The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1881-02-09
Editorial Correspondence.


not get a letter ready for the last
Issue.
Legislation is moving along slowly
and but few bills have yet been pass.
ca Of general nature.
The most important Bill that has
passed both Houses and become law,
that arranging and putting in OPP
cation the Circuit Courts of this
fate, and under it | suppose the
sircuit Court of Mason county is now
in operation.
! The next important Bill is that
called the County Court" Bill, and
known as House Bill No. SO. This
bill was passed as everybody suppos.
ed, but it came back to US from the
Senate this morning with sundry
amendments, many Of which will
not be concurred in by the House.
The next important Bill under
consideration is the Bill defining the
duties and power of Magistrates. 1t
is a very long Bill. containing one
hundred sections. 1t is now upon its
lSeeond Heading and is being amend
ed in many ways, for the better or
worse, can not say. To-day it was
laid upon the table, and l. suppose it
will be taken up again on Monday
for further consideration.
The most exciting Bill, and one
That ELECTED the most discussion was
That of taxing dogs and protecting
sheep raisers and wool growers, in
This State. 1t got SO troublesome by
amendments being offered, that the
clerks could not keep the Journals,
md on motion Of Judge Ferguson the
House went into Committee of the
Whole, to consider it. They worked
along very well, until some one offer
I'd an amendment to,submit it to a
vote of the people in any county that
desired it.
This amendment was assailed furi-
ossly, and Ferguson being the author
o. the Amendment, was brought to
his feet, when he declared that if
this amendment was not adopted he
would vote against the Bill.
Mr.. Riley then offered a substitute
To exempt certain counties from its
operations, unless they chose to adopt
itby vote of the people. My i'm
preston is that the Bill will be de-
feated altogether.
The Judiciary Committee has in.
tIoduced Bill 1876, for Regulating
and keeping in repair County Roads
and defining the duties and powers
of Road Surveyors" This is a very
Objectionable Bill. 1t provides that
all male persons between is years
an95o years shall perform two days
labpr upon the County roads, and if
NECESSARY Il larger time, not to exceed
six days in any one year, and that
thel hands of one precinct may be
compelled to work upon the roads in
aaother precinct, and further if work
is lot performed, and the tax of $500
is not paid for failure to work, the
CT. stable may distrain for same, and
if ID can 20: be collected, because the
party has no property upon which to
make the taxes, then she Constable
is directed to bring suit for ssne be-
foreIsome Justice, and on judgment
being obtained, then if the party
does not pay at once, together with
all costs, he shall be confined in the
County Jail for five days, This is
looked upon as an outrageous meas
ure, and the surprise is that tshould
originate in a Committee Of which
Judge Ferguson is Chairman. 1t
can not pass. 1t must not pass. 1t
is the most obnoxious road law ever
introduced in the Legislature of this
State My vote will be recorded
against it, and l will do all | can to
defedt it.
Tie school law is being amended
in many particulars. Some amend
ments will be for the better, and none
for the worse, | think. The power
of hiring teachers will be again
placed in the hands of Trustees,
where it should have always been.
ltlooks now as if the session will
be protracted to 60 or 80 days. l am
opposed to an extension over the
Constitutional limit IF Ak dave m