Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1919-04-22
COMMUNICATED.


Green Spring, w. Va, Apr. Is. 1919
Editor Spirit of jefferson:
The special session of the lepisla-
lure is now over, now up to the peo-
pie to pay the Virginia debt, from all
the talk we have heard for fifty years.
am like many others, do not know
n we owe 1t or not, we paid out manv
thousands of dollars for legal advice
ocertaln ones who said we did not
owe II, and some of these same mart
les voted to pay the debt, suppose be-
the Supreme Court said so. / do not
IKE to criticise the courts, but thew
are like other people, liable to err and
are not infaiable. Few years ago the
supreme Court said the income tax
was not constitutional, when certain
ones got off the bench. The next
court said it was constitutional, this
is the way we have it, and when we
cant do better, have to abide by it.
1 never thought it was right and
| ialr Tor any court to make its own
laws, In many cases they do this.
when there is no law to decide a case
do not think court has right to
make one to suit it, or refer to some
decision of other courts.
am like thousands of other peo-
pie OF the state, would like to know
VINO owns these Virginia debt certi
ncates. Have heard it said some of
these claims were brought up bv GER
tam ones for three and four cents on
the dollar and suppose to be some of
our good citizens of West Virginia.
Does it look right for us to paw them
dollar for dollar with interest for
over fifty years when they only cost
three or four cents, &c. If we have
SO much money to spend, spend it on
the roads.
| notice the Governors salary has
been doubled and the Supreme Court
Judges salaries from $500 to. $500.
This is fine legislation, and the tax
payers should ascertain how the diff
ferent members voted land the ones
who voted for the increase wanted to
return, tell them no, as you do not
think they are fit to represent a free
people, that they have deceived you,
and am sure there was not man who
was elected to the legislature that
told the people when running for office
that he was willing to have these sal
aries increased, and if he did, would
have remained at home. Such things
as this should be left to the vote of
could secure Governors and Judges
at the old salary, breaking their
necks to get the Office by telling the
people how much they think of them,
that they were the servants of the
people, which we know is not correct,
the people are the servants of the Of
flee holder.
The man who voted for this increase,
| am sure if he could hire a man in
his business for certain salary, that
he would not be liable to increase it
when he knew he could get all the
men and as good for the present sal
he was paying. But you know lots
of people are very clever on some
one else's pocket book. We need
not fear these office holders would
resign if we did not increase their
salaries, and am safe in saying that
if it had been reduced, they would
not have given up the job.
Time the farmer and business peo-
pie were getting their eyes open. If
deceived and what bill of deception
the Budget Amendment was, | am
sure it would never have passed and
these salaries raised. Tried to do
this two years ago in the legislature,
but under the constitution they could
not do it, so they sneak clause in
the Budget Amendment in a way
that the ordinary tax payer would
not notice it, but the legal profession
did, and when the Budget Amend
ment was passed in the legislature
two years ago, the majority thought
it was a real Budget Amendment and
nothing else, and there was never a
speech made by any one before the
legislature and the people saying that
if the amendment passed that 1t
would allow an increase of the salar-
les spoken of. Too cute for that, so
what do you call it but deception. II
God would strike people dead for de-
ception and hyprocracy, ! am sure
there would not be many left. IL is
passed, and there is no limit to 1T, can
make it much more.
This thing of some fellow wanting
an Office or something else, telling
Won how much he likes &C., after he
Sets what he is after, will hand you
the heel of the loaf, saying that is
good enough for you and he taking
all the best of it, is very poor business
and nothing but deception.
The farmer and the business man
must unite and run things. We are
tired of being taxed to death for the
politicians and unions. No roads,
no bridges, and conveniences we
sbouldhave. The farmer and his
family have to work rain or shine,
wade through mud and snow to make
a living, do not have time to count
the hours. and say to the world, we
are are not going to work over six or
eight hours, but if things keep going
as they have, the farmer will have TO
draw a line, then they VIII al SEE ti
from mother earth.
Yours very truly,