Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1915-04-14
interview
BY Gov. Hatfield Relative
to the Financial Con.
ditiOn of the State.

Charleston, w. Va, April o.
Referring to the opinion Of Attor-
ney General Lilly that there is moth
ing unusual in the present financial
situation of the state, Governor
Hatfield in a statement today said !:
'It would certainly be a cause for
qualification to me and would afford
me much relief If could conscien-
tiously consider the present condi-
tion as nothing apart from the usu-
ALL
After declaring that he has made
an exhaustive study of the states f.
nancial condition from the early
months of his administration, Gov
ernor Hatfield emphasizes his posi-
tion in regard to the present condi-
tion in the following significant
manner: "But am not going to
ignore the real conditions and at.
tempt to show a situation that does
not exist just to please certain in-
terests which expect thereby to save
themselves from taxation"
Speaking of his Investigations of
the financial condition of the state,
the governor declares that it would
be great relief to him if condi-
tions were not as they are, but
that frankness compels him to lay
before the people of the state the
real conditions. The full statement
of the governor is as follows:
"It is not my desire to become
involved further 10 newspaper con-
troversies over the states financial
condition or to make such an unfor-
tunate situation an opportunity for
certain persons to play what is usu-
all y referred to as peanut politics.
"There has been disposition in
some quarters all the while to regard
the present tinencial crisis of the
state In semi-serious way. This
feeling 40 doubt was responsible to
some extent for the failure of the
legislature TO deal definitely with
the states financial troubles. l have
not been able to convince myself that
the matter should be looked upon
from a semi-serious viewpoint. 1t
would certainly be a cause for graf
ifcatIon to me and would afford me
much relief if could conscientious
ly consider the condition as nothing
apart from the usual. | have since
short time after my Undue.
tion into office thoroughly investi-
gated the condition of the states f.
nances, because | have regarded this
as one Of the most important mat
ters for consideration during the
whole of my administration.
"From this Investigation, in
which / have been rendered valued
service by the states accounting de-
partment, | have been convinced
and frankness compels me to say
that the states finances are not in a
satisfactory condition. This il due
to the fact that the state treasury
will not furnish sufficient revenue to
take care of the states Liabilities.
sincerely wish this were un.
true But l am not going to ignore
the real conditions and attempt to
show situation that does not exist
just TO please certain interests which
- q a
from taxation.
"An honest effort was made to
bring the states liabilities within
its available revenue and with that
end In view | vetoed items in the
Legislative appropriation bill total.
ing more than $500, 900. / bad
hoped that the Legislature would
provide revenue 10 take care of the
existing deficit and provide for the
appropriations made for the next
two years, but this did not material
ize, and as a result the states fiscal
affairs have been permitted TO re-
main In very unsatisfactory condi
tion. 1t might be possible that
the state could manage to get along
for a short time by the Juggling of
funds, which in my judgment the
state has no legal right to do. ! do
not believe the people Of West Vir.
ginia desire the states business con.
Quoted in such a frenzied manner.
"The opinion of the attorney
general to the effect that the gov
.ernor has a right to borrow money