The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-05-19
CALLS ATTENrIoN TO pEploR.
ABLE CONDITION o. STATES
FfNANcES-Asks REMEDY.


sp>ciai Disp@tch 20 the fntefifEencsr.
CHARLESTON. W. Va. May IA
That he has no desire 10 dictate 20
the legislature a. to what revenue
measures should be adopted 10 wipe
out the states deflcit and provide
revenues for maintaining the state
government. but wants the members
OF the legislature TO decide upon the
methods themselves. was the senti-
ment expressed by Governor Henry
ID. Hatfield today In his message TO
the West Virginia legislature. con-
yoked In extraordinary session for
the primary purpose OF providing ad-
ditional revenue and 10 mako appro-
priations for the departments whose
appropriations at the regular session
last February were vetoed by him be.
cause the appropriations exceeded the
STATES revenues.
I want on man TO say that have
tried TO dictate 20 the legislature IN
this respect" said the Governor in his
message The situation r. critical
and something should be done at once.
and you VIII probably not have time
10 enact legislation which you will en-.
pect 70 be OF permanent nature or q
part OF q system OF taxation
In communicating to the legislature
his reasons for calling the exfraordA
nary session Governor HATFIELD re-
Eretted to find that the financial con-
dition OF the state made such action
necessary.
AS an example," he said, there IN
no money available 10 apprehend fugi-
tives from justice and hence the laws
of the state cannot be enforced. which
ss most depiorable condition Per
sons adjudged insane are lying In jails
because there n no money available
20 pay their transportation TO the hos
pital for the insane"
He pointed out that delinquent boys
who have been committed to the In
dustrial School have been turned out
or jails because of lack OF funds TO
conduct them to the institution. He
cited that all departments of the s,ate
government are suffering because OF
lack OF funds. and that the hospitals
and other state institutions are being
furnished supplies only because OF
the good pleasure OF dealers" who
can be given no assurance as to when
their claims will be paid. In this way
large sums are lost in failure to get
low prices and discounts
Many state employees, the message
says, are In need OF their monthly pay
check. an IN general the condition is
intolerable."
Power to Borrow.
As TO his power 10 borrow money to
relieve the situation. Governor Hat
field states that he has such power I'm
case OF a casual deficit. provided the
money can be paid back within
eighteen months. The present deficit
he terms not casual and says that
there Is no revenue in sight with
which TO repay any such loan. In
this view he Is supported by opinions
OF Judge John w. Mason OF Fairmont.
Judge John III. Holt. OF Huntington,
and State Tax Commissioner Fred o.
Blue. who rank among the eminent
lawyers OF the state"
Il do not believe" said the Cover
nor. that the people OF West Virginia
want her institutions closed, nor do
they want needed repairs OF improve.
ments TO be neglected and necessary
supplies to become exhausted. only
later to be called upon by pay for re-
pairs and improvements and supplies.
all at one time. that should have been
distributed over a period OF several
years"
Il do not believe" he said again.
the people OF West Virginia want the
efficiency OF her departments de
creased so that the state will 20 back
ward and not be able TO properly edu-
cate our youth and care for our I'M
fortunates and improve general condi-
TONS that benefit all l believe the
people want this state to continue its
advancement as II has in the past so
that outaiders will be attracted there.
70 and refer TO II as one OF the best. n
not the best conducted state IN the
union"
Governor Hatfield gave in his mes
sage figures from an audit made by
Chief State Accountant Y. A. Dover.
showing the excess Of appropriations
over revenues. with the conclusion