The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-03-09
HATFIELD. .RAPS
LOBBYISTS WHO
CONTROL SENATE
Corporations Fight Bills
forcing Them TO Pay
Extra Taxes.
Gov DEF|ES HIS CRITICS
ATTACKS. SUBSIDIZED. PRESS
SAYS JUSTICE WILL PRE-.
VAiL7iN END.

CHARLESTON, ". Va, March g.
That corporation lobbyists have con.
troll OF the state senate OF West Vir.
ginla and that majority OF the sena.
tors are listening to the lobby and
those WHO have special interests is
the substance OF statement given
out by Governor Hatfield, last night.
"EIas the time come when the mem.
bers OF the senate feel that thoy can
not afford to enact any revenue mca-
sures which do not meet with corpor.
ate approval, us they seem to be d.
recting the destiny Of at least ma.
jority OF that body?" is one of the
governors expressions in discussing
the action of the senate In refusing
to enact progressive legislation such
as other states have on their statute
books. The governor referred TO his
previous declarations as to the states
finances, and asks whether II is the
desire OF the state to go forward or
to close some OF its institutions.
"If we have reached that blight in
our states growth let us have 1t, and
without procrastination by the sen.
ate. Further delay means greater
expense to the citizens"
1.-THE corporation.owned press"
says the governor, "acting for the
henchmen of some big interests that
do not desire TO pay. their proportion
al part Of the taxes to enable West
Virginia to go forward in develop.
ing her state institutions. attempts to
hold me responsible for certain meth
ods suggested in the way OF revenue
measures pertaining to taxation that
have been submitted In this session
of the legislature"
oefies His Critics.
He delles anyone to show where he
advocated to any senator or delegate,
one method over another, but on the
other hand set out his suggestions in
messages, and points out that he re.
commended many methods, most
prominently an excise corporation
tax. "NHhy is 1t that these owners
oppose the methods of taxation that
have long since prevailed in their na-
tive state?" the governor asks.
Declaring his belief that the cor.
porations III be able at this session
to defeat any tax on corporations or
an excise tax, he concludes:
81 feel sorry for some OF those who
have permitted their better Judgment
to be affronted with passionate re.
marks and other harangues and un-
justiiiable statements made by the
subsidized press. This is only to be.
cloud the issue, and whatever hazi-
ness may exist at the present time
will, in the very near future be
brushed away and the real truth will
be given to the rank and file, who,
in my opinion. will give the answer in
no uncertain terms. We have in the
past experienced procrastination by
legislatures upon great, questions
which were near and dear to the peo-
pie. We have seen their wishes
stayed and their dreams throttled by
the insidious lobby that had behind
1t untold wealth.
This can only exist for a short
period. Equity and justice will,
sooner or later, prevail, and those
who are most obstinate at present
will feel the awakening of the people
and when the crash comes it will be
a complete reversal. as has been ex.
perienced in all great economic and
social problems which have confront.
ed aur state. and the nation as well.
"As to the unkind remarks that
have been made concerning me by
politicians who have been sorely dis
appointed because the people have
not given them favorable considera.
tion, and on account Of statements un.
kindly made of me by those who have
been misinformed. wish to say in
my defense that I feel sorry for their
plight and that they. are SO misin-
formed as to what they are discuss.
ing. They are not to be censured, but
pitied, for they know not what they
say or do"
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