The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-01-14

stA. The N~el-guNeru~d state o. Mis-
rate % ss7s. while West VIrsipts.s 80
pr person l. s2is FOR AL purpose-. Th-
Lct SAp-ta eo>t Of government "a eur
=. ooTtns state % ohio ~ more than
cay or excuse Tor the wav the fiscal af.
iafrt OF West Virginia have ben con-
ouetsa, Our state Institutions SHOW n
lover per capita cost than any Of
the other states The average pr rApit.
eost Tor the insane asytoms - sfeG 20
"a, Ssiis tsrouEhout The United
Stste University that has a iuwgr PEI
ssplus cost than our own University.
Nnleh n tiseso. while the average Z.
'sseee and hseeo per student
30 request Of tbs Aaditor 10 The Chief
lhslectOr Of Public officcs. a fuu and
nsnciAl condition Of IN. STAT. ana -
NArious departments for the first time
~ sts history THIS enables me 10 give.
of the states FINANCIAL condition Your
asa ~ dealing with tho revenue prob
.sm Vii be much less irk-oms from this.
tsct ror the reason that YOU Will not A..
required 20 deal with inaccurats fnrrir.s
- -tat.fn nts bu, Nth facts based on
q ssrefnl and painstaklng audit. set
Iorth IN the most Intelligent Way With
every phase % the states financial CON
oltlou as II really sNtstH, a complete bud-
set Of all departments. u in flll.
Hets4l the expenditures Tor the two pre-.
ceding years. an estimate for the cur
rent year, as well a. the one following.
OF ven needed, based upon facts d.
Quoted from the audit made OF the
states outstanding obligations. This
made possible by the State'- uniform
accounting department.. The budget -
not as f1ll M complete as IL can be
reaairihs an annual audi, Of the States
transactions. which I earnest
y request you TO do. IL viii he Of
succeeding sessions a iongfeit need. and
give 10 the public an insight into the
states financial affairs yearly. In deal
ing with matters looking toward the
Of all unnecessary work I
would respectfully sugge- that there
are many Items NTH which you have to
aesl ~btennizlly In your appropriation
bill. such a. salaries and amounts for
The Support OF certain departments
~ n'oh are tissd by statute The pres
would not be necessary for appropria-
hon oills TO be made, but permit these
Gals and other fixed charges. to be
come available automatically.
IL - my purpose later In the session
TO send TO your body a special message
dealing with tho important subject OF
TAXATION and finance. and the rem-~y
that believe should be prescribed FOR
the increasing demands OF our State. I
feel by 50 doing hat greater and more
substantial results will obtain than by
upon this important subject In
my general message. There are many
problems looking towards a more cuuit-
able adjustment OF our states revenues
for the future which should be thought
out seriously by FOUR financial commit
tees At this session. OFTEN times. We hear
back 90 the period when We depended a.
together ape direct levies for our
states current financial needs. I Fan
not agree with those who believe this
WAY Those who have nfaTwUaNn FhNH
with me do not take that po-
sltion Tor the reason that they consider
direct state taxation the most equitable
method which our state has available 10
II for the purpoSe OF raising revenue.
but for the reason that they do not think
there will be sufficient time TO work out
this problem. II the Legislature did
nothing more at this session than solve
our revenue problems for the Immediate
great deal and would merit great praise.
There are nO duplicating tratttts .,
take the time Of this session OF the Leg
islnture other than the future need and
welfare OF our state. and IT. people. ana
] can see no good reason why the ques-
ton OF. taxation and finance should not
be worked out on a principle fair 10 all.
and ] have mapy suggestions In this CON
neetion which Tropose 70 submit 20
earnest consideration.
The Auditors Report.
A careful perusal OF the report OF the
state Auditor viii give "A most excellent
insight as to the states financial condi-
we'll as the receipts Of the same. an,.
their source. The establishment Of the
state Board OF Control. the CompenSa-
ton Department. together with the du-
ties OF administering the Blue Sky law.
have added materially TO the RESPONSE
b%ilities 81 the head OF this department.
a. we'll a. the state Treasurer. yet with
all these additional burdens they have
gone along with but little extra cost TO
the state. The Auditor. by Legislative.
gmnafmamF T. aN-nFf1efn Com FnfgglRne
OF Insurance. and has many duties iu
this regard. aud 20 him must We look to
insist upon " that rates paid our citi-
zeus for fire and other insurance shall
be equitable and fair. and In keeping
with rates In other states, and that w"
have ample amount of protection from n
this matter H. discussed fully and free
~. The Blue SKY Law. passed by the
has been serving as such an eit'cttNe
barrier against that class 81 "Ect-ricu-
quick' concerns which we're constantly
Tlundc-iuK our citizens financially, was
recently held uucoUstitutioual in part by
the Federal Court OF Appeals. ! would
suggest the re-cnactmeut Of this statute
with certain ang which VIII bring
"a within the constitutional require.
ments. Some ~ the present sections
"t this Law may have been a little radi-
cal. and the eNactions on legimate en-
terprises may have been Unnecessary
~ there be such. they should he rem
edied and tho Law placed upon q firm
state and that % the United states.
Tax COMMISSIONER Report.
7 commend 20 your attention the re-
port OF the state Tax Cummtsaton~r. aEd
recommend that favorable consideration
be given TO it. and that a Lew requiring
annual conference 81 assessors or our
state b. made compulsory. 7 can see un
reason WHY an ass saor should not
be eligible to succeed himself. on a.
count 90 the great responsibility that
rests uBou him to insure equitable 4s-
% our Taxpayers. the C0unty
Assessor should b. required 20 give ms
fuIt time 20 his duties. This require.
ment f. essential " the best possible r.
suite nrc 20 obtain IN the dispatch ~
that comes 10 this office. Tie
remuneration Of this office should be
placed upon a salary basis solely along
with the other county officers. and al
foes collected ny this official should 80
into the county treasury The
necessity % an annual conference Of ne
SCISSORS be- obvious Co. all. and ~ is eaq-
TO understand hat competency viii de-
from r. free and FOIL discussion @
annual meeting - assessors. such -
hsr been suggested iu the report Of the
CommiFsiousr.
The rcpcai ~ the tax now levied on
merchant brokers ie earnestly -srcm-
80 tinf the discrimination
arainst resident brokers will b #iiuIi-
THIS g. nadr necessary On a,-
count ~ the uurouHfItufruaiitv OF that
uart Of the iaw that deals with n6n-
workers
~ ~ highly essential ftsf some prl.
HnafHmw - mHwWm 20 HNH #Mnw.U Nnr.rm Lax.