West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1915-03-18

senator Fox Reviews Work. Of the Two
Sessions-State Better DH II the
solons Had Never Net Curb on Tx.
travagance

OF the Democrats In the last two ses-
sions OF the legislature. made a state
ment summing up the work of the reg
ular and the extraordinary sessions
and the part the Democrats took in the
lawmaking. Senator Fox said:
THE net result OF the legislature IA
this: II we except the necessity for
semi-annual appropriations to carry
on the business of this state. every-
thing considered. would now be In as
good shape. IL not better. IL this legis-
Iature had not convened.
I'VE have passed no tax Legislation
IL any were necessary. We have done
nothing OF real good to the state when
everything we have done is consider
ed from the several standpoints from
which citizens consider our actions.
I'VE have passed a primary election
law, corrupt practices law. and n
registration law. the first two of which
were demanded by the people OF the
state. while we supported the primary
and corrupt practice acts, we did so.
with reservations, which are of record.
In our opinion the registration act.
which permits registration at the polls.
more than nullifies the primary and
corrupt practice acts. Every honest
citizen In this state wants a fair cleo
ton. whether 1t be a primary or gen.
eral election. What we now have ia a
primary election act, with many de-
tects; corrupt practice act, which
does not prevent corrupt practices.
and registration act which permits
the crooks who operate In our cleo
tons. both in the primary and general
elections, to ply their trade. 1 think.
friend OF primary legislation as am.
that we would be more fortunate to-
morrow morning IL, when we awaken
ed, we could say that the election laws
OF West Virginia had not been tamper
ed with In the last six months.
I'VE have reorganized the public
service commission and we have nut
IN the power OF the governor of this
state, whoever he may be, the power
to appoint partisans. We have refused
10 limit the power OF the governor to
remove any man who may refuse to do
MS bidding. AS the law now stands
the governor or this state can control
the public service commission and its
opinions. There are many men in
this state who will accept a position
on the public service commission and
accept any terms imposed by the gov
ernor. These men will not be the
best men, but they will be such men
as can, under present conditions in
this state, afford to accept office un-
der the control of the governor-name-
ly subservience. II any thoughtful
citizen OF this state doubts this propo-
sitfon / would be glad to hear from
him.
The board of control was reorgan-
lied for the sole purpose of permitting
members OF that board to be free to
enter the politics of the state or accept
promotion. The real purpose will
be disclosed within the next few
months. We agreed to make the work
mems compensation department self
supporting, but our efforts to keen the
expense OF this department with the
proper bounds were defeated, as was
every other proposition to reduce a
salary or limit the power of any de-
partment.
ON tax measures we took the posi-
ton that 1t was not necessary to in
crease the taxes and therefore we yot-
ed no. The only real justification for
an increase of taxes is the alleged de-
ficit. We have not been furnished with
any statement which shows to us what
this deficit is, how 1t was created and
who is responsible for IL. Figures
have been furnished us, different men
have figured, and no two agree.
We have been willing to meet the
Just obligations OF the state, but we
have been unwilling to provide for the
payment of $1,500,00O alleged deficit.
which must be paid by the people of
the state, without knowing more about
the reason for the deficit than any one
has been willing to give. We have.
therefore, voted against all measures
10 increase taxes, not because we op-
posed certain measures proposed. I'm
principal. but for the reason that we
believe that TO vote for any measure to
increase taxes was 10 impose an nm
necessary tax, and, therefore, an un-
Just tax. The question of readIust-
ment OF taxation was not presented to
US. Every proposition involved was
an Increase of taxes. We voted
against an increase in taxation and we
hesitate to mention such measures as
the Charleston charter. the Fairmont
charter and the Williamson charter.
Ihere are In a sense local measures
ana the people OF the state are not
Interested, except in so far as some
constitutional rule has been violated.
Inc Charleston charter took away
from the people of the city OF Charles
ton the right to hold an election and
turned that power over TO the county
court In the matter OF the Fairmont
charter the people Of that city we're.
by arbitrary and unconstitutional
methods, deprived Of the rights to say
whether they wanted a new charter
or not, and the citizens Of williamson
we're deprived Of all control over the
affairs for the next two years. The