West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1915-02-11

rfon Soo. W. WeF.j
Charleston, w. Va, Feb. lin many
Of the administration bills recognizing
some Of the departments and i'm other
cases creating new departments the in
creases are on such a scale as to make il
look a. IL the Governor had been merely
talking for effect when he said in his
biennial message that economy would be
the watehword OF his administration.
Though the state is badly Ia debt various
bills not only proposed by the Governor
but which he will seek TO force through
mean additional source OF expense at the
very time when there should be curtail.
ment In all expenditures. Not appreciat-
ing the lavish scale upon which the
government was being run, the people of
the state disregarded the frequently re-
peated statement that the last Legislature
had been extravagant and by returning
a legislature OF the same complexion ap-
parantly sanctioned the extravaganza of
the 1913 Legislature. 1t was said right
after the election that by sending to
Charleston legislature amenable to the
Governor he would construe it as the
wish OF the people OF the State to con-
tinue the scale Of expenditures and those
| new measures proposed by the Governor
indicate that he is confident there will be
no criticism Of his administration even IL
by virtue of the passage OF the proposed
bills the total running expenses Of the
government are materially increased.
One bill alone advocated by the
Governor means an additional expense of
| about $50, 900. 1t is bill reorganizing
the State Board OF Health. As proposed
by the Governor 1t creates the Office OF
Commissioner of Health at a salary of
So, 900 year. That is House bill No.
l53 and any one can see for himself the
large additional expense to the state its
passage would entail. In addition to
Commissioner of Health the bill creates
six district health officers at salaries of
$1,000 year each and furthermore
authorizes the creation of public health
council each OF whose members are to re-
ceive $1,000 per day and expenses when
in service. The bill, finally, appropriates
s3o,oOo as lump sum to carry on the
work OF the new department. In addition
to the bill just mentioned there is still
another bill which deals with the subject
sanitation and the pollution of streams.
This bill carries an appropriation of $25, :
900. Whatever merit there may he in
the bills and entering into no discussion
| OF their merit, they entail at last between
them $75, 900 more expense on the tax.
payers OF West Virginia.
The Governor also has a bill reorpapiz
ing the Bureau Of Labor and the salary
| OF the Commissioner of Labor under that
bill is increased from $500 year to
$500 year. The administration also
has bill recognizing the department OF
mines, under the terms OF which the
salary OF the Chief Mine Inspector is in.
creased and six new inspectors are to be
appointed at $4,000 year each. Indeed
it would seem as il every beard were to
be reorganized and increases asked for at
time when rigid economy should be
practiced.
With all this increase no one yet in
authority has been able to saw Just where
the money with which to meet these ex-
penses is coming from. IL taxpayers, if
each individual taxpayer, realized how
| once again the expenses of the state were
to be lacked up another notch or two
| there would be loud protest from all
over the state but they will not realize it
until the money has all been spent.
There is no economy. Economy has
been abandoned not only by the Execu-
tive Department which is asking for more
money and increases but by the legisa-
tive branches as well. Only last Friday
seven new clerks were added to the
House pay roll over the protest of the
Democrats OF that body, making sixty
six attaches in all. No reason or expla
nation was vouchsafed for the additional
clerks. The Chairman OF the Committee
on Rules merely offered resolution and
it was adopted As nearly as can be
determined the attaches for the House
alone will cost at the present session S266
day or $ll $40 for the session and some
OF these attaches do absolutely no work.
This Is librarian OF the House without
library.
During the week just passed the legisla-
ture has amended the prohibition law
preventing the shipments of liquor into
the State.