The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-03-29
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TROUBLE IN WEST VIRGINIA.
Serious Rupture Between the Cover
nor and the LegiSlatUTe'

Correspondence oil the N. Y. WORLDLY
CHARLESTON, W. Va, March 22.-The
political aspect Of thus St0te is becoming
somewhat squslly. The executive and
legislative departments nI the State Gov
crnment are at logeerheads, and threaten
10 come to blows. Governor Jacob, who
IN the early part Of last summer effected
little arrangement" at PalkerSburg
with the Republicans, and by coalition
Ol these and number Of Democratic ad-
herents, composing the balance Of power
In the State, was subsequently reelected
TO the gubernatorial chair has been at con.
slant enmity with the Legislature ever
since It has been in session-some four
months. He has in that period vetoed
four acts, and the Legislature, which Is
composed largely Of the straight'out Dem:
Ocratic element, IN each Instance EepaSsed
them within an hour or two after the re-
celpt of the veto messages. One Of these
acts was ito extend the time In which TO
ascertain the result OF the voting In the
State for Congressman" on tho fourth
Thursday in October, 1879. The partial.
ity Of the Governor for his lately espoused
friends Is In this instance quite apparent,
and 4. was this action that has inuagura-
ted the feeling that has since grown to
such extreme proportions. The Republi.
cans, It will be remembered, held that the
29d OF August was the proper day upon
which to hold the Congressional election,
and elected their candidates with but
slight opposition; while upon the other
hand the other party voted for Its men the
fourth Thursday In October and likewise
elected them. Under these elections the
Executive issued o double.barrelled pro-
clamalion; which In effect provided that
ifone set OI candidates was not elected
the other was. The result Is that to-day
West Virginia has no members in the
lower house Of Congress, and will have
none until the question has been decided
In the usual manner. Then came the act
10 remedy this state Of things and the ve.
10 thereon, as before indicated.
Since this the bad blood between the
Governor and majority in the Legislature
has been shown In ways "tOo numerous
to mention" Suffice it to say that q state
Of affairs now exists calculated to excite
the gravest apprehensions. The question
upon which It Is feared an open rupture
will OCCUR Is that concerning the appoint
ing power. Tho constitution has been
found somewhat inconsistent where 1t re.
lRtes to the creation and filling OF offices
not directly provided for therein, includ-
ing school officers and managers Of the
different State institutions, in all little
short Of ten thousand offices for the
whole State. The Governor claims the
,,ou,nn ~ onno;oN than 0Ef1onro u1dar tho
constitutional provision for vacancies, &C.,
while the Legislature claims that they
shall be appointed by q Board OF Public
Works appointed by itself. And herein
the danger lies. The extremity Of feel.
ing between the Clashing powers Of gov.
ernmGnt will not allow either to coRCede
its ground, and ii Is likely that we shall in
u short time have two sets oi officers Of
the classes indicated, and at least q par
llal repetition Of the sad experience oil
our luCkless sister State on the Gull,
Louisiana. Several stormy debates be-
tween the two factions in the Legisla-
lure have taken place, while tue shrewd
radical leaders, who are looking to the
interests OF their own party. hold of and
OccasIOnAllysthrow in tirebrand to keep
the great political caldron boiling.
Again, the recent act Of the Legislature
creating the Board OF Public Works by
the appointment OF various State execu-
tive officers, Is held by the Governor aud
his friends to be unconstitutional, as the
constitution provides that none Of these
officers shall hold any otheroflce. they
claiming that membership Of the Board
is an office; and If such officers act under
tue appointment Of the Legislature, the
Governor proposes to declare their off,
res vacant and appoint new officers by
his constitutional power. On the other
hand, tho Legislature claims that the
Board Is not an office, but simple trust
without remuneration for services. II
this branch OF the question Is carried out,
rs 1t probably will be, the State will have
n muddle upon its hands which may ren.
der an application 10 the United States
courts II not the United States armies
necessary to effect an adjustment
Possibilities and probabilities as to the
result oI this split are freely discussed
upon the floors Of tho Capitol and outside,
und the latter, according 10 clear. headed
observers, arc by no-means Of an inviting
character. E. c. b. 7