Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1882-02-14
LEGISLATIVE PROCEEDINGS.

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bill
The House, on Monday, by vote of 30
to %, refused to order the Wilson railroad
bill to be engrossed. On motion of Monroe
the vote by which the bill was rejected was
reconsidered, and on motion of Mr.. Wilson
substitute presenting the single proposition
that it shall be unlawful for any railroad to
charge more for short distance than for a
longer ono was adopted,
On motion of Mr.. Leonard, House Bill
No. 329 relative to the resssessment of real
estate in this State, was taken up.
Mr. ferguson moved to strike ont the pro.
vision requiring the appointment of board
OF equalization of one from each senatorial
district with view of having that duty per-
formed by the Board of Public Works.
Mr.: Grantham had high respect for tie
Board of Public Works, but they were not
farmers and none of them from his section of
the State, and knew nothing of the value of
the lands there. The bill provided that oplv
after the Board of Public Works had decided
the lands were assessed too low, should tho
other board be appointed, and he thought tho
Governor was able to appoint at less. one
honest man for each senatorial district
MIR. Ferguson said the gentleman from
Jefferson seemed to think that somebody was
striking at him. He had said nothing shout
what would be, but of what had been done,
and he knew of what he spoke He had no
Intention to induce debate, but it was an i'm
portant subject. No man could tell the
character of the lands of Senatorial dis.
trict But the point was that the bill pro-
vided that if in the judgment of. the Board
OF Public Works single assessment district
Is too low then this board, from each Sena-
torIal district in the State, must be sum-
moned to correct the error. Uuquestionably
the section is not right in its present form,
and should be corrected
Mr.. Hubbard hoped the amendment would
be adopted 1t would save expense, and the
Board of Public Works could do it as we'll as
any other.
MIR. Leonard opposed the amendment and
Messrs. Doddrill, Moffett and Holt favored
it, and on the call of ayes and nays the
amendment was adopted
MIR Ferguson then offered an amendment
making the Board of Public Works er oficio
Board of Equalization. which was adopted.
MIR Grantham presented the petition of 81
citizens Of Jefferson county asking for the
Prohibi,ory Amendment.
On Friday, in the House, bill providing
Or. reassessment of all the real estate in the
: was read, upon which Mr.. Grantham
began an argument in favor. Without con-
Guiding consideration of the bill, the House
took recess till 2:30, p. NJ.
In the afternoon the bill was made the
subject of lively discussion being supported
By Messrs. Ferguson. Moffstt, Cressp and
Leonard, and opposed by Messrs Riley, De.
pue and Holt, and was passed by vote of
81 to %.
House bill No 367, in relation to railroad
freights and charges, came up on its third
reading
Mr.. Wilson, (Mr. Kcpncr in the chair,)
sustained the provisions of the bill The dis.
lance FROM Chicago to Baltimore was 900
miles, and from Wheeling to Baltimore about
800 miles. a train could be run from
Wheeling twice for the samo expense as once
from Chicago and the bill simply provided
that no more should he charged, Mound for
pound, from Wheeling than from CHICAGO.
Was this unjust? Conld no, the railroads
carry 100 pounds from Wheeling TO Bal,i
more ns cheaply as from Chicago to the same
point? The provisions of the charter was
for the protection of the people of West Vir>
glnia. The present system of exto-tion was
ruincus to every interest in the State. II
was placing an embargo On our manufactur.
ing and agricultural interests. and was re-
ducing the values of our lands The rail-
rosds were now taking 81 500 coo wron gful-
and yet they refused to pay taxes. and the
Il y railroad claimed TINT it was not La
BILE to county taxes. aud they we're now going
on with these eztortions of twice as much as
it takes to run the State government. Will
you continue to sit idly by and see this rob-
berry perpetrated When he got to talking
abou: these outrages, it was difficult for him
to stop. The whole question was, was it riobt
or wrong for a railroad TO charge for short
distance more than it does for a long distance.
and he hoped it would be passed
MIR. Lowry said the gentleman from Kama
whs died hard. This was tho third time he
had brought this matter up-ouce last winter
and twice this session. When it was M the
other day, the gentleman wanted test, and
he had supposed that it had been settled bnt
he now had it up ogaio, aud inserted the
samo argument. and had gone over the same
ground He hoped the bill would not pass
The time had not come to lcgislate railroads.
out of the State. We could only get reduc-
ton rates by competition. Let any body build
roads all over the State. and the rates would
regulate themselves. West Virginia was now
going ahead. Let her go, and in few years
the wilderness would blossom and she would
take her place as second to no State in the
Union.
Mr.. Wilson did not expect tho gentleman
from Summers to support the bull. He
MIR. Lowry-Why not?
MIR. Wison-Because he had opposed
every measure introduced in the interests of
the people or attacking these mouopoics
Dir. Lowry, excitedly-The gentleman is
mistaken, and outside of this house l will use
stronger language.
Mr. Wilson retorted that the gentleman
had better DO careful what he said outside oF
the House. He cared no more for him than
for fly. He was responsible for his utter.
ances there or elsewhere.
The Speaker-Order. gentlemen. The
whole discussion is out of order.