The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-09-21
From the New York World.l
The New West Virginia COnsfttutf

The New West Virginia Consultations.
The new State Constitution which
has just been adopted 10 West Virginia
by the popular vote is a very sensible
instrument containing some provisions
which it is to be hoped may find incor-
poration in other State constitutions as
fast as we have conventions to amend
and revise. Among other things it is
declared that "the provisions OF the
Constitution Of the United States and of
this.State are operative alike in a PEI
Rod OF war as in time OF peace. and any
departure theretrom or violation thereof,
under the plea OF necessity or any other
plea, is subyersive of good government
aud tends to ANARCHY and despotism"-
good, sound, golden, business1ike sense.
The dstestable system Of test-oaths, IRE.
quning persons as prerequisite to the
enjoyment of their civil and political
rights 70 purge themselves by their own
oaths of past alleged offenses,"fi is most
propsrly denounced aud, as lar as the
State jur siiction reaches, utterly pros
hibiu-d. Under the head Of eligibility
to office are. provisions, declaring that
mo person whs is salaried Off ;er Of
any-railfoad- company shall occupy
seat id The Legislature, and that no
other person shall be eligible to such
position uhtil,he shall have taken and
subscribed a stringent oath to the effect
that he will accept no bride for his off
cia astion-the allursments held out by
corporatiaps being particularly aimed
at in the section. Still further to meet
the growing sudaoity of corporations,
it is provided that the Legislature first
in session under this new Constitution
shall provide by law for the punish
ment, by. imprisonment in the 7pehiten-
tiary, OF any person; bribing or attempt
ing TO bribe any member of the Legis-
latute or Judicial or executive officer. or
of any member OF the. Legislature ac-
cepting. a bribe; and further, either
bribed or briher, actual or would be, is
to be compelled by law to turn States
evidence against their accomplices.
Further yet, to bound and limit corpo-
ratons it is provided that at all elections
sior directors or msnegersJ Incorporated
companies every stockholder shall have
the right 70 vote ,for. the number of bis
shares for az many persons as there are
to be elected, or to give all those. votes
to one Candidate, or equally or un-
equally among more, a. he NAV see fit.
Thus, 1.-THE stakeholder have. 100 shares
and there be ten directors TO be chosen,
he has 1000 vo,es, and may give 100
votes to each often candidates, or $50 to
each Of four, or 500 to each OF two, or,
finally may cuimulateall h's 1000 votes
on one-shis method OF voting being
that form OF minority representation
known a. the cumulative vote. and the
,otjectbesng to give the misorhy ofstock!
holders q representation on the board
Of directors INSTEAD Of having few
large steek hedefs having everything
absolutely their own way. In 1876 the
Legislature srdiieeted 10 apply the
same system Or Rome other form ofmi-'
monty representation 70 the election OF
Che mem hrs of tine State Senate. Last
Ny. snongrhe notaoAe provisions Of this
new OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES mentioned the
sepsrstiye ordiserimipaing veto, where
by the Governor may approve some
items Of an appropriation. bin and dis
approvel others, the approved sections
standing as Law. and the disapproved
going back to The Legislature as in the
ease OF ass other Veto, This 'effeetu-
ally preyeats,-tSe Iesiaative evil Of
'saudwichiugn or cfxppiug in a corrupt
item .betwesh thonssf ones and forcing
|ths Exec,uivste approve the bad rather
than lose the good? Altogether the in
strurn.nt, as we have mentioned, is a
good one and reflects credit on its franz
ers, ana We trust IL 68ayredouud to the
advantage. Of The State. 49, ".~~ "