West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1915-02-25

stoppeu anc tue remaining week OF the
legislature will be devoted to the con-
sideration OF appropriation bills and
tax measures. Among the more i'm
portant measures passed during the
session. many OF which were not act
ed upon. however. until the last day.
were the primary bill, the corrupt
practice bill, the bill revising and
broadening the compensation act. the
public service commission bill with ALI
the vast power 1t vests in political
commission the Virginia debt bill
creating new commission. the coun-
ty salary bill and the county deposit
tory bill. A department OF health was
created and pure food bill was pass
ed by the Senate. Full crew legisla-
ton failed. A registration bill was
passed over the protest OF Democratic
members of the House and Senate.
which instead OF lettering the present
law weakens II to the extent of pro-
viding for registration on election day.
opening the door to fraud, corruption
and repeating. The water power bill
failed to pass the Senate.
The present legislature has been a
disappointment I'm that It will 20 down
into history as having further than
any body which ever before assembled
here toward abridging the right of
local self government and appropriate
Ing to itself the right to manage and
control municipalities. With one
sided majorities I'm both branches of
the legislature the law making body.
drunk with power, has struck some
vital blows at republican form of
government. Municipal administra-
tons have been ripped out of office
and in almost every instance the ma
jority has denied the right OF a ref
erendum vote by the people of the
cities and municipalities affected.
Williamson will have a city commits
sion appointed by the governor. Park
ersburg will have an election board
appointed by the Circuit and County
Courts of Wood county. Fairmont will
have new charter, not OF its own
choosing but put through the last
legislature by the influence of the adj
ministration and good deal of log
rolling. Charleston has q new char
ter under which the election board is
appointed by the County Court. SEN
itor Gregory. probably the closest man
in the Senate to the present governor.
says that the municipalities are ire
| sponsible and therefore ought not To
be allowed to govern themselves, and
The legislature is putting that theory
INTO practice. The tendency at Char
lesion at the present time is toward
transferring all the powers of govern
ment to the executive. That has been
seen in the bill permitting the COVER
nor to appoint members of county
courts. in the public service commits
sion bill, in the Virginia debt bill, i'm
the numerous charters, particularly
the Williamson charter, probably the
most notorious piece of legislation
! ever enacted.
No expense in the administration OF
the affairs of the state has been cur
tailed In the slightest. The appropria-
ton bill to be reported may reduce the
expense OF maintaining state institu-
tons about 100000 but there has been
no reduction in the departments. The
| legislature has run wild with it's at
taches. The House has almost eighty
and the Senate as proportionately
large number, some of whom have
not been at Charleston more than q
Few days during the entire session
New offices OF high salaries have been
created. Economy has not been in
evidence at all. The legislature
would possibly have felt inclined to
reduce expenses and cut down salar.
les but IL has appeared to be fraid
OF a higher power and bills, introduc-
ed by Democrats to abolish needless
Offices, have been shelved in commit
tee. AS result of the wanton waste
l of public money and the failure of the
administration and the legislature to
practice economy it will probably be-
come necessary to lay state levy OF
20 or 25 cents on the hundred dollars
valuation.
| Much bad feeling has been engen-
dered by the embroglio over the re-
districting bill, which it is intimated
may be vetoed by the Governor. His
frlenGs in the House fought it siren
uously and az a result of the fight
| covering almost week many friend
ships have been broken and political
ties have been severed. The governor
is said to have opposed redistricting
because of his fear that Sutherland
might become a Senatorial candidate
against him.
j. W. WEIR.