Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1922-12-21
ON THE RIGHT TRACK.


Legislature in Charleston last week
was a harmonious and patriotic con-
ference that bids fair to result in real
good To the State. IL showed that
those who participated In il are on the
right track, and their action looking
directly to the welfare of the public
rather than party advantage will COM
mend itself TO the reope generally.
The things made most plain and
most prominent were the determine
ton 10 put an end TO the extravaganza
and unjustifiable expenditures that
have been growing at such rapid rate
during the past decade, to reduce the
ever-increasing burden of taxation, TO
insist upon economies in administra-
ton, TO place a depletion Tor produc-
ton) tax upon coal and gas and oil,
and place proper limitation upon
lcvies.
Fifty-one Of the Democratic mem
oers-elect of the House were present
and eight Senators. Besides these.
there were promir ent Democrats from
different sections of the State and
public men generally. State Senator
Harry Hcnshaw, of this district, pre-
sided over the sessions. Our member
elect OF the Legislature, Hon. I.
Strider Moler, was present at the con-
terence. The sentiments OF the mem
bers participating in the meeting were
expressed by the adoption of the fol-
lowing report submitted by a commit
tee appointed to prepare an expression
of views.
The Democratic members of the
west Virginia Legislature adopt the
following declaration of policy for the
approaching session.:
The State faces crisis through the
imposition Of high taxes made neces
sary to meet the reckless anpronria-
tions OF the last session of the Lepis-
la.aTs; and we pledge ourselves to a
legislative program that shall reduce
appropriations, place a proper limita-
ton upon levies and reduce taxation.
Among the measures by which we
hope to afford this relief are:
". BY either so amending the gross
sales tax law as to rid it of its ineauit-
able features or to substitute therefor
an equitable tax measure.
20. BY abolshing useless Offices and
positions in the two legislative branch
es and every other department OF gov
vernment
"3. BY reduction Of all salaries and
compensation for services to strictly
legal limit.
~. BY shearing the State Tax Com
missioner Of the autocratic power
placed in his hands by existing laws.
These measures we will pass IL i'm
our power. Many other matters are
important and will be duly considered,
but we will give our hrst attention
to these things, as the chief duty COM
mitted to us by the people"
The above resolutions were formal
ly adopted. In addition, the general
outline Of the. views Of the members
in the conference may be
summed up as follows:
|. Approval of a depletion tax on
coal, oil and gas.
2. Demands for the repeal OF the
gross sales tax
3. Cutting down expenses OF State
government.
4. Investigation of the Department
OF Agriculture and the impeachment
of the Commissioner, and the prob
able abolition Of the department and
the activities under the ex-
tension department OF the State Uni
8. A general survey Of the tax ques-
IN nst,sz ..,sA ktA
in view OF reducing taxes to mini
mum and making them as just and as
equitable as possible.
6. The disapproval OF any lavish and
needless expenditure for the erection
same time favoring the erection OF
credit to the State.
7. That the Legislature at all times
be mindful OF the real interests of"the
and needful legislation.
There was deserved denunciation Of
the waste and extravaganza Of the ses-
sion Of the Legislature two years ago.
1t was shown that in 1910 there was
paid in salaries and fees TO attaches Of
the Senate S47,04O O0-this was in
creased in 1921 to S10O,74O.OO; in the
House in 1919 the attaches cost S47,-
450.O0-in 1921 this was run up to
sol 1920. Delegate z m m m n,
from Hampshire county, showed that
the last Legislature cost the State
S43i 900. He declared that this
amount could be reduced by Sf5O.O0O
without any disadvantage to the State.
Senator-elect M. M Nicely made a
strong and courageous speech, in
which he came out unequivocaIly for