Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1875-03-06
WEST VA. LEGISLATURES.

WESE Va A1EUASA<iA CA>'
The legislature adjourned on Friday
last, to meet at Wheeling OH the 10th
of November, and there will be nothing
done in relation to the impeachment OF
Treasurer Burdett and Auditor Bennett
until that time. The House Investiga-
ting Committee made their report. The
Committee find that the Merchants
National Bank in 1872, paid $1,000 to
the State Treasurer in consideration OF
his permitting the retention OF cepos-
it of $4,000 Of public tupds. The
same bank in the spring OF 1878 paid
the State Auditor 5000 as an induce
meut to him to make deposit there OF
funds then under lis control. The
SAME bank has since paid two per cent.
on public deposits to W. 7. Burdett,
late clerk in the Treasurer's office, in
addition to the four per cent. paid to
the State, under which arrangement
AIR. Burdett has received about S2,OOO.
The Committee recommends the I'M
peachment of the Treasurer and Audi
tor, and that the Attorney General be
instructed to institute civil proceedings
against w. I. Burdett. A lengthy
discussion took place and the House
adopted the resolutions ofimpeachment.
A committee of seven managers OF the
Impeachment consisting of Good, Welck,
Stuart, Mason, Blakemore, Hutchinson
and Carlisle, was appointed, and the
Senate was notified of the action. 1t
is urged by many that the impeachment
cannot be sustained, because the offenses
charged were committed during for
mer term of Office.
In the House, on motion Of DR.. Tan
ner, the bill changing the County Court
of Jefferson was taken up, amended
and ordered to third reading. What
the change is We have never under
stood, but we feel confident there IS
room for much improvement Ill the
present system.
We see it stated in some of our ex-
changes of this Stale, that there were
about 400 bills presented to the legls-
lature, and out of those 400 there were
but six which were passed. The SEES
sion cost the citizens of the State about
$4,000. Six laws for forty thousand
dollars is paying pretty dear for the
whistle. But perhaps the money expend-
ed is not 50 dear after all. 1t may be
that the fewer laws passed the better
for us.
The Martinsburg Siafesndn. which
Is staunch Democratic journal, gives
= true and convincing idea ofthe work
inc of that body, in the following re-
marks -
The Legislature adjourned OH Friday
last TO re-assemble in Wheeling next No
vember. We have not learned what-if
anythinp-was done during the closing
DAYS. One thing we do know however,
il The members of the Legislature suppose
they can fritter away their time by use,
less and senseless voting upon senatorial
,nuabbles and in useless discussions OF
inproyident propositions, such as rcmov-
ing the capital temporarily, and then vlo-
,ate the spirit and intent of the constltu-
ton by calling extra sessions, 1t VIII be
found in time that the peoples patience
will become exhausted.
We will here however state that one
of our representatives in the House,
DIR. Tanner met the appreciation of his
entire constituency, for the faithfulness
in which ho discharged his duty. He
proved himself working man" and
OF sound Judgment. The DR.. also
proved himself firm aud energetic
friend of Shepherd College, matter
in which we all in the community are
deeply interested, and through his ex-
ertions almost entirely the appropria,
tons of money were procured. The
DIR. fought against ''wind and tide,
which is au sup hill business" but not
withstauding all this be accomplished