The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-02-24

The Legislature Of 1888 has done what 1t
thought we'll to do and adjourned within
the constitutional limit OF its life. Itmight
have done what it did in less time; II it had
remained longer it would probably have
done no more; and so there is no grest
reason to find fault on this score.
It was a Legislature that will be remem'
bered. 1t averaged well. 1t fairly represent
ed the intelligence Of the people whochose
Il. It contained some strong men, some
Of whom were restrained by their modesty
from coming often to the front. While
there we're some members who were I'M
derstood to have special interests under
their care. the legislation Of tn.
session has bred no scandals. A
Senator Of the United States was elected
by the arrogant dictation Of a politica
machine, with the offensive aid Of corpora
ton ipfluences-and this will be remem
bsred against the party which permitted i
in caucus and ratified 1t in the two houses
There are people in this State, and theiI
tribe Is increasing, who do not like THU
way Of bestowing public Office, whict
should ever be a public honor. And thil
dislike Of machine rule is ono Of the influ
ences which are undermining, surely aut
swiftly, the foundations Of Bourbon domi
nation in West Virginia.
The Legislature Of 1888 will be remem'
bered most for what it refused 10 do. Al
the Threshold Of It's career it was con
fronted with a deficiency in the Treasury,
The irreducible school fund had been re
duced by $4,000 and the money diverted
to the general uses OF the State. Every
effort OF the Republicans 10 restore this
money wa stoutly aud successfully resist
ed by the Democratic majority. The State
had borrowed from a bank $4,000; nc
provision has been made for taking up the
notes held by hat institution. After much
urging the majority did consent to appro'
pirate once more nearly ~sl2.000-with
interest added now about SlS,000-taken
from the i~rreiucible school fund, appro.
priated back in 1875, but never paid. There
Is no other guarantee now than there was
then, but the money will probably be paid
this time. The Legislature, finding that the
evasive policy Of its predccessor-thc re.
assessment dodge-was a failure, did in,
ere use the tax rate five cents on the 500,
making it now twenty-five cents. But the
lest informed member knew that this
would not yield enough to meet the States
constitutional liabilities. But the Demo.
cratic party stood in no awe Of the Consti-
tuition Of its own making-merely defed it.
That party has not heard the last Of it's
peculiar handling Of the finances.
The Democratic majority, though urged
byRepublicans, refused 10 say a good word
to Congress for the wool growers OF West
Virginia; refused 10 approve national aid
to the common schools Of the States; re.
fused to endorse civil service reform; re.
fused to ask Congress to do something for
Union soldiers who suffered in Confederate
prisons; squarely and fatty refused to levy
q tax to meet the States obligations as the
Constitution plainly provides.
The record stands as the majority made
II. The people know 1t, and they are in
little danger Of forgetting any part OF it.
The Democratic party has shown itsell
without the courage to face its wrong doing.