Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1916-03-25


and archives and for the last six
months of the year was not even IN
the state, yet the report of the audit
shows that he drew the fun amount
of the salary for the entire year.
s. 400. | don't know how much he
drew as salary from the Exposition
Commission meantime. Tho last leg
islature failed to make appropria-
ton for an assistant historian and
archivist. and so MIR. Boldon has no
apparent connection with the state
payroll at the present time, but he
Is going about over the state work
ing for the nomination Of administra-
tion candidates. and he viii be un.
occasionally restored to payroll con
nection after the June primaries. II
he is not in fact now thereon
When the legislature was about &c
assemble in 1916, C.. I, Topping. who
had been in charge OF the republican
campaign OF 1914 was a candidate for
chief clerk of the house of delegates,
The administration turned IFS atlen.
ton TO Mr.. Topping's case and saw
to Il that he was defeated. Topping
was little bit sore, and Auditor
Darst. who was not then altogether
friendly with the head of he admin
istration, took him In and gave him
job Later Mr. Toppiug's value
TO the administration was recognized
by the governor who gave him
temporary place In the executive Of
fec and afterwards made him chief
In,
department at salary of $4,000.
When the governor decided to bacl,
Iite's candidacy for the United
States senatorship Topping was Civ,
en- leave of absence to go TO Hunting.
ton to take charge of Hite's campaign,
1t was given out with great care that
his leave of absence was without pay
and | suppose that lis fact; but the
point of the matter Is that Topping
was displeased with he adminigtra
ton until be was provided with
place and that the place provided
was OF such easy Importance that he
could be spared for months from his
public duty whenever his political
services became necessary to the mas
ter.
The legislature of 1919 enacted a
law creating public service commits
sion. A body Of great power, owing
to the control of public service cor
porations given it, and in order that
it night not be made part of any
political machine. provided THAT II
should consist of four members, not
more than two of whom should be
members Of the same political party
The legislature Of 1916 re-enacated
the law. after so amending it that
the members OF the commission
might all belong 10 the same party.
and the commission is now SO con
stitnted. Was this done because of
better men and greater efficiency that
might be secured? Not at all. Il was
done because the administration
wished to have that very potent body
become a part OF the machine
The salary of the secretary of the
public service commission ia $4,000
year, fixed at that amount over
the protest of 'every democratic menu
Der Of the senate and most Of those
Of the house The democrats, In
GLIDING myself thought that $4,000
was more salary than ought to be
paid to the holder of a clerkship by
q state whose governor was insisting
that IT was insolyent But an admin
istration fayorite was slated for the
job, and salary must be lihxed to
srit
The three members Of The public
service commission and the commits
sioner having charge OF the work.
mems compensation department, are
the highest salaried officers Of the
government, their compensation be.
ing $4,000 a year each. They were
appointed by the governor and prac-
tically hold Office at his will ana
pleasure, for their names were not
sent to the senate for confirmation,
and need not be, if the governor sees
fit to send other names instead II
be Is not pleased with their actions,
either official or political, he can sep
arate them from their salaries.
Not only 50, but 50 people employ.
ed In the public service and work
mems compensation departments de.
pend upon the pleasure Of the gov
ernor for the tenure Of their jobs.
The salaries paid these four com
missioners and the 50 people under
them for eight months OF the last
fiscal year. as shown ~ the state
audit, totalled $45 600 For twelve
months they would total 500, 900. VIII
these people do the bidding Of the
governor that they may hold their
jobs?
There are three members of the
state board Of control, each drawing
salary of 5000. and under them
there are Il employees drawing sal.
aries that total 10000, any dollar Of
which is liable to be cut Off If tho
governor disapproves some act OF the
individual drawing it,
Vet the governor challenges the
statement that a political machine
has been built up in the state. the
members of which are ready to do
the bidding Of the executive.
Let me tell you what a really large
and powerful machine the governor
cf West Virginia has under his con