Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1881-01-22
THE LEGISLATURES.
FAIRLY AT WoRK-CoMMITTEEs
APPOINTED AND BUSINESS BE-
ING BILLS INTRoDU-
CED, &c.
WHEELING, Jan. 20, /
Corresponding Independent.

The first week of the session was
pretty much devoted to getting
ready. The members, especially of
the House, are nearly all inexaerien-
ced, this being their first term of
legislative service, and the matter of
making up the committees required
considerable time and careful con-
sideration, and very little real work
could be done until the committees
were announced.
The Senate committees were an
nounced last week, and that body
was ready for work, but the House
committees were not announced I'M
til Monday, when both branches got
down to solid work.
The legislature in joint session as
sembled, occupied two days last week
in canvassing the official vote of the
State for Governor. The official
as announced, stands, Jackson, CO.,
900; Sturgiss, 44,S45; French, 49,
OPT. This gives Jackson a plurality
of 16. JAG, and a majority over Stur-
giss and French of 3,417.
The Governors message, owing to
the length of time consumed in can
wasting the vote of the State, was not
submitted to the legislature until
Thursday. 1t is an able document,
and contains good deal of interest
ing and important information in
regard to State affairs.
In the Senate on Saturday, Hon.
Z. B. Faulkner introduced the fol-
lowing bills:
Senate bill No. 10, in relation to
the entry of orders, judgments or de-
crees made by Judges of the Circuit
Courts in vacation. Referred to the
Judiciary Committee.
the purity of elections. Referred
to Committee on Privileges and
Elections.
Mr.. Faulkner, on leave, also intro /
duced House Joint Resolution No.
., entitled,
ga Joint Resolution providing for
certified copies of the records of orig
inal Patents and Surveys, and Mill
tary and Treasury warrants of record
in The Land Office of the State of
Virginia, at Richmond, which have
reference to all lands within the
boupdaries of the State of West Vir-
GINA"
Referred to the Committee on the
Judiciary.
On Monday, Senator Faulkner in
trodnced and had passed, Senate bill
No. 81, fixing times for holding
terms of Circuit Courts in the 18th
Judicial District. 1t provides for
holding Courts as follows:
For Morgan-First Tuesday in
January, first Tuesday in April, and
second Tuesday in August.
For Jefferson-Second Tuesday in
January, third Tuesday in May, and
fourth Tuesday in August.
For Berkeley-First Tuesday in
February, thifd Tuesday in April,
and second Tuesday in October.
1t has passed both houses, and is
now law.
Several of the other Circuits made
efforts to have similar bills passed,
but none got through except the one
relating to your Circuit.
Senator Woods bill striking the
word white" from the West Vir-
GINA jury law, has passed the SEN
ate.
A joint resolution has passed the
House looking to re-apportionment
OF the State in regard to Senators
and members of the House, on the
basis of the new census.
The bill amending the Goth Sec. of
the Code, and making it applicable
to County Courts, has been reported
from the Judiciary Committee. This
bill fixes the powers, duties, &C., of
County Courts.
In the House, on Monday, DIR.
Terrell introduced a bill establish
ing periods within which debts of
various characters may be collected
by law.
A bill has been introduced in the
House for the protection of sheep,
and imposing tax on dogs.
Mr.. Ferguson, of the Judiciary
Committee, reported back to the
House several measures without re-
commentator, among others, bill