The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1921-01-13
TAXATION Of
RESOURCES IS
RECOMMENDED
Governor Submits Message to
the West Virginia Leglsla-
ture-Demands Legislation
In the Public S Interest

Charleston. W. Va, Jan. l.--GoYNr-
nor John J. Cornwell today sent 20 mo
regular session OF the Legislatures ihe
longest message that body has received
from an executive in 4 number o. years
No dealt with many questions OF puoNc
Importance. bu, paid particular atten-
ton 10 the conflict between capital and
labor which has neceSsItatrd the pres
once In the state on three different oc-
casIons OF United States soldiers. 4
battalion OF which Is now on duty in
Mtngo county.
Discussing possible remedies the gov
ernor says:
The first thing necessary is to elm
mate the private guards and the COM
pany deputy sherifts. and substitute
real public Officials IN their stead. Then
a statute should be passed n define
plcketinS and 10 regulate II. The courts
generally held Il is lawful for organ
!zers or strikers TO approach men who
are working at plant where there is
n strike. TO pursuade them 10 quit work
and 20 on a strike also. That right IS
often abused.
Unlawful picketing does not man
that a mob can assemble at = railway
station, assault men and annoy the tray
cling public. The public should be pro-
Sectcd and the men who want to work
should be protected Penalties should be
prescribed and their enforcement made
sure. This and several other questions
should be clearly settled by statue. the
rights OF the union made clear. and the
rights OF the employer and the worker
made equally clear.
Il very well realize the difficulties TO
be met in dealing with these questions.
which most public officials possess in
even discussing 4 situation, much less
acting upon IT, where they are liable
to be accused OF taking sides aga,
the workers.
I am not asking for legislation in the
interest OF the employers I am asking
for legislation in the interest OF the pub
lie. in the interest OF the state: IcSis-
lat!on that will clearly define the rights
OF the employers on the one hand. and
OF the unions on the Other. and for
machinery with which TO enforce il. in
order that this state may not be con-
tinuous battlefield. and be perpetually
held up before the country an land
OF violence and bloodShed"
Other Recommendations.
Governor Cornwell opened his mes
hage with reference to the burning Of
the capitol at Charleston. and recon-
mended that immediate steps De taken
for the erection OF a capitol OF modest
size and fitting design" 20 house all
the departments and TO provide halls for
the two branches OF the legislature. He
also discussed at length the rural
schools hituaclon, declaring that prac-
ticRlly one-tsnth OF them had been
without teachers owing 20 tn liability
Of school boards TO employ them 1T the
present rate OF pay. lie urged the re-
organization or enlargement OF the office
OF the commissioner OF banking. and
in mentioning the reorganization OF the
West Virginia Natioal Guard said Gov
eror-elect Morgan had agreed with him
that the state should accept the pro-
visions OF the new National Defense
Act.
Governor Cornwell reviewed at length
the organization OF the Department of
Public Safety. and discushed the PRO
paganda against It both before and after
Its creation by the Legislature" He
gave figures 10 oshow the work 1t had
done. declaring the department eXis-
tence had been justified. 1t is just as
necessary to the police department OF a
city"
REPRESENTATION. revision OF the water
power statute and a lot OF information
concerning state institutions also were
contained in the message which also
dealt with the good roa,;s am andment 10
the constitution adopted at ih@ ate sem
eral election.
I'm attempting TO carry out :hr man
Gate o. the people. as expressed ut the
polls ir a very emphatic manner, the
legislature faces grave responsible
ity." said the governor. The people
will not be satisfied with 4 make-shift
measure, with an evasion. II is action
they have indicated they want. They
want roads before the IL, tural resources
of the state are exhausted and the
sources OF taxation diSsipatcd. They
will rebel IL any atetmpt is made TO
cheat them OF the good roads victory
they won at the polls. The will also
resent any attempt to play politics, II
I. roads they want not job hunters.
They are not ignorant OF what has been
done IN some other states in mixing
roads and politics. They do not want
that in West Virginia. Again let me
repeat: They want roads. There should
be- an honest and earnest effort TO COM
ply with the popular verdict AT the
sAme time II is highly important that
the program uuuSL tdhCn " - GoAstE a.
tive ere, based on common sense and
business methods"
Charleston. W. Va. Jan. l2-GovcrrOr
John J. Cornwclrs message 20 the lcsi>-
lature read in both houses today is very
lengthy. containing general resume OF
the business OF the state and covering
n large number OF matters OF detail.
Altogether. 10 makes about S.cyO words
Introductory 20 the message. Govern
or Cornwell referred TO the destruction
49,
pressed the opinion that II was the duty
OF the Legislature to provide at once
for the erection OF a new state house
building. He suggested that the new
building should not be OF large size
but should be q handsome and attrac-
tive building, capable OF housing the
two houses OF the Legislature. and the
governors office. Additional TO such
state house building he suggested that
an office building should be erected Tor
the use OF the various state depart
ments.
the governor recommended that tns
prepare ton OF the budget be taken out
OF the hands OF the State Board OF Con
troll and vested in the nands of the gov
ernor. and referred saCcaStically 20 the
enactment in 1917 which vested tn"
preparation OF the budget with the state
board OF control.
Additional Revenue.
On the subject OF additin rai revenue
the message says that additional rev
enue should be raised by some method
other than an increase in the direct
tax. The increase in the local taN
rates constitute a burden in the shape
Of direct, local taxes. and these should
not be added 70. The message says N
part:
III Is a lamentahlc fact that our nat
nral resources, coal. oil. gas, timber and
limestone, are beng exhausted At a
rapid rate without the state having
derived the revenue from those sources