The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1911-02-02
Great Record Made by the
Republican Party is
Reviewed.
SMALL TAX ON GAS
And Other Measures Of Pro
gressiye Kinds Are Rec
commended.

CHARLESTON. Jan. so-A to,nl
committee of the two houses waited
on the governor today ana Ills mes.
sage was communicated at ii .sO
o'clock both houses took IN the
reading Of the message.
The governor in his message con-
graduates the Legislature on the bhe-
nomenal growth Of the state during
the decade ended not only in popu-
lation but in wealth as well.
a statement Is next given showing
balances in the treasury at the end
OF the last ten fiscal years together
with a lengthy reference to the re-
ceipts and expenses of the state for
the last two years covering the work
OF the states institutions and the an
preparations made by the legisla-
ture. Receipts of the state fund,
the state road fund and miscellaae-
GUS appropriations and expenditures
are set forth in detailed tables COW
erlng several pages.
Discussing estimated receipts for
-thetnext biennial period, Governor
aGlasscock scays:
81 believe the present sources Of
revenue under the existing laws
wgllsproduce as much money as they
did during the preceding biennial
period, and l have already given YOU
in detail the sources from which
this money has been derived and the
amount from each source, and for
each year of. the Biennial period.
But this is calculated on basis Of
not less than V cents on the 500
of state tax and this should be en-
tirely removed. There is some ques-
ton as to the advisaDility of the
abolition OF the state tax under our
present Constitution, but 1t certain
ly should be reduced to not more
than one cent on the 500, and if
necessary to do so the Constitution
should be so amended as to permit
the removal OF the whole thereof"
The splendid work of the state tax
commissioner and his assistants is
strongly Endorsed as we'll as the sal
airy law OF the state. The governor
also approves the work OF the bu-
reau of accounting. He directs at
tention to at least one instance
where a sheriff collects public mon
eys and places them in banks out
side of West Virginia. He calls this
a vicious practice" and asks for d
law prohibiting it. He also asks for
law to vest in county courts the
power to correct clerical errors and
mistakes in valuation of property.
A tax on natural gas is strongly
urged in several pages devoted to
the subject, and the governor sug-
gests that a tax thus raised should
he devoted largely to free schools
and public highways, A tax of one
half cent on each thousand cubic
feet is regarded by him as mere
ibagatelle to those who would have
1t to pay. He recommends the en-
actment OF law similar to the In
diana law of 1909 to limit gas pres
sure, making the maximum 100
pounds to the square inch.
The work of the board of control
is reviewed in detail and recon-
mendat'ons of the board for neces-
sary appropriations are approved by
him. The purchase of additional
grounds for the state normal schools
is recommended to the extent of not
less than Is or 90 acres for each
school for play grounds and demon
stration farms. He indoses a propo'
s.tion to change the Fairmont nor.
mai site to another in Fairmont.
The work and needs Of the asylum
reform schools, the penitentiary anc
other public institutions are dis
cussed and he recommends a separa
tion of the school for the deaf ant
blind. A new agricultural building
for the University at Morgantown /
urged.
The work of the state board Of re
gents IS praised. The work of tn
governors cabinet since his admin
istratioa began is presented in an in
teresting way.
Strong Endorsement is given to tn
department of mines, the state bank
ing department and the department
OF public roads. The state miIiti
is discussed at length as we'll as az
riculture. The governor asks tina
the name OF the West Virginia Chi
dcrn's Home at Elkins be change
10 The West Virginia Humane Soc
ety's Home for Dependent Chlldre
so as to not conflict with the Chi