The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1868-02-04
HOUSE OF DELEGATES,
REPORTS OF COMMITTEES.

! roOSE VI DELEGA EES.
REPORTS OF COMMITTEES.
The committee on Taxation and Fl
nances reported it inexpedient to reduce
the fees of Sheriffs and other COLLECTION
officers to three per cent, on the grount
of it's unconstitutionality.
Tie committee on Judiciary reported
back several bills, with amendments
also, reported it inexpedisnt to enact &
law preventing railroads from running
trains on the Sabbath day.
| Committee on Counties, & c., reported
q bill granting certain powers 10 tn,
authorities of Morgantown; also, bill
for the incorporation of the town OF
Ravensweo cod, in Jackson county.
Committee on Corporations, &c, re-
ported bill for the incorporation of &
division of Sons of Temperance in
Newburg, Preston county.
| Committee on Roads, &c, reported 8
bill for the improvement of the Guyan
dOtte river.
Committee on Claims, &c, reported
SSdinst the payment of the claim of J
Edgar Boyers for services rendered
while Secretary of State.
RESOLUTIONS OF INQUIRY.
BY Mr.. BLAIR-Iuquiring into the
expediency of reporting bill to pro
vide for the payment of West Yirginia'>
share of the debt of Virginia, contract
ed before the division of the State.
| Mr.. b. explained that in the forma
tion of this State we committed our
selves to the payment of our share ot
the debt, which amounts to some 500.
O00, 600; but, aS yet, We have taken nc
steps for the creation of a Sinking
Fund for this purpose. He did not be,
lieve that we would have much to pay;
but he thought it wisdom to propose tc
pay our share, whatever il might be
! He believed that we could now make
arrangements 10 pay our quota AZ prob.
ably not more than one.half what il
would cost us # we put the matter of
until the payment has to be made. The
bonds of Virginia can now be purchased
at about 81 to 10 cents on the 81 90, by
the Commissioners proposed by his bill
! He is extremely anxious that no debt hC
allowed 10 accumulate upon the should
ers of the people OF this State, without
making necessary arrangements TO pay
I il when the time for payment shall
come. The people are now groaning
under An oppressive and increasing
burden Of taxation: and they haze their
eyes upon us. and they demand thar the
! load shall be lightened. He declared
himself in favor of abolishing every
Office in this State which is not absU
/ lutely necessary.
Mr.. FERGUSON said that Joint
Resolution was passed last winter, that
this State would do nothing in this mat
ter until the Supreme Court had passed
upon the case then pending between
Virginia aud West Virginia in regard tC
the counties of Jefferson and Berkeley
No decision has yet been reached by the
Supreme Court. He was opposed to ac
ton in the premises. Virginia is not
now in cOnditisn To be treated with or
the subject, at any rate. He agreed
that the people of this State are grOan
ing under o load of taxation, and that
their eyes are upon us; but he does not lie
leve it wisdom to levy taxes upon the
people now for purposes that we may
never use them. He does not believe il
buying Virginia lands; it may prove q
bad investment; he believes that these
lands may yet command q less price than
they now do. Again, we may not owt
anything, and we are in no condition t.
enter into land speculation at this time
He would therefore move to lay the res
olution on the table. Adopted.
By Mr.. TOMLINSON-As to the ex'
pediency of so amending the Registra
tion Act, as to compel the registrar
to prove the allegations set forth il
charges preferred against any voteI
sought to be stricken from the list Ol
registration.
BY Mr.. BLAlR-As to the expediency
of providing by law for the appointment
of an Inspector in each county of the
State for the inspection of all steam
boilers therein.
By Mr.. misunderstanding tbs
law so that Attorneys in this State
may enjoy the same privileges in the
Courts of this State as do those from
adjoining States.
BY Mr.. FERGUSON-Amending the
act establishing the State Normal
School.
By Mr.. MISUNDERSTANDING all
males over ls years of age to WORK
wherever the Surveyor Of Reads of the
respective districts require.
The bill for the prevention OF the col
lection of interest and costs on debt:
due persons who were within the Con
federate lines during any time of the
war, coming up on its third reading
Mr.. STEWART, Of Writ, opposed it:
passage, on the ground
lst. Its uRconstitutionality, in three
particulars: it is bill of attainder; II
is an er post .fdcto law; it will impair
contracts.
2d. 1t is not just to either party
giving a bonus to one party for an al
legged crime of the other party.
These propositions the gentleman en-
forced clearly and pointedly.
Mr.. FERGUSON thought that
but single argument was need
ed to do away with the posi-
tions taken by the gentleman from
Writ. Both by the law of thi'
State and of nations not only the inter
est, but the principal, also, is forfeited
in cases similar to those included IL
this bill, and this law simply declares
what every lawyer knows to be Law
now. The reason for passing this Law
is: some judges decide cases under TIT
present law one way, and some another
This law is declaratOry only so that de
cisions on the subject may be uniform
Mr. +. admitted that it was questiona
bic whether the law now on the statute
books is Observation-Disclosures i
would he so decided by the Court of Ap
peals. The present law will probabl.
be regarded as only a war measure ant
set aside.
Mr.. TOMLINSoN opposed the passsg'
of the bill on the grounds ofits manifes
injustice. The bill was laid on the ta
ble-the author not being present anC
the House being slim.