The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1907-12-05
THE EXTRA SESSION.

,,.. aS was 10 nave Deen expected, the
opposition press, with but few ex-
ceptions, pretends to see in the call
for an extra session Of the Legisla-
ture beginning January 21st an at
tempt on the part of the administra-
ton to fortify it's position for the
coming campaign. If any comfort
is to be had from their suspicious,
they are not envied in the possession
of them.
y 4. The fact is, however, that a criti-
cal examination Of the probable sub
5ects the Legislators will be called
!siago1pt to- consider fails to disclose even
a shadow of party politics; rather,
there appears throughout desire on
the part Of the Governor, in conson-
ance with his avowed policy, to have
the laws of the state so revised as to
meet present conditions, and above
all, to safeguard the interests Of the
people by carrying out the palpable
intent Of the last regular session of
the Legislature as regards taxation.
hC lSSShI uSClSlOH VI the Su-
preme Court is in effect that the act
limiting county levies to forty cents
on the hundred dollars does not af-
feet road levies, which may be laid
: under former acts to the amount of
fifty cents. There is no question that
such was not the intention Of the
Legislature Of 1907, which enacted
the law, nor is there any doubt that
some levying bodies will take advan-
tage of the Courts ruling to discredit
the tax laws, in so far as lies in their
power, by raising unnecessary funds.
1t is estimated by the Tax Commits
stoner, whose office has experienced
much difficulty in restraining levy
ing bodies from going beyond legal
limits, that one million dollars will
be collected from the people for
r. which there is no actual demand, un-
less immediate steps are taken to
put up the bars lowered by the Writ
county decision.
No question to come before the
meet with SO much opposition as that
of the payment of salaries to county
officials, the fees which they now re-
ceive being turned into the county
treasures. Previous legislatures
have grappled with this question,
G only to be ingloriously defeated.
They have been unable to withstand
the pressure Of sheriffs and county
:. clerks, whose incomes Of ten and
2 twenty thousand dollars yearly, gave
them the means to defeat hostile leg
Z ,iSlation. AS has been said by
Democratic organ, if the extra session
docs nothing more than to carry out
81 the Governors wishes in this re-
|spect, 1t will have more than repaid
,%to the state the expense of it's meet
d ing and justify the Governor in is
} suing the call. In the Offices Of the
Secretary Of State and Auditor the
~ fee system has been abolished and
81 fair salaries are now paid these Of
4 Acials. Why should not the same
u system be applied to county officials
Il and the state be saved the enormous
( sums which now go to enrich indi-
sEsiduals.?
Strong opposition may also be ex-
- pscted to any attempt to revise or
Amend the election laws No one can
S1ave forgotten the bitter fight Of the
POSSES against bills having that end
- view which we're presented at the
vt regular session. 1t Is generally
ceded that change is needed,
led badly. The same is true of
present system of acconnsiag lin