Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1915-02-03
HATFIELD URGES
FIFTY MEASURES
Governor Outlines His Pro-
gram For New Laws
BY Legislature
PROMISES FURTHER MESSAGES
Advocates and Endorses Initiative
and Referendum and Recall, Short
Ballot, Popular Vote on Woman Suf-
frage. and Social Justice measures.

frage, and Social Justice Measures.
Western Newspaper Union News Service
Charleston. w. Va.--Fifty different
laws are recommended by Gov Hat
field in his message to the legislature
To the majority leaders there he is
sues warning and vigorously en-
dorses platform promises, adding that
the results of recent elections are not
victories for reactionary policies
With this statement he advocates the
passage of progressive social justice
laws. While he refers to the financial
condition of the state, he makes no
special recommendation as to ways
and means of securing additional rev
enue. A message later on this sub
ject is expected.
Briefly, he urges the enactment OF
statewide primary bill. a corrupt
practices act, u county salary law, a
comfy depository law, weights and
| measures law, child labor law. moth
ers' pension law, free textbook law,
or proposed power dams, protect riv-
ers from pollution. prohibit false ad-
yertising, re district the state, elimi-
nate the campaign canard amend the
statute creating the Public Service
Commission and reduce the member
ship to three. establish a state bud
get system, an efficiency and econ
| omy board and a free library com
mission.
Furthermore, the Governor recon-
mends the submission OF five amend
ments to the constitution of the state
providing for wOman's suffrage, which
he indorses: the initiative, referen.
dunn and recall; holding forfeited
lands, the short ballot and the CLASH
ficaton OF property for taxation.
The initial recommendation of Governor
| Hatfield in his message is for the enact
ment of a primary law.
This is promise made To the people
| that must be fulfilled without question"
says the executive. THE only kind of
| a primary law that the people will receive
with any degree of satisfaction that the
~.
Is real primary law. not a misnomer
This IL a promise made in the platforms
of all parties. There must be no further
evasion"
"Do~n to District Officers
THE people must be given the op-
portunity to pass upon the aspirations of
each man of each political party, from
| those who would secure nominations for
Governor and United States Senator
down to the district officers in their re-
spective counties OF the state including
| the selection of party committeeman by
direct votes OF the people"
IL is recommended that In the enact
ment Of the primary bill, the lawmakers
also provide for the selection OF delegates
to the national convention and a prefer
ence for vote for President and Vice
PRESIDENT The Governor urges that pro-
vision be made to prevent "A duplication
OF expense, to compel all political parties
to hold their primary elections on the
! same day and that every legal restraint
and safeguard should be prescribed to
protect the Integrity of the electorate
Publication before and after election OF
the expenditures of all campaign com
mittees and the source OF all contribu-
tons to campaign funds is recommended
OF the corrupt practices act Bribery and
corruption in elections. he holds, de-
| mands Acknowledgement for both the
briber and the one who accepts the bribe
The Initiative, referendum and recall
are SAFETY devices In the hands OF the
people. giving them an effective remedy
In protecting their inaleniable rights. as
guaranteed under the organic law Of the
state" says the Governor.
"WouId Afford ETeetuaI Methods.v
IF operative In our state. they would
afford efTectual methods i'm assuring "A
stable. healthy, local. town and city gov
eminent The recall as discussed I'm our
| platform with reference to the judiciary
| ~ In Keeping with the Massachusetts, plan
| That gives the Legislature power TO deal
| with Supreme Judges and the District
Judges to be dealt with by the Supreme
| Court
THE fee system has been abolished go
/ Tar AS Vt relates TO our state officials. This
same principal should be extended to in
| clude our county officers There are many
officers that are supported out Of the fees
| principally, and some Vho receive both
fees and salary This class OF officials
should be required 10 collect fees without
favor and turn them into the public
treasury. and should be paid salary
commemorate with the service performed
i by them"
Governor Hatfield devOtes considerable
| space to discussion OF the stnte's
| finances, advising the Legislature. that
| mere was deficit In the general revenue
| iun9 ~ the close Of tho last fiscal year
| 81 tS465l6.O7 Had the appropriations
| made by the last session Of the I.ogisIq-
| lurf been expended the deficit would have
| Deen Increased 10 yl,063,7fO.34. The FIX
| ccutivc asserts that IL the state has erred
/ az an IN the conduct Of her fiscal AFFAIRS
| W nus Dcen on the side Of parsinory
| rather than oxtravagancos and sgvs That
! OF the 48 states only six have per capita
| cost AS low aS West Virginia The per
| capita cost Of government In this state
ne says, Is Rl4 for all purposes. while