The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1912-02-13
STATE

CONTINUED from page one)
achievements of the dominant party.
am only proud to assert my afilia-
ton with, that party, but as the state
auditor, one of whose more important
duties is the administration Of the
states revenues, the collection and.
disbursement OF the public money, /
am, probably, as intimate with the
conditions of the state finances as any
other man.
Fifteen years ago when the Repub-
lican party came into power in West
Virginia; we found s75O,OOO, being
collected annually in direct taxes
from the people. For the fiscal year
ending September 80, 1911, we col
lected $35S.343.74 in direct taxes and
gave all of that and 100000 more
back to the people for the mainte-
nance Of the beneficient school system,
which we have reared. In 1896, the
state collected from the railroads and
the public service corporations Of the
state the sum of $S79,S7O.5O, of which
amount S54,031.99 was retained by the
state and the remainder disbursed
among the counties, districts and
municipalities. For the last fiscal year
Of the present administration, there
was collected from the same source,
the sum of $2,1O7,S75.67, of which the
state kept $123,426,06 and sent back
to the counties, districts and munic-
ipallties, the sum of $1,9s4,449.61 or
six times as much as was returned
by our Democratic brethren in 1896.
Our greatest service to the people was
attained, l believe, during the last
year when the direct state tax was
reduced to two and one-half cents,
the lowest figures in the history OF
the state.
with less taxes being collected
directly from the people for the main
tenance of the state than at any time
in her history, West Virginia, under
Republican rule, is not pursuing
niggardly policy toward our institu-
tons. The records Of the auditors
Office show that in 1896 the state hui
name institutions were maintained at
an expense of $276,OOO. For the year
1911 there was expended for these
charitable institutions the sum OF
! $3.50, 4Sl.31; colored schools, 1885,
$15,6S5,5O and 1911, $S5,897.45; indus
trial schools 1896, $2O1OO and 1911,
$55, 961.7e; normal schools, 1895,
&s9, 582.9 S, and 1911, $147,T5oT9, anf,
for the state university there was ex-.
pended in 1896, $SO,953.75. according
to the report of the last Democratic
auditor, while the next biennial re-
port of the auditor will show that we
expended on that great institution OF
learning s165, $3.50. These figures
show that our Democratic friends in
1896 expended on the state institu-
! tions the sum Of $412,272.2S. We
have kept pace with the marvellous
growth of the state and on our in
stitutlons in 1911 we expended $780,
500 .sS. l want to make more ex-
tended statement in few days, show
ing in detail the receipts and dis
bursements Of the public money. The
public is entitled to that information
and the Republican party has always
taken the people into its confidence
Prior to his election as state audi
tor, Mr.. Darst served three terms in
the legislature from Jackson county
i and in 1902 wa selected to the state
senate from the fifth senatorial dis
Etrict. Both in the Legislative and ex-
ecutive departments. he was worked
zealously for legislation in the inter-
ests Of the people of the state. 1t was
while member of the house of dele
gates that he secured the passage
through the legislature OF the con-
stitutional amendments which made
the secretary of state an elective Off
Ger and eliminated the fee system
in the state offices. In less than seven
| .ho aop-nqote collected in the