Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-03-24
HOUSE OF DEI.EAsArES.
Morning Se-sion.


Jefferson.
Several House bills wcrcrPturncd from
the senate with slight amendments. III
which the Senate COnCurrca.
Ususe Bill No 2S4 relating to joint st,s'k
companies whether Incorporated under
spcoiul charters or general law, pending at
the adjournment last night, came up ~ I'M
finished business.
Mr.. Hubbard spoke in fayoruf the amend
ment making majority vote OF the iegls-
lature sufficient to repeal acharter. lie
sajd the amendment was oaly intended To
protect the people. 1t would not interfere
with any railroad enterprise and only Kept
within the power of the Legislature the re-
peal of charters granted by legislative enact
,rent.
Mr. Wilson, OF Kanawhs, said IN oppo.
sition to this amendment, Re heard the old
cry Of preventing railroad construction.
The Democratic party, rs represented IN
this legislature. had made a
recon-. upon this question ri railroad
monupOlieS, that they would hear from
in the next canvass tO their disadvantage,
from every hilltop in West Virginia. He
read from the code Of Virginia, showing
that that State Incorporated corporations
for thirty years, and that after that time
they should be amended or repealed. Under
the GSpde of 1865 West Virginia, the right of
repeal was reserved but now ID is proposed
that railroad charter shall never be re-
pealed by the power that granted it.
Mr. Leonard said thatby this amendment
q mere majority of quorum OF the LeGis-
Iature could repeal tle.clarter nf a corpora
ton. West Virginia. had to-day, but few
railroads or projected railroads. and the
cause of this was the apparent hostility of
the Legislature to corporate enterprises.
Where a corporation had violated its char
ter, the remedy waS in the courts, but
when capitalists h2d invested their money
in enterprises in dis State, they should
not be placed at the mercy OF bare ma
ioritv of q quorum Of the
legislature Suah law would drive cap
ital from our Stale and prevent contem-
plated investments. Corporations were
a necessity. The vast resources of this
state might as well he buried in Russia
as here. unless We could have them devel-
oped, and for that reason We should en-
courage all legitimate enterprises.
Mr.. Ferguson said the adoption OF this
amendment would prevent the completion
of some great railroad enterprises by this
bill tho repeal OF corporate charters was
reserved. but it was thought proper, as a
natter Of ipsticP to the corporations, that
vote OF two-thirds of the Legislature
should be required for such repeal. 1t wa,
Just protection Ia persons who invested
their money in enterprise, in this state.
Hs VII, not afraid Of the slOga nj that he
had heard would would he ,Ounded
sgainst the Democratic party. He was
prepared 10 meet his colleague
Mr.. Wilson, on this railroad ques-
ton at any time aEd when
the time came for meeting thus question.
his colleague would hear from the people
to his disadvantage.
Mr.. Brady said that he Vas not one OF
those who could see far into the future,
but he had egotism enough 10 believe that
he could see as far into milestone as a
man would peck in a day. He said he had
no way Of Judging the future only by the
past and that il WAS "a we'll known fact
/ that when the Il. & -. railroad wanted the
right of way through this State that the
| Hon William Lucas wa, then member
! of the Legislature OF Virginia, and that the
! company could not have obtained the right
without his vote He demanded Of the
! company that they should run their road
within half mile Of Shephc rdstown, and
that company had agreed 10 do 50. lie
wrote tn the citizens Of that town tc
! know il they desired IL. The city
dads put on their spectacles. and after due
! consideration concluded that they did not
want a railroad within half mile OF theii
town: that a railroad was dangerous thing
that it would run over their pigs, and kill
their chickens: and so informed Mr.. Lucas
Tho result was that the road did not come
within FIVE miles Of Shepherdstown. and
three or four YEAR ago the people Of Shcp
| herdstown voted to tax themselves two
hundred thousand dollars to build a rail
road within half a mile OF said town, anC
called on the gentleman Srom Jefferson u
know if il was not 20, and concluded py
saving that all this foolish Legislation
against railroads was Unnecessary and un
called for, and he hoped the motion 10 re
consider would prevail.
"A motion was made 70 reconsider the vot
nv which "tvo-thirds'' was stricken ou
and majority" inserted, upon which tn
previous question was ordered, and IN
motion to reconsider, on vote by ayes an
noes. was adopted by 80 to -.
The question recurring upon the amend
ment striking ont "two-thirds and in'ee'
ing "a majority" il was defeated.
Mr.. Hubbard moved TO strike out sectloI
of the bill. and insert the provision Oh IN
present law, reserying the right OF repes
but not affecting the rights OF creditor,
The ayes and noes being taken the amend
ment was adopted by vote OF 81 to q.
Senate Bill 40. l67. relating TO evidenc'
was read q second time.
Mr. Hall, of Barbour. moved to recot
slider the vote BY which the House Passe
senate Bill No. 22o, the legislative apPo
tioument bill. The Speaker ruled the m' q,
tion out Of order, from which decision u
Hall appealed -. uo,ss ,ook
Pending the discusslon' the HOUSE '"'>
recess until 2:30 p N.
Afternooa Session-
The House met at the usual hour. II
cnest;on bending at the hour Of recess b
, Inc shall the decision of the chair be 50
: tained, said decision being that the motto note
Of Mr.. Hail, to reconsider the vote by viii;
the motion of Judge Ferguson TO lay =
motion TO reconsider the vote by whi'
senate bill No. 30, on the table, :"
, adopted. ,u aoo. =, (,
, recess, resumed his remarks. lie sa'h "a
~ l aN-TN A..