The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-04-23
DECLARES TYLER COUNTY MEM
BER OF ThE STATE
LEGISLATURE
Chairman Of House Finance Commit
tee Says More Revenue 10
Absolutely Necessary.

Absolutely Necessary.
I voted for the revenue measures
which passed the House OF Delegates
al the e sessions Of the iegtsla-
ture. and ! have not heard Of a single
person in my county b has disap-
proved my course. know hat the
people OF Tyler county are u~pholding
the position taken by Governor Hat
Geld relative to the States financial
condition. and from what I can learn.
the people generally throughout the
State endorse his attitude"
The above statement was made
yesterday by Hon Arien q. Swiger. OF
Sistersville. prominent young attorney
and member OF the legislature from
Tyler county. Mr.. Swiger stopped IN
the city over Wednesday night. while
enroute from Cleveland. o.. where ne
spent a few days on business. Before
leaving the city. he discussed the
legislative situation at considerable
length.
Mr.. Swiger was chairman OF the
House committee on taxation n
finance. n as such. mad a special
study OF the financial condition OF
the State. Serving his third term IN
the legislature. the Tyler county dele
gate II one OF the best versed men IN
the State on such matters.
More Revenue Needed.
In beginning. Mr.. Swiger declared
that there should not be the sem
blance OF a doubt that more revenue
is needed. Il notice that the coal
operators are sending out literature
stating that the present sources or
revenue are sufficient TO care Tor the
needs Of the State. but they are over
looking the States institutions. ana
the figures they quote are merely Tor
the running expenses OF h govern
ment." he said.
Il think that there is no question In
the minds OF members OF the House.
and anyone who has given the mat
ter any consideration will come to
the conclusion that additional revenue
Is necessary even II the appropria-
tions for improvements TO the institu-
tons are not cared for"
Mr.. Swiger declared he believes the
figures OF Chief Accountant r.. A.
Dover as to the actual deficit In the
treasury at the present time. M the
estimated deficit at the end of the
fiscal year. are absolutely correct.
Opposed TO Direct Tax.
That the people Of the state are
direct tax rate. Is the opinion express.
ed yesterday by Mr.. Swiger. Il
know the people OF Tyler county do
not want the direct tax rate increased
and from my travels over the state. I
believe that those from other sections
also are opposed to an increase" ne
said. The people are with the Cover
nor in this matter"
He added that the sentiment
against increasing the direct tax Is so
strong that Il is doubtful IL the House
would pass such a bill. 1T was over
whelmingly defeated at the recent ex.
traordinary session.. and | believe IL
would be again" he said.
The Tyler county delegate declared
that Governor Hatfield has so often
been misquoted that many persons dc
not truly understand the attitude OF
the chief executive. Il am sure" he
said. that II the people OF the state
only understood matters as they are
the blame would be placed where II
properly belongs"
Institutions Are Neglected.
A serious phase OF the matter and
and which has been somewhat over
looked, according to Mr.. Swiger. ia
that the state institutions are being
neglected. TO my mind. this shoalo
be given the most serious c~onsidera
ton. Because Of the failure OF the
1913 session of the legislature to BRO
vide sufficient revenue. the state in
situations have been receiving only
scant support.
There is no doubt OF the need O.
improvements to many of our institu
lions. The House finance committed
was impressed with the need of new
buildings for West Liberty Normal
and We believed that at least $4,000
should be appropriated for that pur
pose. The people of the state nav
been demanding for years an agricul
tural building at IN State University
Our State hospitals for the insan,
should have wards and equipment 10
the treatment OF this class Of unfortu
mates. Under present conditions. oui
asylums are nothing more than house,
Of detention. the same as jails or yris
ons. IL IL deplorable. but IL is never
theless a fact.
BY unanimous vote. the House fin
ance committee recommended appro
priations for various institutions. I'm
Guiding $4,000 for West Liberty Nor
NAL. In which the people u the north
ern panhandle are so Interested. bu.
owing TO the failure OF the legislator,
TO enact revenue measures which
would care for these appropriations
the Governor was forced to veto them
The governor did only his plain dutv
while the legislature. or the Senato
rather. failed.
Position Seems Inconsistent.
Il cannot understand the position
taken by some members OF the Iegis
lature who professed interest In these
Institutions and declared themselves
In favor Of the appropriations. AND
yet voted against all revenue bills
when they certainly knew. or should
have known. that the present sources
Of revenue are not adequate for the
running expenses Of the state. with
out considering the appropriation
for improvements"
The fact hat they voted against All
revenue measures placed them In an
inconsistent position. he remarked.
Mr. SwiEer expressed ~ a. his opin.