends right or wrong, has never
dared to defy the people and say
they sanctioned a continuance of
the old system. The four eminent
gentlemen, Dayton, Blizzard, Hub
bard and Sturgiss, who juggled the
new tax laws, so as to place the
heavy burden of taxation upon the
common people, did not fail to en-
body this statutory attorney clause
in their tax bill. They knew that
their party was pledged to it. But
the beneficiary of this vicious fee
system had sufficient influence
among the members of the special
session TO defeat it.
When the Democrats and other
honest tax reformers exposed the
elimination of the fee system from
the new tax bill, by the extraordi-
nory session of the Legislature, the
Republicans denied it.
Growing alarmed at the periidy
in which they had been caught, our
own Senator Samuel B. Montgom-
cry, for which we accord him all
credit, introduced in the Senate
what will go down into history as
the montgomery Bill" which pass
ed the Senate and House, and now
awaits the approval or veto of the
Governor.
Probably "Unus Populi" has some
knowledge that Gov. White will veto
the bill, and being an expert IN
sophistry he has been selected to
pave the way to justify the veto.
Already the Journal has been con-
verted and has fallen gracefully in
line in defending the fee system.
One of the "misstatements'
which "Unus Popuii" alleges THE
ARGUS has made, and one which he
places special emphasis upon, is
that the fees amount TO $50, 600 to
SIS, 900. We have seen 1t variously
estimated from $40, 900 to SIS, 900.
None but those who are the benefi.
Charles of this fee system know.
They will place it as low as possible
to mislead the people. 1t is to their
interest to endeavor to make the
people believe it is a mere triae.
THE ARGUS is not "badly off -
when it declares that the Secretary
Of State 'holds the key to the situa-
ton and can render them eminent
service which nothing but his politi-
cal pull can give him."
When THE ARGUS made the de-
claration it knew whereof it spoke.
If "Unus Populi" THINKS different he
is worse than a mere tyro in brqlfical
politics. The people who have full
control Of the political machinery of
State can render eminent service
to their clients in the way Of class
legislation which "Unus PopulP'
should not be so profoundly ignor.
ant" Of if he is to set himself Up as
the special champion Of his party's
acts
We desire to quote an editorial
from the Wheeling Intelligence, of
February z4th, for fear it has escap-
ed the vigilance Of "Unus Populi7:
There is persistent report that
Governor White will veto the Mont
gomery BILL which makes the audi.
Tor statutory attorney for nonresi.
dent corporations and turns the $40
annual fec from each into the state
treasury This i5 a genuine tax re-.
form measure, putting so, 600 a
year in the states Golfers. For the
most part the secretary Of state has
been representing these corporations
in that caBacfty.