The Williamson enterprise. [volume] (Williamson, W. Va.) 1907-1911, 1911-02-09
MESSAGE SENT TO
THE LEGISLATURE
Desire Expressed For Economy
and Conservation
GOVERNOR URGES REFORMS
Both Houses Show Desire to Render
Session Lesai--BiIls Have Been
REMEMBERED and Concurrent
Resolutions Adopted.

Charleston.--Goy. Glasscock recog-
nized the legality of the legislature as
now organized by sending TO it his
message. The document is lengthy
affecting the welfare of the state The
governor devotes some space to the
question of a tax on the natural gas
output of West Virginia. A tax OF one
half cent on each thousand cubic feet
of gas produced is suggested. 1t is
pointed out that during the year end
ing June 80, 1910, not single death
occurred in the state as the result OF
an explosion in a mine.
Gov. Glasscock dwelt emphatically
upon the need of the conservation of
the resources of the state. Il under
stand" says the executive, that the
watchword of this Legislature will be
economy, and l. sincerely hope that
you will couple with 1t conservation
and let the slogan hereafter be Econ
omy and Conservation
In his presentation of the financial
condition of the state treasury the
governor shows that at the close OF
the last fiscal year the balances were
the largest in the history of the state.
He shows the sources from which the
revenue of the state is derived, ex-
planning that there has been an almost
complete separation between state and
local revenue. and that the state gov
eminent is maintained on revenues de-
rived from sources other than a direct
tax on property. He advocates the re-
peal of the state property tax of AZ
cents.
| The governor recommends that able
bodied convicts be used by the state
in the upbuilding of its highways. He
also asks the legislature to indorse
the proposed income tax amendment
to the federal constitution. A plea
is made for direct primary law, and
in this connection Gov. Glasscock
says: "Tn this law ] hope you will
carefully safeguard the right of the
voter by providing proper penalties for
violations thereof. A candidate who
uses corrupt methods to obtain NOM
nation should not be declared NOM
| inee, and II the violation is not known
| until after his election then he should
| forfeit his office. Every voter who
knowingly and wilfully violates the
election laws should be DISTINGUISHED.
lie placed himself flat-footed in
favor Of the county as the unit for
local option legislation. The governor
says in relation to proposed employ
ers' liability legislation. Il recon-
mend an employers liability law, but
shall not disapprove proper work
mems compensation act, if such q law
be enacted by you"
In his recommendation Of the pas
sage of law to protect trade and
commerce against unlawful re-
straints and monopolies and against
collision in the letting oGcontracts for
public and private work., the gov
ernor says: IF you would prevent vio-
lation of law, the penalty should pro-
vide a proper punishment for the in
dividual who is responsible for the
offense.v
The parole Of juvenile offenders is
also recommended.
From the concurrent resolution
adopted by the two branches of the
legislature, notifying the governor that
the legislature was now regularly or
ganized and ready to hear any mes
sage that he might be pleased to do
liver, it is apparent that neither house
claims the validity of the acts per-
formed by the senate and house of del
egates before the harmony agreement
/ became effective.
All the bills which have been intro
duced since the assembling of the leg
islature were remembered, showing
that 1t is the desire of the legisla-
ture to remove all legal complications
4 that might retard the two houses in
the transaction of business.
L Il