The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-03-15
spEcIAL PRIVILEGE WINS.

Tine corpordtlOnBsaa anu tHeH We'll
paid and well fed and well wined lob.
by scored q Temporary victory over the
people Of West: Virginia by backing
the passage OF all revenue measures in
the senate and leaving the State in.
stitntions to face the future as beggars
are eompelle ed to go before an unfriend-
ly world. During the closing hours OF
the session Governor Hatfield who had
labored long and incessantly TO pre-.
pare long message to the Legislature
showing the needs Of the state and
planntngtmanySways by which the row.
enue could be raised without burden.
ing the people with an unjust direct
tax, placed before that body the fur.
Their fact that the state would by April
first be without money to meet its
current expenses. This is indeed a
shameful condition Of affairs to con-
front great and wealthy common
wealth like West Virginia, rich in all
the natural resources such as coal, oil
and gas which have made the state so
prosperous, but with per capita cost
o. government for less than most all
oti1erstates Of the nation, 1t now by the
greed of the special privilege class Is
forced TO strike down its public institu-
lions and close its eyes to the wants
ofits depend nt wards. Senator Wells
Goody koontz made plain the situation
ton Just before the close Of the ses.
sion In his last appeal to tho senator's.
He said:
MShaye neverSwitnessed a more dis
graceful scene than enacted here this
morning. Driven by the lash of cor
porate wealth in order to protect those
who object to paying their equitable
share OF taxes an effort is being made
here to adjourn this legislature. There
IS a day OF iretribution coming to those
who come herein this high handed man.
ner and seek this adjournment. They
are willing to allow the wards OF this
state to go hungry and unclothed; the
youth OF this state to grow up in ig-
norance; the wheels Of government
to cease to Tevolve for want OF funds
ali for the sake OF gratifying a>polit.
ical grndgei against the administration
md to prevent tile bills intended TO
reach those who are shirking the pay
ment OF Just taxes from becoming
laws
Contracted to the manly appeal Of
Senator Goodykoontz was the policy
ofobstruct ton carried 10 the better end
by tte Democratic senators who closed
their eyes to the.needs> the state and
helped to render the death blow TO
Fairmont's new Normal School, the
University and other State institutions
in playing petty politics.
Commenting on the part Senator
Lowe took in the tragedy the Charles
ton Post SAYS:
Senator Lowe, Democrat. got into
the argument, recalling the days when
the Fairmont charter has been passed
over his protest and presented juggled
figures to show tho cost OF maintain.
ing the state government in the last
ten years. According 10 loves fig.
tres the cost of maintaining tho offices
OF Secretary of State and State Audit.
or are more than in 1908, overlooking
the fact that In that year these officers
were on the fee system, pIling up
thonsands Of dollars for the persons
holding them-a revenue which now
goes to the state treasury"
The corporations will rue the day
when this deed was done. Tho people
Will rise up in their might and send
men to Charleston who will
not only enact suitable revenue
laws but who may exact pen.
atty that will cost the special
interests many times the slight tax
that was sought to be imposed The
Republican House of Delegates which
is close TO the people reflected public
sentiment and stood by the platform
OF the Republican party when 1t re.
fused to place a direct tax upon tho
people and passed numerous revenue
bills which have saved the state
the disgrace Of becoming paupcr
among the states.
The issue is now plainly drawn and
II win bel fought out on that line, The
people will be more likely to inquire
Into the corporation connections OF
their candidates In the future. They
viii not wait to see how they vote
when they get to Charleston but they
will want to know before they deposit
their ballot for them. In the end the
people will win.
- O. O..
THE POWERsoEETuE PRESS