Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1882-02-18
FROM WHEELlNG
DOings of the Legislature
Railroad Bill Hfefeaf d
Delegate Brady state
Hoard of Health LaW-Nc.
WHEELING FEB. 10th, 1852.

hhEELiNG ED. lObh, @OS-'
In the House on Friday, what re-
manned of the Wilson railroad bill
came up and created quite a breeze.
The discussion became personal be-
tween Speaker Wilson and delegate
Lowry, and the lie passed. The bill
was finally brought to a vote and de-
feated. This ends the matter for
this session.
Your representative, Mr.. Brady of
Berkeley, is a quiet, undemonstra-
sive member, but he is an attentive
and Woodworking one. H. is a gen
tleman of fine practical sense and
judgment, and the interests of your
county could not have been placed
in more judicious or safer hands.
Being a farmer, he has no high no.
tions of expenditures, and is some
times thought to be a little too close
listed or economical in appropria-
tions OF money, but on the whole,
this is a good trait, and one no doubt
that will make him popular with a
large majority of his constituents.
He is always at his post and watches
the proceedings closely, always with
an eye single to the best interests of
the people of his own county. My
acquaintance with him, as with Mr..
Evans, is not extensive, yet limited
as it is | can truthfully testify to his
ability as a legislator.
The Senate on Monday passed Mr..
Fanlkner's amendment to Senate
bill No. 1873, which is a very import
ant one, as it affects the highest
privilege of each House of the Leg
islature, involving the question of
jurisdiction and the power to punish
for contempt. This bill proposes to
amend and re-enact chapter.l2of the
Code. Section Z of this chapter pro-
vides that when a person is sum
moned to give evidence or produce a
paper before a joint committee OF
the two Houses that obedience to
such summons may be enforced as
the two Houses may determine by
Joint resolution. This provision
proved a complete bar to proceedings
for contempt before one branch of
the Legislature two or three years
ago.. And in order to obviate this
difficulty Mr.. F~aulkner's amend
ment was largely adopted, which
authorizes the chairman of each of
the committees of the two Houses to.
summons witnesses to testify before
both committees sitting jointly, and
if he refuses to obey SAID summons
the committee which summoned him
shall punish him, or report him to
the House which appointed the com
mittee, for such action as that
House may deem eXpediena. This
clearly acknowledges the constitu-
tional right Of each House to be the
sole Judge of whether "a person is in
contempt of that House.
The House on Tuesday ordered
Bill No. 405 to it's engrossment and
third reading. This bill amends and
re-enacts the present State Board Of
Health law, and is highly important
in view of the prevalence or small
box throughout the country, So
soon as it becomes a law, the local
boards of health wall have all the
powers necessary to control the di-
sease, strike where it may WITHIN
our borders.
A bill has. passed the Legislature
which effects a compromise OF the
States claim against the Merchants
Bank of Charleston. The State gets
$50, 900 by the compromise, for the
$4,000 that the bank owes. The
Bank was made a depository of
State funds while Burdette was
Treasurer, and failed with $40 900 of
the States money in its possession.
Thus it is the State comes out a big
loser, as the securities are worthless.
In the Senate, on Tuesday, Mr..
Faulkner, from the joint committee
on apportionment of Senators and
delegates, introduced a bill for the
apportlonment of the State for leg
islative purposes. The Senatorial
districts and the number of Senators
remain unchanged. In regard to
the House, the bill provides that it
shall consist OF seventy-nine men,
bers, an increase of thirteen over the
present number. The bill has been
made the special order OF the day in
the Senate for February Sd. E
The Committee appointed TO in
vestigate the sanitary condition of
the asylum at Weston left Wheel
on Saturday last.
Eighteenth volumne of West Va.