West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1883-04-21
soUND REASONS Fou HEJEC-
TyON.

cradle partisan spirit that pervades
the proposition. Tue unanswersble
reasons be gives why it ought to be
voted down, are as follows
LIST. Chan Ses in our laws are too
frequent the people hardly become
acquainted with the practical opera
tiou of a statute until it IA amended
aud so modified thtt only those who
are learned in The law are able to uu-
derstsnd it. Our present fiscal sys-
tenn g commissioned has been in
operation only two years; the com
missoners who took Office without
former experience in the transaction
of public business found the roads
and bridges OF the county in bad
condition, and the demands OF the
people upon them Tor money to put
them in repair were needed in a,psr-
haps, too generous spirit. The re-
suit was high local taxes. But now
the roads and bridges have received
due attention, aud the commiss OF ners
are resdy to give the people the ben
ent oil their experience; they are
likely 10 restrain their former exces
sive liberaIity, and it ia confidently
stated by those who are in position
to know, that our county taxes for
the coming year will be much lower
than for 1882. The sys,em works
admirably in Penney lvauis, and all
we need is to retain ours until it is
more thoroughly tried and it's bene-
fits duly appreciated.
'2nd. 1t 10 not proposed 80 far as /
have heard the friends OF the propo-
sltion argue, as measure for o
cheaper and more economical man
agemeut OF our fiscal affairs, but, as
it increases the pumber Of public Of
fcers, and as each com missioner
wonld be likely to try for large aP-
preparations for his district, the ten
dency would be towards increased
expenses and higher taxes. The per
diem OF the court would be sixteen
dollars, instead OF six dollars, as at
present.
Bird. The number OF days for which
the com missloners under the present
law may draw pay is limited To-
days In any one year but [ find no
such limitation in the, proposed law. 4;
20 the eight commissioners may sit
and draw pay for as many days as
they see fit.
'4tb. The provision that is most
Objectionable and should cause it's re-
jection by the voters. reads thur
The county court OF the county Of
Preston shal be composed OF eight
commissioners who shall be elected
by the voters OF said county
The reason for dividing State
into counties and subdividlng coun-
ties into townships or Districts, is
that the principle Of local self gov
ernment may apply within the sew
eral districts, and the pelple allow
ed TO select their own officers. The
three commissioners now conslitu-
ting the county court are county
officers. but when you increase the
number TO eight and provide that
each district shalt be the residence
Of one Of them. they become, in ef-
feet, dis trIct officers, aud would be
so considered by the citizens Of the
several districts. But the priuciple
Of self government, so far as pei m T.
ting the voters OF the district TO
elect their own mmissioner is con-
oerned, is not allowed in the pIo-
posed Act. The Commissioner for
each district must b voted for by
the voters Of all the eight districts,
so that the very person whom the
voters Of district might wish to
elect as their representative 10 the
board, might be, and in many in
stances would be, defeated, and an
Objectionable person elected for them
by the voters Of the seven other dis.
tricts.
III the proposed plan is soupd, The
Jaw should be changed 80 that the
county officers for the different ooun-
ties would be voted for by the voters
Of all the counties in the State 90
might the same principle sply 10 the
election OF justices aud eonstables,
deny the voters Of a district the priv
iege Of eleceting them and provide
TOR their election by the voters Of the
county. How many votes would
such proposition receive at the
coming election As many as the
new county court Act ought TO re-
ceive.
9th. So far as | am informed the
| rrsaent aveten gives general satiafso