Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-03
PEOPLE ARE GROWING
WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATORS
UNDERGOING CRITICISM.


WHEELING W. Va, March Ut has
been customary of late years to roast the
leyislat ure for its sins of omission and COM
mission hut there was never such torrent
of criticism heaped upon the solons as Is
now being visited upon their heads. Inc
extension of the regular session by GOV.
Dawso has only added to the volume OF
sarcastic filings. But when it is recalled now
soon these things are forgotten there Is
not likely to be much campaign thunder IN
1903 out of the 1907 legislative stunts.
Two years ago, when the Elliott-Worth-
ington letter created statewide sehsa-
ton the wise ones in the towns ana nam
let's averred in unison that the ohi'eo
States marshal, who wrote letter TO
Standard Oil mogul anent the attitude OF
various legislators and lobbyists. would
never be reappointed. But great as was
that sensation in a political way 1t was
virtually forgotten few short months
later, and the marshal was trlumphantly
named for a second term
And when, at the same session, unlteo
States district attorney furnished the pow
der for attacks made N Governor w ni.e
and Secretary of State Dawson by Charies
T. Caldwell then one OF the republican
leaders in the state senate, 1t was presumed
that the district attorney would DE- marked
for defeat when he came up soon a1ter ior
second term. But he landed without any
trouble apparently. The bitterness between
the state administration and some lnnu-
entail anti-adminstration republicans still
exists but the people at large seemed 10
take no account of it: and the repuDiicans
easily smothered the democrats again, with
a record majority in the legislature on
joint ballot.
Consequently the storm of censure now
breaking over the heads of the SolonS Is
not destined to last long if precedents count
The issue in the legislature was really be-
tween radical and conservative elements.
Those who held that that legislature is the
best which enactS the least legislation
managed to hold the trump cards.
Two-Cent Fare OH Railroads.
The legislature has accomplished consid-
cradle although it's accomplishments have
been lost sight Of or minimized in the popu-
lar mind by it's omissions. 1t passed two
cent fare law, which was a measure de-
sired by the people, but 1t must be admitted
that the measure Is viewed with certain
suspicion because it exempts Independent
railroads of less than fifty miles in length.
The pcpulace was sort of worked up to
stand for the fiat two-cent law which had
no exemptions and which was onered ana
pushed spectacularly and strenuously by
delegate Hole of Doddridge county.
A pure food law was passed after strug-
gle of years. Likewise the liquor licenses
were given another lift upward, and there
These licenses were raised because the
state imperatively needed additional revenue
from new sources to make up the denc1ency
caused by the workings of the new tax
system. While the liquor interests could
be expected to resent the increase, 1t so
happens that the Anti-Saloon League Is not
rejoicing. :,
idea of entrenching the liquor business by
a system of revenue measures, which makes
the saloon the source for most Of the state
taxation. The system Is so arranged that
the free schools of the state are FORCED TO
depend for a great share Of their main
tenance on liquor licenses, and that is a
fact which grieves the sensibilities OF the
pronounced prohibitionist. II the hQuor
have been forced to deal with financial
shortage, and as 1t is .constitutionally pre-
vented from contracting q debt somebody
had to come up, and the liquor people were
considered eligible.
1t Is to be remarked that West Virginia
Is following in the legislative trend of Ohio.
1t took its two-cent fare cue from the
neighboring state. and it's liquor legislation
sought the same model. Two years hence
there will undoubtedly be strong effort
to fix the state license in West Virginia at
the Ohio figure. $1,000 year. When the
licenses were first raised two years ago
some of the liquor men say there was an
understanding with the governor or some
In administration influences that no further
advance would be made, but they do not
offer tangible details as to any such agree
ment.
Gov. Dawson Denies.
Representatives Of coal interests also say
they were informed by the powers that the
leasehold tax measure. recently vetoed by
the governor, was to have had his sanction
In return for their support Of sundry ad-
ministration measures Governor Dawson
denies any such arrangement. 1t develops,
however, that there were negotiations along
that line with Tax Commissioner Dillon.
The coal men wanted a law that would
prevent the taxing of their leases, claiming
such taxation was double their assessments,
but the governors veto Of the bill means
they will have to toe the mark for two
years more. Incidentally the coal. railroad
and oil Hobbies at the capital did not dwell
tremendously this session. and each charges
the other with bad faith.
It ID persistently rumored that the Baltt-l
more and Ohio people introduced bills to-
embarrass the Standard OIL crowd. and
vice versa Resolutions Of investigation Of
trusts and state institutions lined up one
lobby against another. All Of this business
consumed time and helped put tho sessfon
over the forty-nve-day limit without the