The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-05-18
hETHOD.OF TAXATION. lief. .TO.LAVMAkERS
Are Given To Legislators Showing Excess OF Ap
Preparations Over the Revenues Provided By Law.

CHARLESTON, w. Va, May 10
That he has no desire to dictate to
the legislature as to what revenue
measures should be adopted to wipe
out the states deficit and provide
revenues for maintaining the state
Eoyernment, but wants the members
81 the legislature to decide upon the
methods themse was the senti-
ment expressed by Governor Henry
~ Hatfield today in his message to
the West Virginia legislature, convok-
ed In extraordinary session for the
primary purpose OF providing addi-
eonaI revenue and to make a9proprta-
lions for the departments whose ap-
propriations at the regular session
last February were vetoed by him be:
cause the opriations exceeded
The states revenues.
~ want no man to say that l have
tried Go; dictate to the legislature in
this respect, said the Governor in
his message. THE situation is criti-
cal and something should be done at
once, and you will probably not have
dine to enact legislation which you
win expect to be of permanent ma
tlreS orSpart Of aSsystem of taxation" !"
InScommunicatin to the legislature
his reasons for calling the extraordi-
nary session Governor Hatfield regret
ted TO find that the financial condi.
ton of the state 2, made such action
necessaFy:
ansexample = he said, "there. is
no nsy3ayatlable to apprehend fagi-
tiyes Iem Justice and hence the laws
OF the state Scannot be enforced, which
b most deplorabl condition. Per-
SONS adtndgeds insane are lying in tails
because there Is no money available
to nay their Stransportati to the hos
pital for the insane"
He pointed out that delinquent boys
Who have been committed to the In
dustrfal School have been turned out
of jails because of lack of funds to
aardnet them to the institution. He
a thatsall departments Of the state
ernmentE are suffering because OF
is iacks Of tsfnnds, and that the hospitals
and other state institutions are being
furnished supplies only because OF
the sg0od 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
saysS are in need Of their monthly pay
E1GGklAuuRll1 LAC SbA4AAbASA -
intoIerable."
AsStoFhis power to borrow money to
relieye the situation, Governor Hat
fiefd stated that he has such power
In case Of q casual" deficit, provided
ne money can be paid back within
eighteen months. The present deficit
he terms not casual and says that
Ehare Is no revenue in sight with
whichSto repay any such loan. In this
view ne 3is supported by opinions OF
.iffdRe John w. Mason, of Fatrmont,
IudFe John II. Holt, Of Huntington,
aud state Tax Commissioner Fred o.
Bfne. ewho rank among the eminent
iawyerss of the state.
iii do mot, believe" said the Gov
ernor "that the people of West Vir'
rinfa want her institutions closed, nor
do they want needed repairs or inn
movements to be neglected and neces'
sary supplies to become exhausted,
only later to be called upon to pay
for repairs and Improvements and
suppfies, all at one time, that should
have been distributed over a period
OF several years.
~ doSnot believe" he said again,
"fhe people. OF West Virginia want
the efficiencyg of her departments de-
creased $50 that the state Will go back
ward and not be able to properly cd
ucate rsyouth and care for our un'
forfunatess and improve general condi'
ions that benefit all. believe the
oeopie$w this state to continue Its
enhancement as It has in the past so
q ( l,at outsiders will be attracted there
10 and refer to 1t as one Of the best
II not the best conducted state In the
Governor Hatfield gave In his mes
eaae figures from an audit made py
chief State Accountant q. A. Dover
sliowing the excess of appropriations
ovaf revenues, with the conclusion
fi,St the deficit must continue TO grow
,intii additional revenuesE are proVla'
ed. UpgtoS May LIST, the Governor cit
ed, there eshasS been paid from so:caiIed
l,iaflE appropriations the sum OF $780,,
dfSf ON account of general charges on
the state fund, and holds that sucn
"a NJ, ,vnents are Illegal since the plank
snnropfiations are for a specific pur.
nose and are likely. to be needed AT
= f5e pointed out that, based on the
,yarrants of the State Auditor, there
Vis IN oyerdraft in general revenue
of tile state fund May 1st of 81 So, 900,
wl,iIe appropriate ions not disbursed but
authorised BY the Slegi gislatures .of 191s
and 1915 amount to Sill 1880