Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-01-30
formation concerning the assessment Of


taxable property, aE follows:
Rcsoired, That the Auditor furnish the
Legislature, rs soon as practicable, . tG61.
lated statement by counties exhibiting
| the assessed values Of the real estate and
personal property of the State, Ct intervals
| Of FIVE years, from 1850 to 1880, together
with the assessed values Of the real estate
and personal property for the year 1852,
and Of the real estate for the year 1888,
| (under the recent reassessment Of lauds)
| and any other information pertinent to
| this inquiry he may be able to gather; and
| for this purpose he is authorized toemploy
| such additional labor rs may be required,
provided the compensation shall not ex.
| ceed fifty dollars.
Mr.. Daley objecting to its immediate
consideration, the resolution was laid over
until to-day.
After transacting some unimportant
business the House took up
The Bartt Free Pass Blll,
which is in substance 10 prevent railroad
companies from issuing passes TO all State
officers and nembefs Of Congress from
West Virginia.
Mr.. Pennybacker offered the following
amendment, which created some emuse-
rnent: 1T shall furthermore be an ohense
to accept an invitation 10 tea IN the city OF
Wheeling or to literary entertainment"
Mr. Pennybacker said he offered this In good
faith, and proceeded to ridicule the idea OF
trying to prevent the giving and use Of
free passes.
Delegate Burtt's speech
Mr.. Burt spoke very sarcsstingly OF tlrs
amendment proposed, and was Indignant
at the action OF the gentleman from Pendie.
ton. He then spoke on the merits OF the
bill. He urged the necessity OF such law
to do away with the corruption that exists
throughout the State and couRtry. The re.
suits of that corruption and the tempta.
tions that bring il about he illustrated by
reading the following from an address de-
lvered by Hon. David Agnew, ex.Chisf
Justice Of the Supreme Court OF Pennsyi-
vania. on June Is, lssl:
"A remarkable fact attending all the
great railroads Of the United States is the
immense wealth OF their leading Officials.
Ii is confined to no State, and is excep-
tional TO all other employments. The
grandest talent and greatest learning, in
law, physics, and other learned avocations,
accumulate a few thousands in Q lifetime;
but railroad officials, often rising from
mere clerkshipss, roundsmen, ticket and
other agents, with salaries running from
hundreds to few thousands, eventuate as
possessors Of many millions. II Is no un-
common thing to see a railroad president,
rising from the hunblest station, in ths
course OF fifteen or twenty years, become
the owner Of five ten, or even twenty
millions, at a salary which would not
average, for the whole time. over ten or
twelve thouand dollars. These are mystic
ries that the common people cannot un.
derstand.'
The common people begin TO see, Mr..
Burt continued, and this is one OF the
evils. Now we will bs able TO determine
if the Representative OF this State are pre-
pared to hedge in the liberties OF the peo-
pie against the aggressiveness OF these
dangerous influences that now exist in our
midst. In the days when the New York
Tribune was a power and blessing to our
country, before II became as IL now Is, the
engine OF the corrupt monopolistic in
tiuence. Horace Greedy was frequently
called upon to warn his subscribers against
unscrupulous advertisers. He had two
ways OF meeting this complaint. One way,
as he would say, "beware OF the man who
wants to give you something for nothing"
Or he would say again: another fool
thing for nothing and be has become the
dupe Of a scoundrel." The same principal
is involved In this bill 10 prevent these
more fearful influences from working eur
own destruction.
Mr.. Burt hoped the bill would pass in
its original form.
Mr.. lsbell and Mr.. Armstrong opposed
the bill. Mr. Sayre favored it, as did Mr.
Brown, Jr., OF Kanawha, who was heartily
for the object Of the bill and made an ef-
| feCtive speech in its behalf.
Mr. Davis opposed it, and Mr. Yeager
moved TO refer il to the Judiciary Com
| mittee.
Judge Brown thought it question of the
gravest importance, and made speech OF
| fifteen or twenty minutes In length which
was effective and convincing, not only op.
posing free passes, but discussing at length
the power, wealth, &c, Of the immense
railway corporations.
Mr.. Holt was sick Of the attacks on rail.
| roads that had broken out at every session
| OF the Legislature for the last three or four
years, and opposed the bill.
Mr.. Daley favored a reference OF the
| bill to the Judiciary Committee, which the
House refused to do by q vote Of q ayes 10
| 81 noes.
On motion. the House adjourned by .
vote OF 80 10 90.
At II O'Clock to-day the Prohibition
amendment comes up on It's third reading.