Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1881-03-26
CHANGES IN LAWS AS MADE BY
THELAST LEGISLATURE.


view with Hon. E. Boyd Faulkner,
whom it speaks of as the Nestor Of
the Senate, upon the changes in the
laws as made by the last legislature.
Its length prevents us from publish
ing it in full, but from it and other
sources, we give those changes that
are of immediate interest to the
people.
Under the assessment law the
manner of making out land books in
different. For 1881 the books are to
be made out by assessor of district
and county court clerk, after that
time by the county court clerk, COM
pensation to be allowed by the coun-
ty court. Assessors are allowed
from 5000 to $3.50 per year and per
cent. commission on amount of State
and State school assessed by them on
personal property in district. All
assessments made are to be based
upon the assessment as returned
under the general assessment act of
1873, which went into operation in
1875, and under the corrections made
within the year as prescribed by that
law. But any county court dissatisf-
ed with the assessment as made in this
way, some assessments being too
high and some too low, has power to
reduce on one by adding on to the
other, SO that the assessment of the
county is kept up to the aggregate
amount as returned under the as
sessment of 1875.
Justices have jurisdiction when
damages claimed do not exceed $500.
Either party to a civil action before
justice, when the amount in con-
troversy or damages claimed exceed
twenty dollars, under regulation
prescribed in the law, shall be enti-
tied to a trial by six jurors, if de-
manded. Justices are required to
give bond from $4,000 to $4,000.
Either party may have an appeal
when the amount in controversy,
exclusive of interest and costs, ex-
coed SIS, and if appeal is granted,
justice makes complete transcript
from his docket and transmits same
with dispositions and all original
papers to clerk of the circuit court.
Appeals granted within ten days,
upon execution of bond, authority
given circuit court judge, in
vacation to grant appeal, after that
time for good cause. Judgments
rendered since 10Th of Oct, 1880, can
be appealed from in like manner and
with like effect as if they had been
applied for in due time.
The amount appropriated for nor
NAL schools was $4,000. 1t is dis
tributed differently from heretofore.
The amount allowed for each non
paying normal pupil shall be $3.50
per month, which sum includes
books, tuition and use of apparatus,
which, upon the requiSition of the
President of the Board of Regents,
the Auditor will issue his warrant
upon the Treasurer to the Executive
Committee of said school. But in
no event can any one school draw an
amount exceeding $4,000. There is
also provision made for educating
colored teachers.
The salaries Of county superin-
tendents is fixed in this way: In
counties having not more than fifty,
$3.50; in counties having more than
fifty schools and not more than sew
enty-fve, $500; in counties having
more than seventy-fve and not more
than one hundred schools, $500.
The road law provides for working
the roads from 1st day of April to
LIST day of November. Surveyors of
roads are required to give bond.
Persons required to work are per-
mitted to commute therefor 10y
pay ing to the surveyor seventy-fye
cents for every days work 50 re-
quired of him.
The circuit court appoints stew
ards or agents of poor houses.
Persons charged with criminal Of
lenses can now testify in their own
behalf if they desire to do so.
No change in the jury law, but
striking out the word "white."