Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1915-01-28
Our Charleston Letter
NEWS OF THE LEGISLATURE

plunged heavily in debt through the ex-
travagance Of the last leg islature which
spent about 81, 500 600 more than the
income of the state aud that it will not
only be necessary to raise more reve-
nue. but to cut down expenses as well,
yet not single step has been made, so
far as is noticeable, toward cutting off
a single source of expense created by
the legislature of 1918. New offices
were created then and the legislature
then entered upon an era of reckless
expenditure which the present legisla-
ture has not shown any disposition to
curb or remedy insofar as an effort Is
being made to lop off useless expenses.
For instance in the closing hours of the
1918 legislature the effice Of hotel in
spector was created, the position pay
ing 81, 500 year and expenses. Not a
bill has been introduced to discontinue
or abolish that office. There are three
assistant banking commissioners. The
last one was created by the legislature
of 1918. That office-and added and use
less expense to the state will not. be
abolished, although there is no neces-
sity for it. Another Assistant Attor-
ney General was created at the last
session and his office will he continued
The creation of the Public Service Com
NISSAN cost the State about $50 900 a
year Each Commissioner is paid Sc
600. 1t is believed that men just az
good as those who he'd the positions
now could be secured for 81 600 but no
effort has been made in that direction,
On the other hand the Governor recon-
mends that there ought to be an attor-
ney appointed for the Commission, al
though one of the Commissioners Mr.
Ogden, is an attorney and good one
but to give the Commission high
priced attorney will only serve to in
crease the expense to the state.
AS those who are familiar with legis-
latures predicted the number of at
taches on the pay roll of the state,
placed there during the session of the
present legislature grows larger day
by day. Twice within the last week
Senators on the Republican side have
risen in their seats to ask for an at
tache from their county. Senator Nc
Chung of Nicholas only few days ago
offered resolution reciting that Mich
olas had been given no representation
and the resolution was passed. The
same thing happened with reference to
Raleigh County and another attache
was added. They have in both the
House and Senate Supervisor of Ste
nographers who knows nothing in the
world about stenography or for that
matters the stenographers who are
working under them. The Office pays
about four dollars day. In effect it
is just like calling in some one and say
ing here is four dollars day for the
session. Take it, 1t is yours. What
do we care; the taxpayers have to pay
it. It does not come out Of our pocket
Over in the House they have a Libra
rian whose duties are exceedingly ex-
acting and combining because there is
no library. The man does not have a
thing to do There is also a clerk to
the committee on Arts. Science and
General Improvement of the House
which never meets. Things are no bet
ter this time than they ever were. Alb
solutely no regard is shown for ex-
pense No effort is made to admins
ter the affairs of the House or the SEN
ate on business like basis, This state
of affairs cannot be charged to the
Democrats for in the Senate the Re-
publican majority declined to allet a
single attache to the Democrats, not
even stenographer to answer the cor
respondence of the minority members.
The pressure was SO heavy that the
Republicans found it necessary to re-
serve all appointments. This reckless
extravaganza is due inpart to the fight
for the presidency of the Senate when
it became necessary for the Executive
and the successful candidate to make
all kinds Of promises which the people
have to pay for.
Az showing the real conditions of af-
fairs it is only necessary to refer to
the Auditors report wherein he states,
1.-The last legislature was very liberal
in appropriating money, and the state
treasury would long since been empty
had not the State administration ad-
vised, wherever possible, retrenchment
in the expenditures of the appropria-
ton for new buildings. repairs etc. .
"a number of new offices were crea-
ted by the legislature, and provision
was also made for an incnease in some
of the existing departments? Both as
TO salary and number of employees. =
In deciding the contested election case
of John ADayis against John L. Smith
from Writ County the first of the week,
the majority in the House reached a.
decision and nnseated Smith without
first ever haying had the ballots the
real evidence in the case.
The present legislature is SO thor.
oughly docile that there are really only
two branches of the government-the