The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1873-08-20
nARRIAGE LICENSES &c.

We published an edltorlal paragraph
few days ago in relation 10 the print-
ing Of blank marriage licenses and cer-
tifcates at Charleston for distribution
10 the several counties in the State, as
sorting that we believed the practice
unusual and unauthorized by law. On
last Friday we received from the Audi
tor OF State the following Geographic
dispatch:
CHARLESTON, August Is.
1t has been the custom OF this office
ever since the formation OF the State to
furnish the marriage licenses authorized
by section 40, chapter. 63 Of the Code
Look before you leap. Signed.
f. A. BENNETT.
We have delayed abiding to the
matter until now, in order that we
might have an opportunity TO look
as advised by Mr.. Bennett, and, as the
result of our examination, we are hap
py to assure the Auditor, that our first
impressions are confirmed and we have
no occasion to regret the leap.
And, first, as to the custom IN rela-
ton to these blanks. In Ohio county
the marriage licenses and certificates
have been generally printed in this city
upon the order OF the county Recorder
and the bills for such printing have
been paid from the county treasury.
One lot OF these blanks was printed IN
the REGISTER job office few years ago;
another lot has since been printed IN
the IntslLgsncer office; and others, we
believe, have been printed in other job
Offices in the city. Ia addition to this
we are informed by the gentleman who
did the State printing during six years.
that he never supposed he had q right
to print blanks OF this kind for the en-
tire State and that he had never done
so; aud former clerk in the Auditor
Office says that it was only customary
to send blank marriage licenses and
certificates from that office to counties
thai were being newly organized under
the State Government, snd that conse-
queutly but few were ever distributed at
State expense.
So much for The custom since the
formation Of the State" And now as
to the right OF theSta Auditor to have
this printing done at State expense:
The 10th section OF Chapter G3 OF the
Code (relating to marriages, births aud
deaths, reads as follows:
"The Auditor shall furnish the re-
corder Of every county and the assessor
of every district with all forms and In
structions deemed by him necessary or
proper for carrying out the provisions
of this chapter; and shall furnish the
assessors with the necessary paper,
properly printed, on which to make
their register ofbir.hs and deaths"
As we have stated above, former
Auditors of the State only deemed it
necessary or proper" to furnish these
blanks to counties at the time OF their
reorganization, leaving to the county
authorities the duty OF procuring others
when the first supply was exhaust ed
And a good reason may be adduced for
this Interpretation Of the law. The
State receives no revenue whatever
from these licensea, then why should 1t
pay for the blanks No printing Is
done for the Sheriff at State expense,
Notwithstanding he collects the State
tax; it seems therefore doubly incon-
sstent that the State should be charged
with the expense of printing 10 case
where no service is rendered and from
which no revenue is derived.
We admit that the law may be 80
construed as 10 authorize the Auditor
to furnish at State expense to all the
counties all the blank marriage licenses
he may deem necessary or proper for
any term OF years 10 matter how long
but we do not think that it has been
generally so construed here tofore or
that il has been the uniform custom OF
the State Auditors to furnish these
blanks.