Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1916-04-08

department It can be said that
have not asked for a contingent fund
OF $S1,0oo.OO0 for running my Office
al a time when ! was eontending that
the state was insolvent and that It
was necessary to increase the tax
rate of the people 40 per cent.
Vie is in error. OF course. uninten-
tional, when he states that my office
expenses have increased 40 per cent.
] give the following concerning the
comparative expenses and duties of
this Departmental nder my predecessor
and myself without intending any crit
icism of my predecessor. who made a
faithful and efficient servant OF the
people.
THE expenses Of the FIRST three
fiscal years under General Conley av-
eraged $15,SG7.5O. The expenses of
the FIRST three fiscal years of my ad.
ministration tone fiscal year being
uine months. averages $IS.022.4S an
avearge increase per year Of $2,154.-
80.
This increase is more than ac-
counted for from the fact that the
legislature of 1913 before came
into Office, passed a law providing for
one additional assistant. not two as
the governor states. al the salary
OF $4,000 per year. on account of the
additional duties placed upon the
legal department by that session
which created the public service and
workmen's compensation laws. The
costs for this assistant being deducted
makes the actual cost of my depart
ment per year $345.92 less than that
of my predecessor, Notwithstanding
the fact that upon my induction to Of
fee | had many new and costly Off
cial duties to perform such as eoun-
sci to the legislative bribery commits.
sion: counsel for the state before the
subcommittee of the United States
Senate i'm relation to strike troubles /;
counsel in rate cases; Virginia debt
and Manufacturers Light and Heat
cases. Because of lack of appropria-
ton and funds ! expected great
amounts for postage in sending out
documents in regard to the Virginia
debt case and paying for expert wit.
nesses and stenographers' fees in the
Norfolk and Western rate case. and
the investigation made by the Unit.
ed States senate. The decrease in
the expenses per year, as above ex.
planned is IL per cent
THE duties Of the office have very
materially increased Opinions rem.
dered first three years under Gener.
al Conley, including opinions as to
state depository bonds, was Ats,
while for the first three years of my
administration S26 opinions, including
opinions as to state depository bonds
were rendered. The per cent of in.
crease in opinion work was 73 There
were 70 civil cases during the first
three years under General Conley,
while for the same time ! had 81 civil
cases.
During his four years General Con-
ley collected money to the amount
of $64 1885. To March 4 last. com
pleting three years of office, my de-
partment had collected s66 ,961.81,
making s2,597.96 more than General
Conley collected during his whole
term, or an increase in the amount
collected of SO per cent This does
not include judgments rendered and
suits pending which will increase the
collections this year in the additional
sum of more than $4,000, which will
increase the money collected under
my administration more than under
my predecessor about 100 per cent.
"The governor further states that
it was necessary to employ special
counsel in every important suit.
q call his attention to the fact that
it was necessary to employ special
counsel only in two cases, the Man
ufacturers Light and Heat and the
Virginia debt. It is true by way of
political patronage and for personal
reasons to him he has employed Sem
ator Gregory in certain cases at ap-
proximateIy $1,000 and Mr.. Heber
Rice, at Huntington giving him by
way of legislative appropriation and
otherwise. $4,22475, and ]. o. Hen
son, of Martinsburg. s4.SS1.29. This
does not include employing Senator
Steed as law clerk to the public serv.
ice commission at $1,000 and Capt.