The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1872-12-12
LETTER FROM THE CAPITAL.
CHARLESTON, W. Va, Dec. 9th.

CHARLESTON, W. Va, Dec. 9th.
Friend Tippett:
The Legislature has now been in scss-
ion nineteen days, or rather II has been
nineteen days since the Solous of the State
first met, and the enrolling books show
lha. one bill has been passed aud become
a law, and although it is general in char
uc,er, it only affects the Municipal Court
Of the city of Wheeling. 1t should not
be inferred from this fact, however, that
no progress has been made in legislation,
for the contrary is tie case The greater
part Of all legislation is perfected in COM
mittcc, and tie committees ofboth Houses,
and more especially The judiciary commit
tees. have been hard md earnestly at work,
and will in day Or two be in condition
to report such measures as are really nc
cess1ry to SO, the government machinery
at work under the new constitution.
There is o strong disposition among the
members to get back as near az possible to
the code of 1860, and venture the pre-
dic,iou, that in less than two years there
will be an even stronger disposition to
abandon it in many respects.
Like all Legislatures there are many
members who are " impractiIles,' but gen
orally speaking both Houses will compare
hvorably with any similar body in the
country.
The mach yexed and | fear never. to be-
settled Capital question is once more be-
fore the Legislature This time Wheel.
ing puts il a proposition for a Temporal
ry' location in contra-dislinction to the
permanent location heretofore supposed
to be made, aud offers Grst.cl soup house
accommodations. The proposition is to
convert the second floor or so much there.
Of as is necessary, of the Mcclure House
into legislative halls and Offices, while low
er floor will Do used for business houses,
aud that portion Of tho second floor that is
not occupied by the State and the third
and fourth floors to be used as a hotel. |
say the proposition itself is an insult to
the State, and what must to the accept
anre of il? Here the Legislative and
State officers have ine building built ex-
prcssly for and used exclusively as a State
House, with every facility for the transact.
ion of business and hotel accommodations
for members Of the Legislature, Why move
it temporarily If is to be located
only Temporary" why not let the people
Of this district be the shareholders? Is the
third district entitled to no consideration
at the hands ofthe other end Of the State?
The first aud second districts have oil Of
the other public buildings and institutions,
and the third district says keep them, but
we ask as a matter Of justice that you let
us have what we have got. There are
strong threats Of boiling in the Democrat
ic ranks il this Wheeling proposition car
res. Without the .he third district there
would have been no victoryiin 1870, no
convention in 1871, no new constitution in
1872, aud now the Democracy Of the 9th
er two districts propose to reward the third
by taking away the Capital. | look upon
it good deal in the same light as the en-
ersetic and sensible member from Putnam,
who says the position Of the Democracy in
this District toward the other two Districts
reminds him of the position Of the darkes
toward the Republican party,-they are
expected to do the voting but not share in
the division Of spells aud houors. From
indications the Wheclingltes have a bare
majority Of one in the House Of Delegates,
while in the Senate it is thought to be a
tie If this is the case then the capital
will not be removed, but both sides are
canfdcut, and there is no telling what the
iual result will be,
Senator Eastman, | am glad to say, is
one of the working members. He is Chair.
man Of the committee on Printing and has
been diligently employed in perfec'ins a
bill! on public printing, which, | believe is
now before bis committee for action.
The two members from Mason are al.
ways found 10 their seats in the House,
ready to advocate the claims Of their con.
stitueuts whenever necessary. Nlr. Rey-
nolds acquitted himself admirably one day