The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1914-11-28
MORE REVENUE
FOR. THE ST At b
Will Have to Be Provided for by
the Coming Legislature
Says DarSt. &
N BIENNIAL R E p 0 NJ
As License Taxes Are Less in I
Amount and New Depart
nnents Are Created.
,.,.e,.. 70 ~. -r.rs..l.,

tspseist TO rns vElEsNAAs \
CHARLESTON, Nov. 2S.-That It Is
imperative that additional revenue be
provided for the support Of the state
government since the loss OF $7O0, 900
annually through the elimination ot
the saloon licenses in West Virginia,
is the declaration of State Auditor
John g. Darst in his report for the
biennial period ended June 80 last
Just completed by the state printer
/ and transmitted to Governor Hatfield 7
for the legislature.
Auditor Darst IN his discussion Of
the public revenue, says that the last
legislature was very liberal in appro-
priating money and that the state
treasury would have long been empty
had not the state administra ton adj
yised, wherever possible, retrencii-
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
the commissioner Of agriculture and
public service commission have
been created, necessitating the ex-
penditure of additional funds.
In connection with the establish
ment of the public service commission
the auditor cites the law which pro-
vides that the public service corpor-
atoms of the state shall pay the ex-
penses OF their supervision by the
commission. while the expense ofsai-
ministering the workmen's compen-
sation fund Is borne by the state.
Suggests Law Change.
~ see no reason for this distinc-
Etion,n says the auditor. SIN my opin-
ion 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. II 1t is right for the state
to compel public service corporations
to pay for state supervision, why
then is 1t not also entirely right and
proper for those enjoying the bene-
fits OF the workmen,s compensation;
fund to pay for its, administrationya
Either additional revenue. must be
provided or further retrenchMent
will be necessary, according to Aii7
ditor Darst. who, while deciAsiAg his
,,friendliness to the advancement OF
schools, good roads and other mat
ters,. advises deliberation and eau
4 ton, declaring Eve should make
haste slowly and deliberate telyt and be
sure Of our ability to pay as we go
along. BY too great increase Of
taxes We will discourage not only our
! own people but also the influx ot
i outside capital and thereby hinder
the very causes we desire so much
to advance .sss
] Auditor Darst says in his report
that the ten cent direct state tax iri-s
posed for tho fiscal year beginning
July /, 1914, will raise approximately
$500, 900 and Is insufficient to care for
I the deficit created through the oper-
alton OF the prohibition amendment.
new avenues of revenue the limit sof
(, the state tax must be raised
Only Course Open.
while l am opposed to the state
tax and believe the state can be run
without II Il the people SO desire
1ktill, II the revenues are not provided
4 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 maintains
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 a better citizen because he pays
something, because he then feels that
he is doing his share as self-re-
lspecting citizen towards paying for
the necessities and blessings provided
for the use and convenience OF all
the people in a government like,
Iours."
4 In his biennial report. which Is the
first to be made among the state de-.
apartments, Auditor Darst calls at7
ltention 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, greater field OF
activity, than the auditors office of
any other state of the Union.
The auditor Tecites that at the be-s
ginning of his present term he re-
Iquested an audit OF his Office by the
state tax commissioner and that exs'
aminerss 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.
4 Revenue Producer.
The insurance department of his
i
Continued on page six.)