Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1881-02-12

spoke with unusual GOODNESS and de-
liberation, and his remarks evidenced
that he had given his subject much
consideration. Before he obtained
the floor, large number of petitions
were presented by Messrs. Quarter,
Lowry and Settle, largely signed by
coal operators along the line of the
Chesapeake and Ohio Road, asking
that the Wilson bill do not pass.
This rather dumbfou,led Mr.. Will
son for a time, as h. had claimed
that it was the coal and other min
ing interests that he sought to pro-
tect by his bill.
A resolution was offered by Mr..
Grantham, directing the Sergeant
alarms to pay to the widow of the
deceased Geo. Terrell the per diem
until his successor is appointed,
which was adopted.
A number of petitions were pre-
sented, among them one by Mr.. Bra
dy in relation to the Convict Labor
System.
In the Senate ON Tuesday, Mr..
Faulkner introduced Senate Bill No.
50, which is in relation to amending
and re-enacting the charter of the
town of Martinsburg.
Mr.. Donehoo introduced S. B. No.
83, concerning arrests. commitment
and bail, and s. B. No. S4, concern
ing the compensation of persons in
the service of the State.
The following bills were passed:
s. b. No. IS. A bill in relation to
the amount charged for licensing the
sale Of liquors and the keeping of
hotels.
S. B. No. 81, which is an act to
permit publications required by law,
to be inserted in newspapers on any
day of the week.
S. j. r. No. 6, which is in relation
to the re-districting of the State, was
passed.
In the House, the Railroad Bill
was put on it's second reading, and
most of the session was taken up in
its discussion. Mr.. Moffett gained
the floor and in strong and forcible
speech of over two hours opposed the
bill as being crude, impracticable,
unjust and unconstitutional, He
said he believed that wrongs do exist,
but not in proportion to the amount
of grnmbling. Mr.. Moffett combat
ted the idea that railroads are public
highways or corporations. To prove
his position he cited the decision of
Chief Justice Waite in the case of
Mum VS.. the State Of Illinois, IN
which he defines public corporation
as either political organization or
a corporation in which the govern
ment holds all the stock. He claim.
ed that railroad is public carrier
and as such is subject to rnlcs and
regulations such as are put On indi-
vidual carriers. He attacked tie
bill in several points, but claimed
that the crudest was in hp stcDn.i
part fixing the Classification aud
graduated scale of pric, ). lie dllu-
ded to the assertion by some OF the
patrons of the bill. Tat railroads
are gigantic corpora ions which are
crushing out the life Of our indus
tries" and asked il tuis were true
He denied it, and dlrw d compai ison
of the days when th~ie We're 10 rail
roads alOnG the present line of c,,ui.
pleted roads, wtrn II t0rk oven ;hrte
weeks to carry tn. Dro'luce of soin
of the counties to Baltimore. az r
cost of $3.50 on pack hor~Ds. ami thr
present day when it cost ;t.uut So,
and the money is in your 10 he, ia
side of three days, and asked u Tia;
was crushing out the life of Indus
try He referred To coal, salt, llm
Der and other interests that had
sprung up since the roads We're built;
to the fourishing towns along their
lines, all the result of the opening up
of the country by the railroads, and
again asked if that was crushing out
the life of industry. His speech was
throughout fortified with facts and
unansweIable arguments against the
passage Of the bill under considera-
ton.
BY Mr.. Brady. The petition of
John A. Boyer and sixty-one others
of Berkeley county, asking not to
change the appointing power of the
overseers Of the poor as to steward of
aims house, and county and district
physicians. Which, on motion of
VIC odLuC BCueiCuadu1 "tso idiu oil IuC
table.
We are informed that joint COM
mittee on re-apportionment of Sena-
tors and members of the House Of
Delegates, have determined to report
in favor of an increase in members
of the House, the Senators remain
ing at "a.
The bill reducing interest on State
deposits from four TO two per cent,
has passed both houses.
The bill to regulate the practice of
dentistry has passed.
The joint resolution prohibiting
the manufacture and sale of intoxi-
eating liquors has been made the
special order in the Senate for Fri
day. at 8 O'Clock. M. The subject