Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1911-02-04

s.oilities and compensation OF said
boards and members thereof II is the
duty Of this board under the law to
manage, direct, control and govern
our three insane asylums, the West
Virginia Reform School, West Virgin
ia Industrial Home for Girls, the three
Miners Hospitals. the School for the
Deaf and Blind, and such other insti-
tutions, except educational, as may be
hereafter created by law. It also has
the charge and control Of the financial
and business affairs of our State Edu-
cstional Institutions. This method OF
government of our State Institutions
is radical change from the old re-
gime and has resulted in more eff
cient and economical management. ]
can and do cheerfully testifytto the in
dLstry and fidelity to duty Of each
member Of this board They have
given to the State the very best SER
vice of which they were capable and
il has been a real pleasure to me to
cooperate with them in their splen-
did work
Department of Public Roads.
There has been much criticism of
the road laws enacted by the L gisla-
ture of 1909. ! am not prepared to
give you all the information y0u may
desire with respect to tsese laws. but
am fully convinced that their enact
ment was a step in the ght direction.
know there is some ser timent in the
State in favor OF the repeal OF all of
these laws, but | have failed 10 hear
better ones suggested. We must not
take any backward steps, and ( hope
YOU win give this subject very careful
consideration before making any rad
ical changes. | can think Of nothing
that would mean more for the deyel-
opment and growth of our State than
e ID roads and We must not forget
that they vii! cost money Just how
we are to raise this revenue is a de-
5atable question. I have already rec
commended one method, and unless
you have some better way, | sincerely
hope yoG viii adapt NY plan and place
a tax IN the natural gas produced in
this State.
We have N this State approximate
" 81 $3.50 miles OF public roads. The
nrmber OF miles in the county vary
FRI m 1900 in Jackson and Preston to
about 1870 in Hancock and brooke.
The total road levy last year was APP
proximately 5000, 100000, and / think it
will be pretty generally conceded chat
the State did not derive the benefit
from this money that it should have
received. In other words the improve
ments on the roads during the past
year were not worth anything ike the
amount of money expended on them,
IL is my opinion that We should first
secure proper locations for our roads,
and after that ncentrate our forts
and money on the making and main
tanning of good dirt roads. When the
people of the State have exhibited be-
fore thsm evidences OF the wise ex-
penditure of the moneys levied and
paid we will find it less difficult to Sc
cure additional revenues for perma-
nent roads. The Commissioner of
Public Roads makes a number Of rec
concentrations TO which | invite your
special attention. I want to recon-
mendthat section 81 of chapter y of
the Acts of 1909. this being one OF The
road laws. be amended by adding
thereto the following or words of like
import and meaning. provided, how
ever, that in lieu of a county road en-
gineer the county court may appoint
an agent for each magisterial district
of the county to perform such duties
and to receive such compensation as
may be determined and fixed by said
court, but in no case shall the COM
pensation exceed $500 per day
Our laws should he so amended as
to make it mandatory on county
courts to work able-bodied male pris-
oners, incarcerated in our county jails,
on the public highways. Some of cur
county prisons are filled with strong
men, and they could render a real
service to the State by assisting us in
solving the problem Of better roads.
Primary Election Law.
II there is one subject on which
there is practically no division Of
opinion among the people Of this
state it is on a Primary Election Law.
Men Of all parties, and in all walks of
life. realize that our present methods
Of making nominations are unsatisfac-
tory to say the very least, and this
sentiment has been reflected in the
platform declarations Of both the lead
ing parties Of this State in every coa-
vention that has been held for the past
several years. Political parties as
rule take advantage of the popularity
or unpopularty of any question by de-
claring in favor of CT against 1t when
the opportunity offers. | have never
known a party inspired with any hope
Of success at the polls to declare in
favor of any proposition which 1t be-
lieved would not meet with public APP