Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-01-18
order or the Day.

The hour fixed for the order of the day
having arrived, House Bill No. 1sI, "for
the better government of Berkeley Springs
vas taken up.
Mr.. Moffett moved. to strike out in the
tkird line OF the ID section. MAY, lsa," ,"
and insert april, 1882" Adopted.
he then moved to strike out the names
of the Trustees, as they appear in the bill.
and insert: "15 members, to bo appointed
object 10 the gentlemen named in the bill
as trustees, but he proposed to have the
same number Of gentlemen appointed by
the Governor, for the reason that the Ex.
ecutiye, and not the legislative dspart-
ment had the appointing power under the
Constitution. 1t had been claimed that the
Springs were not public property, but this
he maintained was wrong. 1t originally
belonged to Eord Fairfax. In 1T76 control
was FIRST assumed over the property by the
Virginia Legislature, by an act which sets
up claim to'the property, which provides
that the springs and certain grounds con-
nected with them, should be held for pub
lie use. Neither Fairfax nor his heirs dis
puted this claim Of Virginia, and the prop
erty was therefore taken and controlled as
public property. The title OF Fairfax had
long since been forfeited, and therefore, if
the property did not belong TO the State it
belonged 10 no oae, and was therefore the
propeity of the State This being the case,
the eTlkpoin tments should be made by the
Executive OF the State. He hadno other
objection to the gentleman named, but
thought the method Of appointment ought
TO be changed Under the bill the trustees
would hold their Office in perpetuity, which
was not in accord with the genius OF Demo.
cratic institutions, but belonged TO aristo
cratic governments, and this was another
reason why he objected to the bill.
Mr.. Ferguson thought as there Was moth
ing,in the bill which made the trustees Off
GERS of the State, required an oath Of office
or gave them q cent OF pay, no harm could
arise from it. Ii simply placed the prop
crty in the hands OF its friends, as trustees
for the public.
Mr.. Modett-If it is to be held in trust,
and not guarded by officers, would il not be
better to hsye them appointed by the Judi
ciary?
Mr. Ferguson-Such a course would be
legal, but as the matter was here, il would
be equally legal % dispose of it.
Mr. Siles sent up and had reasa letter
from c. J. Faulkner, Us to the title of the
claiming it belonged to- the town
Of Bath, by virtue Of grant from Lord
Fairfax, and was not the propegty OF the
State Mr.; 9iler also I'd read a statement
Of the receipts and disbursements of the
trustees forth past ten years.
Mr.. Moffatt said he had hundreds of let
ters asking that the management he
changed as regarded it as valuable pub
lie property, and he was Informed ii was
now practically a monopoly iE,the hands
of those In control, who used it for the
benefit Of themselves and friends. He
thought the State ought To derive some
revenue from it, instead of which, he was
informed that. notwithstanding no cent
had been paid into the treasury. the build
ings were TaSre dilapidstcd and the springs
more out If repair than they were twenty
years ago He cared nothing for the local
fight. II those i'll charge had handled
the property as well as had. been stated
the Governor would probably retain them,
but he wanted the right of the State u the
manner.
Mr.. Qlarrier thought that members
could not vote intelligcnly without fur
ther information as to The ownership of
the property, and he therefore moved to
refer the whole matter TO the Judiciary
Committee, which was adopted.
niIIs Read Rirst Time.
No. 2TG concerning insurance, telegraph
and express com paniCs; No. 2T, concern
ing the mode of recovering fines; No. 27S,
the liquidation snd payment OF
claims against the State; No. 279, concern
ing the formation OF new counties and the
changing of county lines; No. 80, concern
ing ferries, toll-brdgcs, etc; No: 2Sl ,Acon-
CerninS the incorporation OF cities, towns
Bnd villages, without special charters; NO.
2S2, concerning the incorporation of joint
stock companies, and No. 2S3, amending
and re-enaCting chapter Al OF the Code, were
read a first tine and ordered to second
reading under suspension OF the rules,
after which she House adjourned.
SENATE.
Morning Session.
The Senate WAS opened with prayer BY
Rev II. \. Cunningham Of the First LreS-
byterian Church.
A communication from the House was
received announcing the passage % bill
to amend chapter 3 OF the Code, COncern-
ing elections by the people.
Mr. Williams, from the Committee on
Privileges and Elections, IN response to
a resolution Of the Senate, adopted on yes
terday, directing them to inquire into and
report as to whether memberS Of the Sen
ate are entitled 10 mileage fer the present
session, asked leave to repOr. that, in the
Opinion Ol Iut CpiilhlAbtVN 'iiV 'hN''.'N' .
are entitled to mileage at tho rate of ten
cents for each mile travelled in coming to
and returning from
The scot of Government,
by the most direct route. And the com
mittee further reports, that the distance so
travelled and to be travelled by the mem
bers of the Senate, respective ly IS as fol-
lows:
A.E. Summers, 4SS miles; A. Il. Barbcc,
800. r s. Brown, 270; Samuel DAWSON.
sac: w. NJ. o. Dawson, 256; X. +. Dennis,
934; J. X. DonehoO, 80; WIN. Ewin, 3OJ;
Thomas e.. Farnsworth, 32S; f. Boyd
Faulkner, 55S; Franklin Maxwell, 336; W.
C. McGrew, l96; David McGregor, $50; VIM.
I. McNeel, | 900; Lewis S. Newman, 81; ID.
A. Roberts, 27G; Harvey Samples, 53S;
Jerome shelton, 53S; Fontaine Smith, l5S;
loci Il. Stollings, $50; John ". Stout, 20i
Joseph Vanmeter, 4i0; Charles Williams
4O6; J. J. Wood, 90.
Mr.. Dennis from the Committee on Judi
ciary, reported back number OF Oiils
amending several chapters of the Code.
Mr. Newman, from the Committee on
Finance, reported back House Bill NO. 1866
amending chapter 40 OF the Code;
Mr. Dawson submitted the following re-
port: ,n,
The committee appointed W a1Ct' %'h va
amount OF fees received by the secretary oil
State during the past year, respectfully re-
mort that from certified statement pre-
pared for them at the Office oi the Secfe
tary, they find that the
Amount OF Fees
received by that officer during the year
jS8I. was FIVE hundred and thirty-iivc dol
lars. as follows:
From certificates Of Incorporation ...........'b!
From commissions to notarics ~
From all other sources '''''-' =
So
This amount is exclusive OF tax on seals
which is payable into the treasury OF the
State. WV. NJ ". DA"SO'i
THOs. J. FARsswoRrH,
J. J. WOODs.
Mr.. Dawson said that the committee
found the records, accounts, books anc
work generally in the Office OF the Secre
tsry OF State 10 be in the very best order
Work that had been neglected under th'
past management of the office. was beint
RAPIDLY made up and put in proper shape
He complimente ted the clerk OF the eecre
tary upon his efficiency and the larg,
amount of work that he accomplished, ano
IL the amount of his salary vas the ques
ton at issue, it should be raised rathe
than reduced. He continued to enumerat
nj considerable length the many and oner
.. a,.;o. 90 cha Sacretary of State. li