The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-03-02
The Constitutional Convention,
CHARLESTON, February 90.

CHARLESTON, February 90.
The report of the committee on Elk
ecutive Department being under discus
sion in committee of the Whole, the
question was on the adoption Of Mr.
Warth's amendment to serve without
pay, if members of the Legislature
continued more than forty.five days.
Mr.. Raymond spoke in behalf OIL
the report; Mr.. Warth for the substi-
tute.
Mr.. Gallaher moved to amend so as
to read sixty" instead of "forty-five."
Mr.. johnson, OF Wood, thought forty.
five days enough, as the Constitution, il
adopted, would do away with much
special legislation.
Mr.. Price remarked, that the inter
ests Of West Virginia were growing and
railroads are in process of construction
which would make great deal of neces
sary legislation. 1t was three weeks
before the body got report, and the
same TO some extent is true Of legislative
bodies. And it is, also, proposed that
the same amount of work shall De done
in forty-five days once in two years that
has been done in forty-fve days annu.
ally. 1t is unreasonable to suppose any
such thing.
Mr.. Raymond was unwilling to
amend, as the Legislature always laid
out its work and managed to remain
the fixed time.
The vote was taken on the anne nd
ment, as follows: Ayes "a, nays 81.
The gentleman from Doddridge
moved to amend by adding" in no case
more than ninety days" Lost.
The twenty.third section was read and
passed.
The twenty.fourth section read:
A motion to strike out "elect" in the
seventeenth line was accepted.
Mr.. Armstrong moved to strike out
that portion Of the section which refer.
red to Lieutenant Governor presiding
over the Senate, and spoke at some
length in favor OF such an amendment.
Mr.. Smith offered an amendment,
bat said if Mr.. Armstrong would add it
to what was already proposed, he would
concur.
Mr.. Armstrong accepted.
Mr.. Brown would vote for the amend.
ment. He was opposed to any Lieu
tenant Governor at all. The Lieutenant
Governor was generally added to the
ticket to strengthen the chances OF the
Governor.
Mr.. johnson, of Wood, said it was
necessary that this Office should exist.
Are we to leave it to twenty.four men,
bers to select a man who would, per-
hsps, be Governor. The strongest
reason why we should have Lieutenant
Governor to preside over the Senate
was, he would represent the State at
large there would be no local interests
in appointing committees.
Mr.. Armstrong set uphis amendment,
viz: "The Senate and House shall
choose their own officers from their own
number, and remove them at pleasure. "
Referred to what Congress had done.
The appointing Of committees by the
Vice President had been done away
with. He hoped the Senate would
elect its own officers and control them.
Mr.. Haymand felt but little interest
in it, and would favor the amendment;
the Lieutenant Governor did not origi.
nate in this report.
Mr.. Woods was glad to hear that il
would not have been in this report had
it not been in the report Of the Execu'
tive committee. 81 am opposed to
this"
The amendment Of Mr.. Armstrong
was adopted.
Mr.. johnson, Of Tyler, moved tc
strike out the eleventh line, and includ
ing ATTEND" in the twelfth line
Adopted.
Mr.. Wiley objected to the oldes
member organizing the Legislature. II
the first place the clerk had the rolls
second, the oldest member may want t
be elected presiding officer, and Their
may be great party excitement.
Mr.. Smith moved to strike out all o
the section after remove at pleasure
and insert the twenty-eighth section o
the present Constitution.
Mr.. johnson, of Tyler, stated that tn
Senate OF the United States was per
petual body. elected q President pr
tenn. at the close Of each session, 30 tina
in the event OF the Vice President beinl
called to the Presidency, the Senat
should not be without a presiding office
and the Legislature might do the same
Mr.. Smith withdrew his amendment
Er. Hagans offered three amend
meuts, which were adopted.
The twenty.tifth and twenty.sixtl
sections were read and passed.
Mr.. Fitzhugh offered . substitute. ii
lieu of section twenty-seven. His OBJ
ject was the same as contained in tn
section providing for annual settle
ments. He had examined the repor
with great care. 1t was too long.
Mr.. Raymond had no objection fifth