The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1875-01-25

shall speak only Of tho more prominent.
I come to tho election law FIRST, which
10 Of primary Importance: The present
law authorizes tue county court to ap-
point tho commissioners OF election,
This would seem to DO the proper plan,
we're l. not for the provision Of the con-
stitu.ion declaring that "the Legisla.
ture shall not confer upon any court
or judge the power Of appointment to
Office, further than tho same Is herein.
before provided for" The difficulty
can perhaps be bes. met by b,s,oSing
this pswsr upon the president Of tho
county court, snd in Ohio county, upon
the Board Of Commissioners. The
president Of the county court is not o
judge, nor 10 he invested with judicial
powers except when sitting as ono Of
Tie county court. This law further
provides thet the commissioners ofelec-
ton q. tho court house, shall ascertain
She result Of elections, but they aro not
required to keep any record Of their
proceedings, Therefore, il the ecrtif.
Gates Issued should DO lost ordessroyOd,
there would DO no evidence OF the cleo
tion Of officers, end NO possible means
for supplying this evidence. In any
event, however, there ought to Do a
permanent record showing the result Of
each election in q county, This would
constitute evidence Of the election Of
county and district officers, and would
afford the means Of issuing new certitf-
Gates in case any were lost in tho course
Of transmission to the seat Of govern
nen!. In addition to this, these com.
in;ssioncrS, OF the clerk Of the county
court ought to DO required to certify a
lis. Of o. oil county officers to the Seq
rotary Of State. The Official character
Of these oScers must sometimes DO GER
titled By the Governor, or Secretary Of
State. Again, the 18th section Of
election law requires "ths commission
orc authorized by tho 9th section Of
this act TO sign and issue certificates
Of election. This was evidently clor.
zeal error, the 10th was without doubt
intended, but 1t is an error which may
DO fruitful in mischief, for no commits.
sionsrs are referred to in the 9th sec.
ton. The statute relating to tho In.
corporation Of banks needs amendment
in two points. Every bank chartered
BY the State ought to DO required to
make aud publish in some convenient
newspaper semi.annual statement 81
It's resources and liabilities, verified BY
the affidavit Of its president or cashier;
and also to file copy ofsuch statement
in tho Office Of the Secretary Of State.
I sec no hardship in a law Of this Kind,
but on tho contrary, it will tend to pro.
tect both stockholders and depositors
l will cause to DO laid on your tables d
communication from tho Gomplroller.Sf
tho Currency bearing on this point.
No bank under the existing law can DO
chartered unless its capital stock 1. at
least S25,000, but only ten per cent Of
its capital stock Is required 10 be paid
before securing the charter. Therefore
It is possible Tor o bank to commence
and carry on business with paid up
capital stock Of S2,5e0, the residue Of
tho stock being represented BY stock
notes, or the simple subscription oftho
stockholders. This ought NOT to So
Tho whole capital subscribed should be
REQUIRED to DO paid upin good faith
before q bank is permitted to colnmcnc.
business. The State ought mot to toll
crate banking founded even in part on
the individual credit ofthe stockholders
who may DO unknown to the general
public. The foregoing conditions
ought also to DO imposed upon insur.
ance companies, chartered BY the State.
Experience in other States has shown
tho necessity Of imposing strict regula.
tionsin tho organization and manage.
meutofthese companies. Blu. with Us,
tho incorporation of an insurance com.
pany is governed BY the same laws as
that Of a mining or manufacturing
company. Owing to this extreme lib.
erality there is imminent danger Of tho
creation Of insurance companies which
give little assurance Of protection to
policy holders. During the las. calcn.
dar year, 10 Of these companies were
chartered, many Of the stockholdsrs
being non.res!dents. Idonot mean 10
say that any Of them do not intend 10
conduc. business III good faith, for |
have no evidence Of this kind, but in.
surance journals have made vigorous
attacks upon our system. The good
name Of the State, and tho interest Of
oil legitimate insurance companies, as
we'll as that Of insurers, imperatiyely
demand that the law on this subject DO
thoroughly revised aud amended.
The act abolishiug the writ ofeapias
pro fae, thought exceedingly unwisc,
1t was o most useful means Of punish
ing petty offences; without it, when 40
offender has no property that can DO
taken under a writ Of feri Jaeias, be
may escape all punishment. Ia add.
to this 1t Is tho most efficient means Of
collecting fines. l therefore recon.
mend that sections 10 and II Of chap
ter 90 Of the Code DO re-cnacted; this
will restore the writ Of capias pro fine,
and also the power to the courts to re.
lease q prisoner from ail when confined
for the non.payment Of fine. There
Is au inconsistency in tho law in rela