The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1916-02-01
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1916.
PARsIMONIOUs, NOT EXTRAVAGANT

Governor Hatfield vas the principal speaker at the annual banquet Of
the Mckinley Club. Of wech. commemoratng the anniversary Of the birth
Governor inasmuch as he cas- his first presidential vote for Mckinley. After
devoung som time to the achievements Of the Republican party IN national
Affairs he naturally turned to a exposition of West Virginias affairs as
administered by a Republican administration pledged to a ulhlment Of plat
form promises.
The Democratic party in this state under mortgage in many sections to
the special interests has beer vctously attacking the Hatfield administration
for xtravagance in the expenditure of the public funds 1t is a charge of gilt
terng generaltes unsupported by the citation Of one specific instance OF a dis
regard of the best interests of the States institutions and the common welfare
and press is but the echo of the interests that are exploiting the State for
their own profit and who are Indifferent to the proper conduct OF its humant-
tartan and educational institutions How could there have been a wasteful
expenditure IF the revenue when II as been shown by te recent State
audit that for the last fiscal year 81 54i6253 30 we're expended for education.
which a Al % per cent Of the amount expended for all purposes The in
dusufal and deaf and blind schools. the hospitals the chrdrens homes. the
Education and state institutions. therefore, cost 5000 per cent or almost two
thirds OF the entire cost Of running the states business. while the costo Of the
various Offices departments. commissions and boards both elective and ap
ponuve, was only 1857 per cent Of the whole.
In meeting these adverse comments Governor Hatfield not only showed an
economical conservation Of the revenues. but if anything a pardmonous ad-
minisrauon Of the funds. necesItated by a limitation OF resources The Inte1-
gencer has always maintained that West Virginia taxpayers have never been
burdened with al onerous per capita rate Of taxation compared with the tax
payers OF other States Of like population. and that in no sense is the budget
The Governor makes this very plain n a comparative statement Of the per
capita cost of government in four States that have a population near 10 that Of
West Virginia. Thus Connecticut has a per capita Of seas. with a population
Of 1223,5S3 and a annual budget ot S1'oi"S55l- Maryland $3.50 per capita.
population 1859 AIS. budget SI43S93930. Nebraska. $3.50 per capita. popula-
ton I25s624. budget s47273942l. Rhode Island. per capita s5Os. population
coz 765. budget S3O6535SS2
Turning from these suggestive figures the Governor pointed out that the
per capita tax Of West Virginia was only s275 surely a modest showing com
pared with that Of the States named And while West Virginia expended for
state purposes last year s37f 2G2 81. one million dollars Of that amount was
chargeabe 10 the fiscal periods Of 1913 and 1914 expenditures made to take
care Of obligations for which no revenue had been provided. a dencIt partly
created boy the withdrawal Of over 100000 in liquor taxes And the fact re
mains had the just and equitable measure taxing the privileged interests
through the influence Of these interests. tho tax burden Of the people would
have been nor qua1y distributed when fun Justice shall have been done.
when partisan bias and personal prejudice shall have been sloncd t win be
found that Governor Hataeds administration Of the states affairs has been
honest capable and economical restrictive 20 the point Of parsmony.