The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-05-11

The states, aef selected as typical of conditions in different parts of the
country some Of them about the pou1aton OF West Virginia, some Of larger
md sonetot smaller 8popuaton. Some Of them are our near neighbors. some
ne ne to heeastandsother far to the west.
For good foadstheys are expanding out of their state treasures from II
to 1870 tinass aasmuchs as West Virginia is expanding. times a $ much per
capita az 10 aresspending.s1s 1t any wonder that West Virginia. has fewer
mites 81 soodsroadthan any other state? we IRE blowing in the extavagant
aum Of nescentsapiec tayear on good roads, where or neghbort Maryland,
m heseonssfyaaon Il public health and sanitation the only states of the
ten that approachsthe arugMty} OF West Virginia ae Ohio and Washington.
aoweye. Whensthesfgures are compared that show county and municipal
expendtuFes for health conservation. it appears that Washington expends
wonder That the Irrational health authorities regard the West Virginia records
aH TO typhoid emdemicsg as positively disgraceful?
ON ehaEhess hospNalssan corrections, the table does not indicate that
Ne are exactiys Throwing away money reckessly. Our percapha expenditure
pi 10 centss 8 but little more than half the average of all the states Of the
dnton. e IL INSTRUMENTATION of the amount spent in the conservative old
rtats Of Massaehnsettss
mo moneyfwesspend out Of state funds on our schools is more nearly
pn = par wthSths practice of other states, though it Is below the average
Tor all thestatess Butwhens the amounts spent On the schools ut OF state N
local trnds eonhdnediare taken into account the comparison again shows q
Qeeree Of nasalny theSparts Of West Virginia which ought to be spoken Of
by les espesablename We cannot 9 convicted OF ecKNss
on our schoolss when@he record shows that we are spending less than half
The per saptasaxgage |otal3t the state Of the union.
The theory thatsthe8present deficit in the revenues results from reckless
.StraSaganeae IN expenditure has never been backed up by figures. The
Ipecial committee appointed by the coal operators association is directed
.o look into tie matterof pay rolls and ascertain whether or not the expenses
5ervices Il 81 not impossible that an efficiency and economy commission
might hd hero anal there a place where there is some useless duplication of
1zort ana d chanceEtesave the state some money, but that a condition of
foctless expenditures capable of producing the existing deficit in the
svsrsss ~ OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Of this comparison Of West yEgtnia's expense
ocounts with thosesof other states-is not very easy to believe. On the
oher hand ttsplainLys evident that our Legislators have been frugal to the
ddnt Of parshaony. nSmaking4 provision for the development Of our institu-
LONG. The reasonE that our university and other schools for higher learning
ns behind those otsotheESNates OF no greater wealth and population than
or own is tint those other states have made the privileged interests pay
LAKES and haxeS gyen8thei universities and technical schools five dollars
where we sNe ourssone dollar.
II tho coal operators COMMITTEE is an honest committee, and il it will
compare Nest Vhgdniis expenditures for each separate item of govern
mental cost Etth8thelstnlars expenditures made by other states, 1t will ind
hat raaeauate and generous support Of the state institutions requires the
million depassa sysaEss called sSl for by te, communication nnm n =, recently zen .am aores Tsa
o the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS board of public works, and then some. The me
charge Of estsaaaganee1in this case is nothing but a political device for the
protection 81 aSdsdssss.s#I q. made for political and not for economic
foaoonss ann IL igSmpossble3 to Justify it by any resort to authentic public
records. The dgnresgretus to He-Charleston Post E8#d