The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-03-06
LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT.


We have received the Report Of the
committee of the Whole" of the Con-
vention, on the Legislative Department,
and note the principal changes made
in the original report of the committee
on this'part of the Constitution.
The Committee of the Whole have
fixed the time for the meeting OF the
Legislature on the Tuesday after the
first Monday in January. 1t provides
that "the Senate shall choose, from
their own body, q President" instead of
making a figure head of the Lieutenant
Governor: 1t has amended the Doth
section of the original report, by insert
ing the words we have placed in itahc
%. No bill shall become law until
it has been fully and distinctly read on
three different days in each House,
unless, in case Of urgency BY a vote Of
four ftths of the members present, taken
by ayes and noes, on each bill, this rule
be dispensed with"
The 3lst section has been amended
so as to read as follows:
81. On the passage of every bill or
Joint or concurrent resolution, the vote
shall be taken by yeas and nays, and be
entered on the Journal, and no bill or
Joint or concurrent resolution shall be
passed by either House without the
affirmative vote of majority Of the
members elected thereto.
The vote shall be taken by yeas and
nays, and be entered on the Journal
upon the adoption Of amendments pro-
posed by one house of the Legislature
to bills passed by the other.
The forty-frst section, prohibiting
special legislation, is of sufficient i'm
portance to justify its insertion in full.
1t is to be hoped it will be adopted pre-
cisely as it now stands:
Al. The Legislature shall not pass
local or special laws in any OF the fol-
lowing enumerated cases; that is to
say, for
Granting divorces;
Laying out, opening, altering and
working roads or highways;
Vacatlng roads, town plats, streets,
alleys and public grounds;
Locating or changing county seats;
Regulating or changing county or
township affairs;
Providing for the sale of church
property, or property held for charitable
uses;
Regulating the practice in courts o.
justice;
incorporating cities. towns or villages,
or amending tie charter Of any city, torn
or village.
Summoning or impaneling grand or
petit juries;
The opening or conducting Of any
election, or designating the place Of
voting;
The sale or mortgage Of real estate
belonging to minors or others under
disability;
Chartering, licensing or establishing
ferries or toll bridges;
Renting fines, penalties, or forfeit
ures;
Changing the law OF descent
"Rsqulatiny the Ia,o of interest"
But the Legislature may, 80 far "a
practicable and as may be deemed
proper and useful enact laws Of
general nature providing for such cases.
"Ths Legislature shall provide by gen.
eral la,os for all cases whsre lsgislation IS
proper, and no special lar shall be enacted
'chsrs a general la'0 can be made appH-
CABLE
The 10th section declares that
"TAs Legislature shall never authorize
or establish any board or court of Regis
traitor of uotcrS.'
And the 47th that
Neither house of the Legislature,
nor any county or municipal authorities,
nor any public representative body shat
vote By ballot, or in any other secret man,
ner."
The above are the important changes
made in the report which was printed
in full in the REGISTER some time ago.