Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1881-01-29
THE LEGISLATURE.
SETTLED DOWN TO BUSINESS AND
woRK-IMPoRTAN BILLS IN
neutrality-suspicious. OF U. S.
SENATOR, &c.
Correspondence Independent.


WHEELING, Jan. 9th, 1881.
The Senatorial question being set
tied and out of the way, the legisla-
ture has settled down to business
and hard work. A large number of
bills have been reported and referred
to appropriate committees, and the
committees have plenty of work be-
fore them.
In the Senate on Thursday Goth,
Senate bill No. was passed to it's Sc
cond reading. This is the bill to
make persons, charged with crime,
competent witnesses. 1t provides,
"That in the trial of all indict-
ments, informations, complaints and
other proceedings against persons
charged with the commission OF
crimes, offenses and misdemeanors,
the person so charged shall, at his
own request but not otherwise, be a
competent witness. And his failure
to make such request shall not cre-
ate any presumption against him,
nor shall any reference be made to,
nor any comment be made upon such
neglect or refusal"
No. IL, can act making general
provisions for elections by the peo-
pie, and for providing for filling va
cancies," and No. 16,which has refer.
ence to the appointment of survey
ors, were also read a second time.
Delegate Ferguson appeared in the
Senate and reported the passage by
the House of House Joint Resolu-
ton No. l. This act relates to the
Circuit Courts, and amends and re.
enacts chapter 112 of the Code, max.
ing changes to conform the chapter
with the recent amendments to the
Constitution.
In House, Thursday Goth, a num-
Der of Bills were introduced, among
which the following are the most i'm
portant:
A bill to amend and re enact chap.
ter III, Acts of 1875, entitled, IAN
act to protect birds and game"
An act regulating the practice OF
medicine and surgery in this State.
A bill for the protection OF sheep
by providing tax on dogs, was OF
fercd and referred.
The Committee on Immigration
and Agriculture have before them
several bills in regard to dogs and
sheep, among the number, one pro
posed by Mr.. Riley, of Jackson
county, which is comprehensive and
somewhat original. 1t will probably
be reported to the House.
The Senate was not in session on
Friday, having adjourned over tc
Monday.
In the House. Speaker Wilson, OF
Kanawha, took the floor and squared
himself for a tilt against the rail
roads-the Chesapeake q Ohio, in
particular. He introduced resolu
ton, the text Of which is as fallows
Resolved, That the Committee on
Railroads be instructed to enquire
whether the rates of charges for the
transportation of passengers and
freights by railroads within this State
are reasonable, and whether such
/ railroads are guilty of abuses or un-
! lust determinations between thro'
J and local or way freights and passen-
ger tariff, and report by bill or 9TH
erwise and especially to report what
proceedings are necessary by this
legislature to carry into effect Sec. 8
of Article XI of the State Con5titu.
ton. And that the duties imposed
may be the better performed, power
/ is hereby given said Committee to
send for persons and papers and to
take testimony, and the Chairman OF
said Committee is empowered to adj
\ minister oaths to witnesses before
said Committee.
On the reading of the resolution
he made short speech in support of
his position, and hurled few ''hot
shot" at the so called gigantic cor
porations," and stated that on Mon
day he would follow up his skirmish
in the shape of a bill which he pro-
posed to offer on the subject. The
Speaker is evidently bent on IA square
fight with the railroads, and we sug-
gest that he cast his weather eye at
! the wrecks Of eminent statesmen