Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1915-02-04
Our Charleston Letter
NEWS OF THE LEClsIATURE.

Charleston, W. Va, Feb. LIN /
many Of the administration bills reor-
ganizing certain departments and in
other cases creating new departments.
the increases are on such scale as to
make it look as If the Governor were
merely talking for effect when he said
in his biennial message that economy
would be the watchword of his admin
istration. Though the State is badly
in debt various bills not only proposed
by the administration but which he 4
will seek to force through, mean an adj
ditional source of expense at the very
time when there should be curtailment
in all expenditures. Not approaching
the lavish scale upon which the gov
eminent was being run. the people of
the State disregarded the frequently
repeated statement that the last legis-
lature had been extravagant and by
returning legislature of the same
complexion apparently sanctioned the
extravag ance of the 1918 legislature.
1t was said right after the election that
by electing a legislature amenable to-
the Governor, he would construe it as
the wish to the people of the state to
continue the scale of expenditures and
these new measures proposed by the
Governor indicate that he is confident
there will be no criticism of his admin
istration even if by virtue of the pas
sage of the proposed measures the
total running expense of the Govern
ment are increased.
One bill alone advocated by the ad.
ministration means an additional ex-
pense of about $50 600 It is the bill re-
organizing the State Board of Health.
AS proposed by the Governor it Gre
ates the office. of Commissioner of
Health at 5000 year. That is House
bill 153 and any one can see for himself
the large expense its passage will en-
tail. In addition to Commissioner of
Health it creates the Office of six Dis
each and furthermore authorizes pub
lie health council whose members are
to receive $40 per day and expenses
when in service. The bill, finally, sp-
propriates $25, 900, as lump sum to
/ carry on the work of the new depart
mant. In addition to the bill just men
i toned there is still another bill which
deals with the sui ject of sanitation and
the pollution of streams. This bill car
ries an appropriation of $25, 600. What
ever merit there may be in the bills
and entering into no discussion of their
merit, they entail at least between
them SIS. 600 more expense on the tax
PAYERS
The Governor also has bill reor-
salary of the Commissioner under that
bill is increased from $500 to $25, 900 a
year. The admins tration also has a
bill reorganizing the department of
mines, under the terms of which the
salary of the Chief Mine Inspector is
increased and six new inspectors are to
be appointed at $1,000 a year. Indeed
it would seem as if every Board were
to be organized and increases asked for
time when rigid economy should be
practiced.
With all this increase no one yet in
autbs rity has been able 10 say just
where The money with which to meet
; these expenses is coming from. If tax
payers, if each individual taxpayer,
realized how once again the expenses
of the state were to be lacked up there
would De loud protest from all over
the State but they will not realize it
f until the money has been spent. There
is NO economy. Economy has been
abandoned not only by the Executive
department who are asking for more
money and increases but by the legis-
: lative branch as we'll Only Friday
: seven new clerks were added to the
list of attaches in the House over the
protest Of the minority, making sixty,
six ats ches in all. No reason was
vouchsafed for the additional clerks.
! The Chairman of the Committee on
Rules merely offered resolution and
it was adopted. AS nearly as can he
J determined the attaches for the House
: alone will cost at the present ession
1856 day or $1197O for the session
and some of these attaches do abso-
lutely no work. There is librarian of
:: the House without library,
During the week just passed the leg
islature has amended the prohibition
law so that after March 1st no liquor
5 can be shipped into the state. Both
: Houses have adopted the woman's suf-
frage resolution SO that the people will
, vote on that question at the next cleo
tion. The House has passed a free
text book BILL
Both Senators Beckwith. and Kump
) voted for the adoption of the woman s
, suffrage resolution in the Senate this
week Senator Kump in voting made
a short speech which was Incorporated
in the record stating that woman was
mystery and that it would remain for
!! the people alone when they voted on
: the suffrage amendment to solve that
mystery.
Judge Beckwith was able to be in his
seat against this week. While he was
absent Senator MarshalPa bill to abol-
5 lsh the terms of the Supreme Court at
Charles Town and Wheeidg was ad-
vanced on the calendar to second read
ing. As soon as Judge Beckwith rea-
lized the purpprt of the bill when it
was being read tha4hird time and mn