The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-04-09
.LocATIMe T4E TRoueLE.

That Governor Hatfield, like all
ether governors Of the state, has made
mistakes is TO be admitted and 1t may
ne our duty at some time in the future
81 point out these errors, but HIS POSI-
Hon In reference 70 the financial con-
dition of the state Is not one of these
cr1oza. There was an organized effor
made in the senate to embarrass the
sovernofa administration, partly for
political reasons to chastise him for
the efforts his critics allege he made
during the early part of the legisla-
i've session to build UP and strengthen
his personal political machine, and
partly by the effort Of the special priv
1lege class who took advantage of the
Opposition known to exist in the SEN
ate against the supposed political am
billions of the governor. Big business
was quick to seize upon this situation
and play the cards from a stacked
deck 10 its own selfish advantage, but
very greatly to the discredit of the
State OF West Virginia. This element
BY the maintenance OF a powerful
lpbby%ha succeeded in embarrassing
the state administration for this up
posed temporary saving to it in spe.
Sciaf taxes, but it is doubtful If in the
long run It will prove to be anything
else but q; min stone tied around the
neck Of special privilege to drown it
in its own money pool.
These are the for the pres
emit condition of the states financial
Gondftion, which is known to be very
d~eplorable.
The Democratic press of h state,
In defense Of the action of the Dem
ocfatics minority in opposing all forms
OF special privilege tax, seeks now to
make IL appear that the state treasury
is In excellent financial condition be-
causeit has been discovered thatthere
his so-calIed blank fund in h treas
ury amounting to $322,000. This Is
money paid into the treasury for Pc
cdhe purposes such as the workman's
compensation fund, fire marshal tax,
militia funds, etc. 1t is pointed out
Ina tsttiese funds can be borrowed to
meet b current expenses of the state,
q that there are nan presidents
Tor using this money in emergencies.
This may have been done at many
M In the past, and 1t was possibly
= good business practice to do it. al
though there. is no authority given by
law TO do 1t, Il the constitution
plainly prohibits it. On this question
b constitution is as follows:
n Q money shall be drawn from the
treasury but In pursuance of an APP
p~ropriation made by law, NOR SHALL
ANY MONEY OR FUND BE TAKEN
FOR ANY OTHER PURPOSE THAN
THATgFOR WHICH IT HAS BEEN.
OR MAY BE, APPROPRIATED OR
PRoyIDED:p
We are now facing a different stu
alton from that under which these
porariy in the past. Always before
we have had the appropriation made
ny thel legislature to meet the expenses
OF n government and we have had
incoming revenue measures behind
the appropriations the. money was
In sight to return these borrowed
amounts. 1t would certainly be Very
bad business to borrow these funds
WITHOUT some outlook for their restor.
alton TO the treasury to meet the pur-
pose Tor which they are provided. To
use this money under the present sit
untion would be like the bank clerk
taking money to speculate with, in
bending IL he has luck to return it,
AS : inarter OF iacI over saoo,oov ~
this blank fund had beer drawn upon
before the treasurer ceased payment
or the auditors warrants. This fund
was drawn upon to pay the members
OF the legislature and to meet special
appropriations made by the legisla.
This Temporary financial embar
easement would not be so disastrous
TO the stateAif that was oil. But we
are facing the future with an empty
treasury, with Insufficient sources OF
revenue to support our state institu-
lions all because the legislature has
ratled " what the constitution says
II SHAH do-proyide the revenue to
meet It's appropriations. There are
Ssb0.00o of u~nexpended appropriations
made bysthe preceding legislature and
no money to meet them, to say moth
ing Of b SS0e,000 in new appropria-
tons that wer vetoed by the govern,
q, Including the $4,000 appropriation
Tor the new Fairmont Normal school
and s225.000 for the University. We
have heard none of the critics of the
Gcvernor's position. nor none of those
~ ace so much relief in the 1922, 900
blank funds tell US how the Nor
NAL school n University appro-
Qfiations AN be met from these funds.
lhezlaet Is appropriations have
been cancelled by the forced veto OF
the goyernor n cannot be restored
without the action of the legislature.
end then can only be made available
by placing revenue measures behind
We now g that the lobby is pre-
paring to tighten its grip upon the
senate. The coal operators recently
held 9 meeting at Washington and
9ne In Fairmont, preliminary to the
bigger meeting soon to be held at
Huntington TO perfect an Organization
70. oppose III tax on coal, on and gas,
q 1t Is said that the oil and gas
people VIII cooperate with the coal
combine to this end. Organization
seems TO be approved by them when
u Is TO their own interests, butts very
much opposed by them IL it is talked
OF by their employees.
L. NJ. DAVIS.
The address OF Mr.. e. NJ. showalter
ut the Chamber of Commerce meeting
old last night on the bridge uuestion