The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1869-12-07
GheQntelliqetre
A few words About tho Code.

A few words About the Code.
The Register yesterday INDUCED in a
large md elaborate grOwl about the Code.
We arc aware that the unsatisfactory state
Of facts touching that instrument hos
been the occasion Of much dissatisfaction,
Of annoyance and real trouble in all parts
Of tho State. As to the merits Of the in.
strument itself, whereof the Register
speaks with considerable decoration Of
text, We do not feel competent to speak,
not being quite so well up in legal studies
ms our neighbor. But great deal Of
what the Register says about the delays
and miscalculations, the Inconvenience To
which the people are subjected, and the
vexation TO oil concerned, must DO con-
coded true. We do not write to shield
anybody from meritCd censure for the
present untoward state Of affairs. But as
there is much inquiry about the Code,
which has been in the hands Of the Public
Printer for many months, and inaSmuch
asst is not generally understood where the
hitchis, justice all round compels us to
make very brief statement Of facts.
1t will DO remembered that although
the Legislature Of 1868, at their extra
session terminating on tho last day Of
that year, completed tho Code and fixed
the time it should go into operation, they
adjourned without provision for editing
and publishing it, because, asit appeared,
the two houses could not agree by whom
tho work Of editing should DO done. This
rendered inevitable tho loss of time from
then till the meeting Of tho Legislature Of
1869. That body, however, concluded to
make some changes, and did not provide
for publication Till just at tho close Of the
session, about the lst Of March; and al
though it WAS then patent that the Code
could not possibly be put in tho hands Of
tho people by the LIST Of April, they did
not deem it expedient while making
changes 10 extend the time when itshould
become operative. The Legislature ad.
journed. Tho Printer, supposing it would
be hid duty TO push the work with oil
possible speed, had procured the needed
extra force Of compositors, and made all
arrangements 10 employ the largest force
no could work. Yet it was nearly two
months before the first page of the first
chapter ofthe Code was put in his hands.
1t was on the 25th Of May. Then he
was out Of "copy" on tho 18th Of July,
and so continued till the 10Th. The
copy ran out again on the 18th Of August,
and no more was received until the Goth.
Then the supply was exhausted again on
the 7th of September, but another came
to hand on the 9th. The last chapter was
finished on the 2Sth Of September, and
the last sheet sent to Judge Ferguson on
the ID Of October.
The intervals hero shown, during which
the printers were out Of Code copy, do
not show the actual loss of time for want
OF it. The Printer, finding he was not to
be kept going, found it necessary TO
slacken tho rate Of work so as to make
one instalment last until the next came,
or Us long as he conveniently could, in
order to keep his compositors. Had he
not done this, the intervals Of idlcness
would have been longer, but the whole
could have been done no sooner. Tho
origin Of this delay is found in the fact
that large number of chapters were not
delivered till the 9th Of September F.;
whereas had the copy oil been furnished
at once or with sufficient rapidly, even
commencing near the last Of May as the
work did, it could have been done by the
LIST Of August at fartheSt.
Of course, while the body Of the Code
IS printed, it cannot be published without
the index, although, 10 meet the most
urgent demand, hundred copies were
stitched together for those who must have
them, and arc kept on sale by the Sccrc-
tary of State. As we understand, an
index is made by going through and in
deSing page by page in regular order; so
that, Us the sheets were so long in going
through the press, and the forms were
regularly forwarded, ii docs not seem i'm.
possible that tho bulk Of the index could
have been done when the Code was done,
requiring but q short time 10 have indcxcd
the last few forms. Ithas been over two
months, however, since the last forms
were forwarded, and no word has been
heard0f the index, either by the Cover.
nor or Public Printer. Meanwhile the
work lies here in this incomplete state,
liable 10 the dangers Of fire, while the
people grumble and tho Democratic or.
gan finds it subject for slashing
political leader. We only say let the
facts locate tho blame, and let the re-
Sponsibility Gall where it belongs.
AcAucusof the Republican Senators
was held last evening to revise tho Com.
mIttees and gil vacancies. Il was ex.
pected Morrill, nc Mo;no- ,,or,d ~,