The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-12-25
The Late Legislature.


q gentleman who left Charleston on Mon.
day evening, and who therefore brings US
the latest news from that interesting To-
cality. he had been there for several
days previous TO the adjournment, and
witnessed the cloSlpg scenes and incidents
described by our correspondents. 1t is
his opinion that no amount Of CORES.
|pondence would suffice to do justice to
the last week Of the two Houses. Itneeds
Q plain.spoken individual, like one Of
those Marion county men, TO correctly
and expressively characterize the per-
formances Of the honorable members. he
himself tried to give US feeble idea Of
what he meant by saying that II as
much rowdyish confusion and dis
order attended the performances Of DAN
RIcE's Circus as attended the closing
sessions Of the House Of Delegates, the
generality Of its patrons would decline
to go under the canvass near 1t.
This Is certainly stating the case pretty
strongly, and yet, like Truthful JAMIE"
our friend assures us that he Estates bat
the facts" in SO expressing himself. There
was scarcely any sort Of order observed in
the transaction Of business. PGliamen-
tary law was reduced to "screaming
farce" so to speak. Members interrupted
each other by all sorts Of interferences,
such as talking in their seats, improperly
rising on the floor, running about, calling
the pages, and by turning the whole busi-
ness into q whoop.de-dooden.do sort Of q
performance. Our friend was reminded
Of that question asked by an ancient phi
losopher, viz: "What must a people be
whose gods are apes and monkeys% In
other words, what sort Of people must
they be who elect such men to be their
rulers, their lawmakers, their represent
atives before the world? Must they not
generally be Of the same class and cali.
bret Must they not be practically unht
for selEgoyernments
As giving the reader some idea Of the
highly conscientious manner in which
these men discharged their duties, we
may mention that the proposed inyesti.
CATION into the mysterious relations ex.
isting between the Treasury Department
Of the State and certain favored banks
was smothered out, and that the Auditor
and Treasurer Of West Virginia are still
monarchs of all they survey. We are
told that these individuals devoted
portion Of their valuable time to visiting
the rooms of the members and hanging
round the lobby, and otherwise election.
eering down any investigation. Their
arguments were potent, and they pre-
vailed.
Another specimen Of the intelligent and
upright manner in which these so-called
Legislators transacted business Is seen In
their disposition Of the appropriation bill.
Having provided for their own per diem
some time ago, they concluded TO make q
regular shuttlecock Of the appropriation
bill, each one giving 1t a kick or q cuff as
It passed him for seme local reason
peculiar to himself, but generally because
their own pay being provided Tor there
was no need to be mindful Of the honor
and the obligations Of the State. And
thus 1t happened that even the money that
had been borrowed to pay their per diem,
from even private parties, was len not
only unpaid but unproyided for.
II the late Legislature has achieved
any substantial good to the common
wealth of West Virginia we shall thank
somebody TO point out the particular item.
They have spent great deal Of money to
little or no purpose. They have debated
apinseng" bills and Slsven's Cabin turn
pike bills, and bills Of that class and char
ac.er without end, but we have not noticed
halls dozen enactments that seemed to
be worth the money they were costing
the tax payers ofthe State.