Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1906-10-12
The Mnt,er of Appropriations.


Charleston w. Va, Oct. lO.-Ihls
should be a campaign of education
The press and the public speakers
Iouldyie with each other in appeal
| ing TO the voters sense of reason and
intelligence. We boast of being the
N ost enlightened nation on the face OF
the globe. Why, then should we make
partisan appeals to political and per-
sonal prejudice? 1t should have no
countenance in the enlightened TWEEN
tieth century. The people of all politi-
cal beliefs are fast learning that any
political party that has held the reins
of government for series OF years are
prone to relingush their hold on the
public offices and in due course of
timej become reckless in the expendi-
tureof the peoples money. The longer
they are retained in power the greater
! theiincentive to create new office that
they.may be able provide their friends
with positions Of trust at the expense
of the public, for they will know that
| it makes them Jealous workers for the
party that bass generously provided
for them. This means an increase in
public expenditures which profits no
one but the party in power. No one will
gainsay this. whatever his political sf
filiations may be.
Once political party becomes firm
| ly entrenched in power it has but one
object in view, and that object is to
control the public patronage. Political
issues and the welfare of the people be-
come secondary consideration with
the office holders They form what is
known today as the political ma
chine,' and once the political machine
is thoroughly organized it does not
concern itself about the "principles"
of any political party. 1t will masquer-
ade under any name that will give 1t
prestige and power. 1t will form an al
lance with the politicians of all politi
cal parties, if it is assured that such an
alliance will strengthen the machine.
The representative of the Times has
gone to considerable labor and trouble
to look up the appropriations for the
past fourteen years that the people
may gain an insight as to how the APP
populations have been climbing up
since the Republican party has gotten
control of the State government.
This 10 one phase of the government
that the people do not interest them
selves in. They simply content them
selves by asking if their taxes are to be
increased or decreased. If they would
take the time to analyze the appropria-
tons they would soon discover how
their taxes could be materially de-
creased if there was a pruning Of the
appropriations by having less public
offices created at every session of the
Legislateru.
The appropriations for the last four
teen years is taken from the public rec
ords and are absolutely correct.
Under Governor William A. Mac
tons for the four years total up - ,694, :
$50. Governor George w. Atkinson 3
footed up S3 ,bS7 $40; Governor A. b.
" hite's amounted to$5 ,223, 255. w lille
we had but two years of Governor
! William NJ. o. Dawson's administra-
ton it is the snug sum of $3,0OS, 276.
Now, if the voters who are mere in
terested in reduction of taxation than
they are in the success of some politi-
cal party will carefully study the APP
proprlations submitted above they
may learn the true cause for the new
tax laws. 1t will be observed that the
appropriations have been growing from
one administration to the other until
the Dawson administration bids fair
to eclipse all former administrations
by at least two or three millions of dol
lars. Is it any wonder that property
tusl value to provide revenue to meet
such gigantic appropriations? Is it not
time that every taxpayer stop and in
quire when these increasing millions
are to stop? From y, 900 600 under Gov
ernOr MacCorkle to $7,0o0,00 under
Governor Dawson is, in the vernacu-
lar of the small boy, 'goin' some, -
and the end is not in sight.
VIII the taxpayers think twice be-
fore they vote this year? If they do not
they must not blame the political ma
chine for taxing them to provide of
lices for its friends.
City Councii-
The regular meeting of the City
Council was held on last Thursday
night and there a full meeting. The
Hose company No. >, Fifth ward re-
ported that they wished TO secure the