The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1914-11-28
MORE RE VENIJE
FOR THE ST A IL
viii Have to Be Providedio BY
the Coming Legislature
Says Darst.
IN BIENNIAL r II 0 & u
AS License Taxes Are Less in
Amount and New Depart
fnents Are Created.

IN e0pGe1AI TO DNG tglHoNAtlt Il ~
! CHARLESTON. Nov. q. That AZ Is
imperative that additional revenue Be
provided for the support Of the state
government since the loss ot $685. 900
annually through the elimination Of
the saloon licenses in West Virginia
is the declaration. Of State Auditor
John s, Darst in his report for the
biennial period ended June 80 last
just completed by the state printer
and transmitted to Governor HATFIELD
for the legislature. (, Y n
Auditor Darst in his discussion OF
the public revenue says that the last
legislature was very liberal In appr0-
priating money and that the state
treasury would have long been empty
had not the state administration ad-
vised, wherever possible, retrencil-
ment in the expenditure OF the appro
priations for new buildings and re-
pairs at the several state institutions.
He recites, however, that during
the last biennial period the Offices Of r
the commissioner OF agriculture and
q public service commission have
been created, necessitating the exS
penditure OF additional funds.
In connection with the establisi-
ment OF the public service commission
the auditor cites the law which pros
vidcs that the public service corpof
atoms Of the state shall pay the exs
penses of their supervision by the 4
commission, while the expense of ad-
ministering the workmer's coupon
sation fund is borne by the state.
Suggests Law Change.
~ see no reason for this sdistinc-
ton" says the auditor In my opin-
lion the law should be amended TO
provide that the expense Of admin
|istering the Compensation fund should
be paid from that fund and not BY
the state. IL it is right for the state
Ito compel public service corporations
to pay for state supervision, why
then is 1t not also entirely right and
proper for those enjoying the hene-
| fits Of the workmeh 8 compensation
fund to pay for its administration r.
| Either additional sreyenge must be Z
provided or, further rettenc hnet,t
will be necessary, according TO Ail-
Iditors Darst, who while declaring his
friendliness to the advancement OF
schools, good roads and other mat
ters, advises deliberation and eau
| ton, declaring eve should make
haste slowly and deliberately and be
sure of our ability to. pay as We 80
along. By too great increase o. (
taxes We will discourage not only our
own people but Also the influx OF
outside capital and thereby hinder
the very causes we desire so much
to advance"
Auditor Darst says In his report
that the ten cent direct state tax inn
posed for the fiscal year beginning
July i, 1914, will raise approximately
/ $500, 600 and Is insufficient to care for
the deficit created through the oper-
alton OF the prohibition amendment,
and that unless the legislature finds
new avenues Of revenue the limit Of
the state tax must be raised.
Only Course Open.
while am opposed to the state
tax and believe the state can be run
without 1t II the people so desire,
still, II the revenues are not provided
in other ways to run the state gov
ern, there is only one course left
open and that is to increase the state
tax. II this cannot be done then the
board of public works would be com-
\ PEELED to borrow money to maintain
| the state government.
81 believe the burdens OF taxation
should fall on all alike. rich and
poor. II a man has but little prop
erty, he should pay but little tax and
he is better citizen because he rAvB
something, because he then feels that
| he is doing his share as a seit-re-
specting citizen towards paying for
the necessities and blessings provided
for the use and convenience OF all
the people in a government like
Iours,"
In his biennial. report which is the
first to be made among the state de-
1 partments, Auditor Darst calls at
Itention to the rapid increase in the
volume OF business transacted In his
department, asserting that the audi
tors Office Of West Virginia now has
a larger scope, a greater field of
activity, than the auditors Office Of
any other state of the Union.
The auditor recites that at the be-
lquested an audit OF his office by the
state tax commissioner and that ex-
4 aminers had been engaged in this
tremendous task for several months,
but as It was necessary to go back
several years to start the audit, the
work was not yet completed.
Revenue Producer.
The insurance department of his
CONTINUED on page six.3