Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-12
BLOW AT THE SCHOOLS
NORMAL INSTITUTIONS CUR
TAILED IN WEST VIRGINIA.
snec,al Correspondence of The Star.


WHEELING. w. Va, May II. 1907.
A great roar Is going up from half a
dozen parts Of the state over the blow
administered by the state board Of regents
to all but two Of the normal schools, those
located at Fairmont and Huntington being
the exceptions The regents a few days
ago issued an order reducing In grade the
other schools, q step necessitated in part
by restricted revenues, but move really
in sympathy with the policy of Gov. Dawson
and his predecessor. ex-Gov. White. The
blow is felt acutely In the affected COM
munities and 1t is certain to cut figure
in the state campaign. ..s".,
1t is not believed that the normal school
regents acted without the advice Of the
governor, since, Like, ex-Gov. White, he
believes in wiping out the normal schools
in favor of a county high school system
The plan Is part Of the new seal policy OF
relieving the state treasury of an expense
which is somewhat burdensome with the
limitations imposed by the new tax reform
scheme. County high schools would mean
local maintenance strictly.
Gov Dawson Topped off dormitory ap-
propriations for certain OF the normal
schools when he used his pruning knife
after the legislature passed an appropria-
ton bill too big for the estimated revenues.
Had the proposed liquor license increase
been successful the schools might have
been able to fare better. or had the legis-
lature seen fit to put on the advocated
tax on coal Oil and gas the state institu-
ltions would have been favored with larger
appropriations.
French Hays the veteran democratic
member of Gifmer county, has for years
successfully worked through dormitory
appropriation for the Chenille normal
school only to see 1t finally fall by the
wayside. This year the Ohio county dele
CATION got similar appropriation for the
West Liberty School. but, it fell beneath
the governors ak. The attitude displayed
toward these institutions by Cows. White
and Dawson. taken In connection with the
veto Of appropria lions. and now followed
by the action Of the state regents, has
aroused and will probably excite more feel
with the possible effect of creating a sense
of dissatisfaction with the state admins
trations fiscal policy.
Taxation Live Topic.
The taxation question promises still to be
q live topic in West Virginia politics, not
withstanding the claims Of the administra-
ton that 1t is virtually thing of the past
It was the issue on which Gov. Dawson
was elected. and 1t will be prominent again
in spots. Ohio county has no state insti-
tuition other than the West Liberty Normal
School, despite the fact that II contributes
one-twelfth Of the states revenues. This
county's proportion of taxes has always
been large, due to the taxable values OF
Wheeling, the state metropolis, and the
increase on license privileges accentuates
the burden In relation to returns from the
state treasury. Senator Robert Hazett,
Delegate Daniel Maxwell and others of the
Ohio county delegation are protesting
against the normal school blow, and they
voice the sentiment OF the fellows who
had to pay increased license charges May 1.
The liquor people especially object to the