The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1873-11-06
LETTER FROM CHARLESTON.
Doings OF the LegisIature-A shorI
History OF the Printing Question.
CHARLESTON, Nov, l, 1873.


it is now in the House. If the bill
passes this latter body, the First Dis
trict will be com posed OF the following
counties, viz: Hancock, Brooke, Ohio
Marshall. Wetzel, Tyler, Pleasants,
Wood, Writ, Doddridge, Harrison
Ritchie, Gilmer, Calhoun, Lewis and
Bra1ton. Several OF the Third Disr
trict Senators voted with those from
the First upon the question Of giving
US Brsxton, showing much more
kindly spirit to exist among the MEM
bers representing the two sections than
has for..some time heretofore.
The Senate, yesterday, unanimously
passed joint resolution fixing Decem-
Der Is, as the day for sine die adjourn
ment Of the Legislature. 1t was COM
municated to the House, and | learn II
will pass that body. In fact, Speaker
Miller had already prepared a similar
resolution which would have been Of
fered IN the House had not the Senate
resolution been received just when
it was. Every movement Of
the House indicates that the
Speaker but reflected in his OPEN
ing address the determination OF the
Democratic members Of his House to
work hard and adjourn soon.
In the same spirit the house passed q
resolution, after long discussion, with
but fifteen opposed, limiting speeches
upon any question TO ten minutes each
aud two to each member, except the
author OIL bill on introducing one and
the chairman OF committee in report
ing bill may have a longer time to
explain its provisions. The Radical
members voted in q body against the
solution. evidencing their determina-
on TO embarrass the labors OF that
'.riY with all the power they possess.
n,c gentleman, Davis, OF Harrison, op
j.. led It on constitutional grounds. as
Ii was an attempt 10 abridge the free
dom OF speech What ass-tute ex-
Founders OF our new constitution come
OF these enemies of that instrument are
Both Houses cleaned up their cslen-
dar yesterday, as | believe they do
every day. Their business is well in
hand, and if the members who have
not yet arrived shall work as well, after
they get here, as those now here, there
will be no difficulty in completing ali
the necessary legislation and adjourning
in less than six weeks from this time
The Senate took its usual daily whet
at the State Printing question, and dis
posed OF it for the time being, il is.
hoped, by the passage OF a joint reso-
luton requiring the clerks Of the re-
spective Houses and The heads OF the
several Executive Departments to con-
tract for the printing and stationery
needed by each OF them and certify the
bills to the Auditor for payment. The
price TO be paid is not to exceed the
prices set forth in the bid made by Mr
Walker for the printing, binding and
stationery at the late letting The
House subsequently, passed the resOIu-
tion, so we are likely to hear nothing
more on this subject until the 2jlh !
OF this month, when the printing Is to
be re.let by the Commissioners to the ,
lowest bidder. II the Governor shall
approve the contract then made, the
people OF the State and their represen-
tatives in the Legislature may hsv, q
short respite from the scandals and
that have been drned into
their ears for the past two years.
Let us run over a succinCt history o
this affair and discover iis facts and
folles
In February, 1872. q complaint vac
brought before the House Of Delegates
that the Public Printer was charging
too much for some OF the work he wa
doing for the State-that is 10 say he
was violating the law regulating
the printing for the State.
Mistake No. /. The Legislature
should have said in dignifed wsy
1T ls our province to make laws but it
devolves upon the Executive oficera,
whom the people elect for that purpose,
to execute. them. Ifthis person is vio-
lating any law let the Governor see that
he is brought into subjection to it
The remedy is alone with him" Then,
If the Governor, after examining the
charges found them well sustained, il I
was bis duty under the law TO remove
the recussnt officer and institute
proceedings in court 10 recover on his
bond. Instead OF this, however. the
Legislature fell into the error oil sssum.
Ing, in addition to its legislative pre-,
negatives, the prerogatives OF both the
executive and the judiciary, apd took
into i;s own hands toe trial OF the
cause and punishment Of the culprit
II examined the charges then before it,
and dismissed them as not sustained.
Other charges were then thrust upon
its attention, aud it appointed COM
mittee. at the head OF which was the
Governor, to investigate and report to g
succeeding Legislature.
twill be seen that this mistake was
a fundamental one, but, in addition, it
makes no difference how honestly
legislative body performs an inves'r-
CATION, unless it convicts and puHiJhs5
in an ertrens manner, it is popular to
denounce it with "whitewashing' the
person charged. But the decision OF 8
court carries with it a different effect
1t is seldom you hear the charge OF
"whitewasbing' against court otjus-
tice
Well, this committee a. the head OF
whom was the Governor, bitter per-
sonal (aud at the time poiiticaD enemy
OF the person be was charged with the
duty Of investigating, pretended 10 fnd
evidence sufficient TO convict the Public
Printer. Then, under the Code, it was
clearly the duty OF the Governor act-
iug on the evidence and bis belief !
which latter he did not hesitate to
make public, to remove or suspend
that officer The Governor, instead o.