The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1915-03-21
Says Adiutant General lin Dis.
cussing Probable Disband-
inent of Organization.

tspEeIaL TO rr<4-GLGaRAA,
CHARLESTON, Mar. 2o.-Will WeA.
Virginia have state militia after
/ July i next? While an item OF &c.,
900 for each Of the next two years
was inserted in the appropriation bill
OF the regular session Of the legisla-
ture, because insufficient revenue was
provided, Governor Hatfield struck
out the militia appropriation and
many other items, aggregaIlng $685.
600. When the solons were convened
in extraordinary session to provide
revenue for the deficit and also suf-
ficient to meet the items stricken out
by the governor it declined to COM
ply with the wishes of Governor Hat
field.
Why the militia items were not met
in the extraordinary session can be
cleaned by reading the statement Of
Adjutant General John c. Bond. In
his statement the adjutant general
makes It clear to every reader what
interests were atswork and what meth
DDS were used in the case OF the mil
itary department.
His statement is as follows
Owing to the fact that the legis1a-
ture at both the regular and extraor-
binary sessions failed to adopt rev
enue measures, there are no funds,
available for the support OF the mil
itia after June 80. 1876, and, in, my.
opinion, the West Virginia National
Guard will have to be disbanded
prior to that date.
Governor Did Right
AT the regular session ending Feb
5ruary 26, the legislature made an APP
precipitation for the militia for the
coming biennial period of $4,000 per
year, the amount asked by me. AT
the close OF that session an inVestiEa-
ton showed that the appropriations
made for the next two years we're far
in excess OF the states revenues, not
taking into consideration the deficit
already existing in the state treasury.
In an attempt to reduce these appro-
priations 50 as to- come as: nearly as
possible within the revenue, Governor
Hatfield vetoed items aggregatfng
$85S. 900, including the militia appro-
fpriations. The governor Immediately
reconvened the legislature in extraor-
binary session, primarily for the en-
'actment ofErevenue measures and the
restoration of the vetoed appropria-
Etions.
THE legislature, because OF the,
stand taken BY certain members
whose identity is known throughout
the state and will be better known
ms time goes on, failed in its duty, no
revenue measures were adopted and
no approximations were restored. As
a result. the end of the West GINA
National Guard for the lime being, att
least. seems not far distant.
The only criticism i have 10 make
OF Governor Hatfield Is action in Veto
ins; these items. incl1td ding the militia
appropriations. is that he did his
duty. Had been in his place, and
knowing as do the great fight that
has been on here for and against the
rights OF the people. and with due res
gard for the oath OF Office taken
would have done the same thing.
THE constitution Of the state makes
1T the duty OF the legislature to raise
revenue sufficient to meet any dcfciti
In the treasury and to meet the exc
penses Of the state government. At
the regulars session the legislature not
only failed to meet the existing dehc-
iency but made current approprlati onsj
In excess OF sthesrevenues. Thereupon
1T was the sworn duty Of Governor
HAITI to prune these appropriations
wherever possible. and he performed
his full duty when he convoked the
Legislature IN extraordina session tol
consider these important matters
Whatever responsibility that might
have deyolved upon the governor was
thereby transferred TO the 1egisla-i
5ture. Us
Strongest Lobby IN History.
In this conn ection it Is not out OF
place to call satteni lion to the sstrusElei
which has been on at the seat iguy-l
sernment for the last two months EF-i
8er since the flesis latlTe met IN regu-s
Lar session in Janus there has BEEN
maintained at Charlie the strong-a
est corporate interest lobby IN the
history of the state. The coal. gas
oil i. ra Iva and 10Th he Ter interests cons