Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-01-12
OUR LAWMAKERS.
Reassembling Of the State Legisla-
ture. 4
Proceedingsofthe House and Senate.Sesnes
About the Capital-A Glance at Both
Houses-Legislative Leaders
and How They Looked.
THE DolNGs IN BOTH HOUSES.

gled ehit-chat ana cnatter IroIn htty-
four counties of the State: the corridors
of the building were once more resonant
with the tramp of the legislator and the
busy official; the legislative halls once
more re-eehoed with the familiar voices
of other DAYS; all of which was conclu-
sive to the visitor to the Capital that
the recess had really closed and theleg-
islative machinery was again being put
in running order.
Looking over the two houses, 1t was
difficult to realize that nine months
had passed since the faces of the mem
bers, appearing so familiar and without
material ch ange, had looked up from
the same seats. The roll-call showed
but few absentees in either house. and
the machinery seemed ready to move
without lar or friction, as if no interim
had occurred between the day OF ad-
iournment last spring, and now.
In the House. the 'old war horse"
Mr.. Ferguson, sitting in his usual
place, with his massive head towering
above the Others, and his mastitf mouth
accurately closed, seemed watching and
waiting for the signal for business, as
in other days he has watched and wait
ed the progress Of business with an
eagle eye. ,.
Directly opposite in the same relative
position. on the right of the Speaker, the
Somewhat conspicuous form of the del
epate from Wood, Mr.. Leonard, sat
with the usual appearance of pensive
mood, not so ready as Mr.. Ferguson to
say something or to say so much, but as
a kind of reserve force of that side of the
House, which comes to the rescue when
occasion offers, with blows that tell and
which are certain to hit the nail on rhe
head without hammering OIL the board.
In the center of the House, directly
fronting the Speaker, appeared the
pood-humored, genial face of Colonel
Monroe, who seemed just as ready and
as willing, as in the days of yore, to
pour oil on the troubled waters when
ever they show signs of turmoil; and
this triangle, thus seated by chance, as
it were, seemed designed, as 1t has
proved in the past, To adjust the bal
ances Of the House and hold 1t In equl-
librium.
The same chance disposition of the
forces in the Senate might be suggested
by the seating of the deliberate but pos
tive old Senator, Brown, on the right
of the President; his equally deliberate
and calculating colleague, Senator
Wood, opposite, on the left; with the
placid face of the keen and indOmitable
| Senator Dennis, located in the center,
to preserve the equilibrium of the sena-
torial forces.
AT high meridian the gavel fell in
each house, the throttle valve of the
legislative machine was opened, and 1t
again started on its mission for the peo-
pie of West Virginia.
IS
In the House
| the Rev. Dr. Muliord of the Baptist church
| of this city, was present in the capacity of
| chaplain, and opened the session with a
pertinent and eloquent prayer.
Then followed the most suggestive notes
| Of "Babble, BeCkwith, Bee, Bell, reSound-
ing from the Clerks desk in the peculiar
| tones of Colonel Peyton.
The roll call showed but ten absentees,
and some of these are already in the city,
| though not present at the opening.
On motion OF Mr.. Quarter, the dead
| Delegate" from Boone, the long looked for
| Meadows, arose from the dead, as 1t were,
and proceeded TO repeat in sepulchral
tones, the oath OF a member. He does not,
| however. look like q adead man, nor like a
representative of that celestial country"
but rather like u real representative of such
| material things as the fine pork and homi'
ny that aboundS in Boone. We predict
| that he will prove TO be right lively corpse.
| The usual proceedings then followed, Of
! informing the Governor and the Senate OF
| the organization OF the House and its
readiness for business.
Mr.. Moilctt offered resolution directing
| the Sergeant-at-Arms to provide more
comfortable chairs for members of the
| House. which motion seemed to be received
| rather languidiy by the members, as the
| seats had not yet gotten hard, and the
members had probably not yet taken a
prospective view of the future of the ses
sion. Only four members responded in
the affirmative, while the opponents of the
resolution seemed to arise from n number
! OF easy chairs which they had either fur
nished on private account or "cabbaged'
| from some other quarter OF the Capitol,
and thev outvoted the affirmative to the
number of 5 or TO- but no Quoaum voting,
Mr.. Mofiett took occasion TO arouse the
aesthetic taste among the members, by an
| appeal to their sense of the beautiful and
| their love of ease, and the vote being taken
the resolution was carried triumphantly.
| Mr.. Grantham, of Jefferson, offered a
resolution appointing committee to
| furnish Information rs 10 the number OF
State repositories in the State. and the
amount of funds in each, in order TO have
| these figures in dealing with matters OF
| revenue.
At this point the Governors private
! Secretary appeared and delivered the Gov
ernor'S message and accompanying docu'
ments, which the clerk proceeded to read.
| The reading occupied about an hour, and
was listened TO with respectful attention,
one or two parts drawing al audible
smile from the members-that referring
to the debt of West Virginia to the old
| State, and the operations of sharpers in
| dealing in West Virginia land titles.
The reading OF the message being con-
Cluded, on motion OF Mr.. Moffett, it was
! laid on the table and the usual number OF
! copies ordered printed.
On motion OF Mr.. Ferguson, the House
adjourned until 10 A. NJ. to-day.