The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1914-10-14

payer and the state in the collection.
lnis can be made more convenient and
more satisfactory TO the taxpayer and
the state without impairing the revenue.
Natural water Power.
Third; The natural water power I'm
the state should be conserved 10 the
state Under proper regulations n
should be developed. First OF all 20 be
considered IN such development Is the
element OF safety. The life. peace OF
mind. and property OF no citizen should
De put In jeopardy by reason OF such
development High. threatening dams
snould not be allowed No monopoly OF
any stream should be permitted
Under wise and safe regulation and
control or the State. let the natural
water power be developed. Then there
VIII follow. among other things. increase
OF manufacturing enterprises. industrial
srowth and conversion at home of the
raw into the finished product. and
cheaper energy FOR heating and liKht-
giving TO local Communities additional
resources for their fiscal Affairs. And
then again. In the development OF THIS
water power the State should reserve
receive n revenue for the use thereof.
The direct revenue ultimately from
this source should amount 90 far more
t s the revenue formerly received
VIII be strictly on the water wagon
PSrnanent STATE Roads.
Fourth: The coLrtructIon Of ner-
manent highways throughout the state.
more in touch with one another; faeiii-
tating the movements OF their products:
bringing TO attention the states re-
those who would travel the state. t Ne%
England has her scenery. IL does not
surpass West Virginia's New England
ttains. Such scenery and roads COR
tribute largely to the maintenance and
prosperity c Of her people.
Let me take occasion 20 refer 20 this
subject ] am deeply interested in II.
Ny duties for the last three years hav.
county salary law should be enacted
Not so much from n standpoint OF reve-
nue. as from standpoint of efficiency.
cious practices. Frankly. in some coun-
ties the officers will receive larger com
pensations than they receive now. They
ceive less. and they should receive less
In the latter class OF counties a salary
law Will mean revenue TO the counties.
County DEPOSITORY Law.
We need a county depository law.
The treasurerS OF the counties handle
more than ten million dollars annually.
receiving Interest on public moneys in
their hands. As said by Judge Bran
non. in 80 OF his opinions: Whose
heard OF a man getting interest on the
other fellows money Nevertheless IL
II true that in some Instances treas
urers are getting interest on the other
Fellows money. Where they are not
getting interest. no one f. getting Il.
1t II safe to say that a county de-
pository act. requiring the payment Of
interest TO the county upon all public
moneys deposited will yield to the coun-
ties OF the state at least s125. 900 n year.
However. II Is not so much the item OF
interest that demands a county depoel-
tory act a. that such law will do away
with some vicious practices
such law will take away the inclina-
tfon 20 unduly withhold from the state
her funds In the treasurers hands. or
any disposition 70 unduiy withhold
from the Pave payment OF the order. m
the treasurer does not pay the state or
Pave. the county gets the benefit OF In
terest. There are very many reasons
that could be suggested. ~ time permit
ted. why we should have such law.
county salary law would save the state
thi year $4,000 20 $4,000
Under the theory Of a salary Law the
treasurer receives a fixed salary for his
and simple. He IS concerned only IN the
Interests OF the public. He would col
lect and remit TO the state the full
amount OF the taxes collected Instead
OF deductfng commissions as now allow
ed BY the fee system. The counties
would lose nothing in this transaction
particularly n a depository law Were in
1T f. obvious that have only sur-
gested. not developed. the ideas bere
presented. and leave them with YOU.
either 10 work them out yourselves. or
with others"