The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-07-10
UNJUST REFLECTIONS

UNJUST REFLECTIONS
Three employees Of the Internal reve-
nue. department In West Virginia have
been dismissed from the service Of the
government for the reason that the gov
eminent finds % necessary TO economics
How different r. this from the workings
81 the Hatfield administration. which.
short heaps on ~ taSs. on ore p asqRS
and industry and goes 90 u more merrl-
" than ever before. There H. one class
shat may. and that class D. the Hatfield
politicians. Prosperity IL Always theirs
ior they live OF the taN-paycra.-Park-
The above and similar statements
only goes to show how papers like the
Sentinel and others. generally dis
posed to be fair. are warped by parti
san bias. II West Virginia had been
standing still for the past decade with
her development and her institutions
languishing. naturally there would
have been no increase in her require
ments. But these things are not true.
for happily she is going forward 10 an
intelligent and commanding progress.
Expenses OF government increased
with the expansion. just as they do in
ordinary business afairs. The re-
duirements of to-day look large only
when compared with the lesser needs
OF some years ago. and because OF
this expansion and progress many OF
the Democratic papers, including the
Sentinel. thoughtlessly predicate in
creased appropriations on extrava-
gance and wastefulness on the part
OF the Administrative authorities u
Is simply partisan blindness that can
not see the contributing cause. OF
all the Republican administrations.
that OF Governor Hatfield has been
the most economically administered.
and with the growth OF the State has
had more demands made upon H. So
far as administrative expenses 20.
the salaries paid TO the various Off
Gals. governmental and institutional.
are the lowest OF any State In the
Union.
IL Is true the number OF Offices have
been increased. but not beyond the
demand for efficient administration,
which includes the Public Service
Commission. the workman's Compen-
sation and Prohibition Commission
ers. the State Health Board. The
long-neglected educational institutions
have made II necessary for the appro-
priation OF largely increased sums to
meet their needs VI growth and ex-
pansiOn In additional buildings and
the renewal of the old. None Of these
expenditures have been deemed ex.
trayagant So with the conduct OF
the great institutions OF the state.
tho hospitals, the penitenuary and
others. no hint Of extravaganza has
been thrown on their fiscal manage
ment by the Board Of Control. whose
affairs are conducted BY the applica-
tion Of the strictest methods Of ccono-
my Where. then. does an this false
ly magniiod cNtravagance come in?
The Sentinel's reference TO the Ma
tionsl and State administrations IN
comparison is an unhappy one. The
$5.OOO,OuO revenues necessary for
Stale expenses figures down to about
$40 for every man. woman and child
In the state. which Is the lowest per
capita cost OF government OF all the
states Of relative wealth and stand
ing. The revenues Of the National gov
eminent. about eleven hundred mil
lions. make the cost nearly 81 per
capita. which is FIVE times that OF the
State note the difference. The peo-
pie % West Virginia pay indirectly
So a head for the support Of the Ma.
uonal government. from which they
receive practically no returns or bene.
fits. which is five times the amount
they contribute To- the state govern.
ment. from which they receive many
benefits. comforts. convenience and
the Advancement OF the public welfare. .
that is. psyinE s. for National govern
ment for every dollar paid Tor state
government Doh the one instance We
get efficient service and protection.
constant bottcrment of conditions.
tho widcnIng influences Of I superb
educational system. "a broadcn.nr %
our philanthropic and charitable in
sututionH with strict accountability