The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1909-01-14
Ia w MAKERS HA We
LOTS OF BATTLES
But All Are Friendly Over
the Matter Of Organizing
3 the Two Branches.
(By Charles Brooks smith.)

I u j
4 (By Charles Brooks Smith,
| CHARLESTON, Jan, 1s-The var
ious contests incident to the organ
ization of both houses Of the Legisla-
ture developed as PRETTY a lot of lit
tie fights as has been witnessed
here for some years. With the ex-
ception of the senate clerkshipl and
OF course there was no one so fool
ish sto challenge John n. Harris to
combat over that PLUMP there was an
overwhelming uncertainty as to the
outcome. which kept the wisest old
owls of polittSs guessing and ball
looming round up till the very last.
But withal, the contests were good
natured. and little bitter feeling was
engendered. The scrap ended with
MI on speaking terms. r.
The saloon and anti-saloon contro.
versy did not enter into the fight for
the organization of the Legislature:.
least ways. II 1t did, 1t was kept
pretty deep underneath the surface;
Neither side to this particular issue,
which bids fair to become so Intense
+ly interesting. and probably so ex-
citihg. before the session is Very far
advanced. appeared to care to run
the risk Of making a show of strength
in the preliminary contests. The
Model Liquor License League. and its
subsidiary organizations. were par
ticularly scrupulous nat 10 get mixed
up in the fight over the organization
of the house nor to get itself in a.
position where it mightkhe suspected
that 1t had an interest IN who should
fill the presiding chairs. The officers
of neither the AntEsaloon League
nor the Model License League have
appeared on the scene. except Theo-
dore Alvord and TIM sIfnre, the lat
ter superintendent spf the Anti-sa-
loon League. nor Will they put in ap-
pearance here until the legislature is
organized ana gets down TO, business.
Not single officer OF the Model Ii
cense League has reported here sup
to-date.
My, but that John Nugent. state
Labor Commissioner. or something
like that, and one of Kanawha's rep
resentatiyes in then House. must have
O mean disposition. Here he is want
ing to abolish Uncle Sam Matthew's
job. Uncle Sam is the state bank
examiner. What Sam ever did to
John to deserve this from him II
don't know. have heard 1t said
that John thinks Sam put a spike I'M
his candidacy for chief mine inspect
or. I don't think that is true: In
fact, / know that It isn't. But any
way, John says the department is ex-
pensive; 1t should be abolished: and
that it should be tackled on to the au-
ditor's office as another branch Of
that officials business. To do that,
of course. would require an extra APP
-propriation for the auditor. for who
ever heard of adding on a depart
ment unless a fat appropriation went
along with the lacking? When the
Legislature declined to establish thel
Office of insurance commissioner onl
the grounds that the state couldn't
afford it, and thereupon added an In
surance department to the auditors
office, making q 5000 appropriation
the first thing Off the real, it was a
mighty fine hair-spiitting proceeding.
the efficiency of the new bureau TO.
that matter. The bank cxaminer's|
Office costs the state very little; it Isl
paid for and maintained by the state
banks themselves. The law under
which it operates was framed by the
bankers who. appreclative of Exam
liner Mathews.s efficient work. had
his salary raised. Instead of abolish
ing the Office the. bankers would have
1t strengthened and improved. They
would have. in the first place, two ex-1
aninations instead of one. and the
depositors would likely approve that
change, too.
or course. Mr.. Matthews had 81
good deal to DO with running the last
Republican campaign, and that was
no easy task. His office was in COM
petent hands while he was away
from It, Besides. some one has to
run campaigns, and If that some-
body's political skill Is demanded by
the party exigencS. little old thing
like q public office shouldn't stand
in the pafty's why Of getting the use
of that skill, you know. 1t has always
been thus. 1t would be a nice party,i
indeed. which would reward a sate
Ichairman's successful services by
abolishing his Office. now, wouldn't it?.
Besides Uncle John Nugent has. Jared
pretty well since he came over from
Ohio. John and Sam should cease
being naughty. naughty quarrelson,e