The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-01-17
IcontInued lron :Page sIxl

the proper proportion. In many re-
spects the counties are units and have
peculiar interests that ought to be
particularly represented in the State
Senate. As the Delegates are chosen
on population. II might be well to Sc.
lect the Senators by counties. In Ger:
tain Senatorial districts. as things are
land allow me to repeat again that
We mus, consider things as they are--
one county controls the whole sena.
torial district. and the other counties
in the district are practically helpless.
In the frst district Ohio county domi-
mates. in the Third district Wood
county united can controith selection
OF both Senators. In the Sixth district
Mcdowell county can dictate the mem
bership from that district. In the
Eighth district Kanawha in a political
convention of either Of the great POI
lItical parties has an Overwhelming
majority, ana can select whom she
chooses without regard to the wishes
OF the other counties OF the district.
In the Ninth district Fayette county
has the preponderance, and no man
can be nominated whom that county
would oppose. no matter II the other,
counties are unanimously, in his ia
vor. In the Twelfth district Harrison
county predominates. j do not be-
lieve this is a good condition of af-
fairs. bat we cannot blame these dom.
mating counties in the districts named
because they use the power that the
law gives them In the choice Of Sen.
ators,
Employees Of the LesIslature-Expert
Help.
It may be indelicate for the Govern.
or. being of the executive department,
10 make recommendation to you about
a matter peculiarly concerning the
Legislative department. but in his late
message to the Legislature Of Mary
land the governor Of that State said:
"Anothr legislative custom which Is
wrong and pernicloas Is the passing
of orders, in the rush and heedlessness
of the closing hours of the session,
giving extra pay to fayorite officers
and employees and gratuities to per.
SONS not employed by either house.
This is species of graft which should
not be tolerated large you not to
create sinecures, not to put men on
the pay-roils in the middle or at tho
end of the session and pay them for
the whole ninety days, not vote the
peoples money away as gifts to ia
yorites, and not to appoint men who
will not perform the work of the posi-
tion to which they are assigned"
The evil pointed out by the govern.
or Of Maryland as existing in that
State, has long existed in this State
also, and probably in many others. In
this matter you have my sympathy,
from experience as a member of your
honorable body and from information
gained otherwise. You. gentlemen, are
the victims OF circumstances. The
pressure for places is very great, and
there are mot enough to go around to
all the deserving. There are not
enough places so that one can be
gevin to each county. The members
of the victorious party in an election
expect their Representatives in the
Legislature to take care Of the '.boys
who do the work. There is no way
to do that except 10 create places not
needed. AS long as you can do this
you will be under compalsion to do It.
The only effectual way to stop It is to
put 1t beyond your power to do it. This
can be done by proper Legislation. You
can pass a law prescribing the num-
her Of employees and their compensa-
ton. including the officers as well as
the clerks and other attaches. You
can alter the rules OF your houses to
conform 70 the law, and you can pro.
hibit the payment Of money out of the
treasury by the Auditor and the Treas
urer in excess OF the amount that the
law prescribes5 Unless you do this
! think the eyfl will grow, and my OBJ.
servation Is that you will not accom-
plish this by the passing of resolutions
at the beginning Of the session deciar.
ing that YOU win not add to the mum.
Der of employees or increase their
compensation. To repeat, you will
only Accomplish this desired reform
by putting Il beyond the power of the
members TO increase compensation or
increase the number Of employees. e1.
cept by bill regularly passed.
There has been much criticism in
the public press for many years of the
failure OF Legislatures to fulfill the
purpose for which they were created.
Much of this criticism was exaggerat-
ed. Much Of the failure to fulfill pub.
lie expectations by legislative bodies
Is due for the want of proper assist.