The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1915-01-13
MANY MODER Thin NCS
ARE SUGGES ED By HIM
Chief Executive Shows High
Class in His Recommends
tons to the Legislature.
URGES PR OPPRESSIVE STEPS
And Admonishes State Solons
to Be Jealous in Promoting
States Welfare.

CFLARIESTON. w. Va, Jan. 13.--
Outlining an extensive program Of
progressive legislation, which he
hopes to have enacted at the present
s session, Governor Henry d. Hatfield
today sent his first biennial message
2 TO the West Virginia Legislature. In
his message the governor deals at
length with the general conditions OF
the state and calls attention to the
3 laws he desires enacted, except those
( relating to the states finances. Spec
g ial messages will later be delivered
ON taxation and finance, in which the
: governor will make his recommenda-
tions to meet the deficit in the state
treasury, and on the Virginia debt
suit which is pending In the Supreme
Court Of the United States.
Five amendments to the state con-
stitution are recommended by Cover
nor Hatfield and a score Of new laws
are included in his program, while
there are numerous amendments to-
existing laws which the executive
would have placed on the statue
books.
Progressive Legislation.
Though depending upon the mem
Z bership Of the legislature in general
to adopt laws he points out as need
ed, Governor Hatfield puts 1t SQUARE
8 " up to the Republi lean members, who
are largely in the majority in both
branches, to carry, out their platform
pledges, declaring that ''he who fails to-
Z recognize the progressive spirit Of our
party and takes the recent victory as
an enforcement of reactionary polic-
les, has failed to appreciate the trend
and spirit Of our loyal consti stitdency." Il
The element OF the people that
controls our party's destiny" he said,
docs not stand for stagnation OF pur-
pose or procrastination Of duty, but
believes in the progressive trend tow
+ ard accomplishment Of purpose in
keeping with the party's teachings as
enunciated by its founders
Especially pointed out as Republi-
can platform pledges are primary
election law, corrupt practices act,
county salary law, weights and meas
ures law, woman suffrage, the initia-
tive. referendum and recall, promo
ton of agriculture, conservation Of
the states streams, road development
and the simplification Of court pro-
cedure
Constitutional Amendments.
The constitutional amendments that
Governor Hatfield would have sub
mitted; to vote Of the people are
those providing for woman suffrage,
for which he declared In his inaugur-
al address nearly two years ago; the
initiative, referendum and recall inl
keeping with the Massachusetts, plan
which he declares safety devices I'M
the hands of the people, giving them
an effectual remedy In protecting their
hahenable rights and says would
safford effectual methods In assuring
stable, health, local town and city
government" the short ballot, giving
as an argument in It's behalf the fact
that all successful business Z enter
prises make one head responsible and
taking the view that this principle
should prevail in affairs OF govern
ment; in this connection 1t Is RECON-
Y mended that body be substituted torl
the present county court which would
nave the administration OF all fiscai
AFFAIRS Including those relating to the
4 public schools; the classification Of
property for purposes Of taxation in
order that the states resources can
+ be properly conserved: and an amend
& ment by which forfeited, delfnauentI
and unappropriated lands remain inl
the name Of the state "instead Of bel
ing sold and gobbled up by land
sharks from other states at a price
too infnitesimal to mention" In this
way, Governor Hatfield points out,
the state would acquire, and especial
" ID the past would have acquired,
va In a D,1a ffs,abaye and. ynfv, a,.nf 1o,J,