Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-01-19
VENTS VOICE.
Pointing Ont Path in Which the Legisla-
ture May walk Aceeptably.

this State that are greatly nee dsd to secure
the best interests Of the people, that they
win be unable during the short time allotted
for session, to complete legislation to meet
these pressing demands. The Intelhgeneer
OF the 18th names some things that this
body will have to deal with the coming |
winter. The report of the Tax Commis-
sioners. the supplemental assessment, the |
University and Normal Schools, the JUS
tees law and the eodi6cation Of the laws |
The codiicatisn Of the laws, it thinks, is
the most important, but thinks the State |
can't afford il at this time, because 1t will !
cost S25, 900 to $4,000. We viii not argue |
this matter IS to cost, but viii say |
that these are extreme figures, and there |
is no necessity for the cost 70 exceed
$4,000 to $4,000 The Intelhgencer
harps the same old song, to put OF the work
until we are better prepared. This work
has been put of from year to year waiting
for better time 50 as to be better prepared
to paw for the work. That time has not
c me and il never will,-we are drelminS
and reposing in a eomatose state, waiting,
MieaHber-hke for something TO turn up,
looking drearily into the future with our
hands folded, we turn q deaf ear to the
great demands of the people who are asking
that this work be accomplished. These
promises have gone on from year to year
and we have accumulated acts Of assembly
and laws in pamphlet form TO sucn an ex-
tent that dray is necessary to move the
library of Justice of the Peace from his
nearest railroad station to his Office and
l.. - -, h knnua Uhan
he is to the end Of the law, for the task of
hunting up the acts Of assembly is 50 great
that he becomes Disguised and guesses
the matter OF Mistakes are thus
made that takes years to correct, and the
cost from this item alone is more to the
people Of this State every year than many
times the cost Of eOdi6estion. The wosk
of codifying our laws must be done some
time; the longer il Is pat of the greater will
be the cost and trouble The eodi6cation
of the law so people can obtain our system
of State governments viii induce emigration.
There are thousands Of people who refuse
to come to our State, because they say, I'VE
can learn nothing about your laws" Law
is the standard that governs the action OF
the emigrant and has more to do in placing
him in the State where he makes his future
home than anything else. In this enlight-
ened age people want to inform themselves,
and when they ask for West Virginia's
digest We show them a heap Of old
rusty acts Of sssemblys that a man could
scarcely read in ten years, his eyes Hare
open and he retires. i viii guarantee
that this State has lost in the last decade
10000 emigrants on account OF this very
cause They would have added 81 100000
70 the wealth of the State, to say nothing of
the improvements they would have made in
clearing ND our forests and in setting the
machinery to work that would have made
these waste lands blossom and bloom with
wealth. What inducements can we otfer
emigrants to come to our State, only that
we have cheap lands that viii make good
farms. Show them with this that our laws
are eodi6ed so that they can understand
what are their legal rights and you at once
accomplish q great deal towards the ad-
yancement of this desired end. The work
of eodifcation is not mOmentsry but lasts
for years, yes ages. II is true it has to be
revised every few years, but this revision Is
but triHing compared with the first work
1t is true our State is some little in debt
a mere triae to q State. You don't lind
PENNSYLVANIA, Ohio, or the western States,
on account of q few dollars expense,
standing back when some import
ant reform is needed, waiting until
they are better prepared. Their Legislatures
take the bun by the horns and the work IS
done. Progress is their watchword and
they reap their reward in the advantages
thew secure their people. Take the Pan
handle, as it is called, and strike it of to
PENNSYLVANIA and ! viii guarantee that
every acre of land in Il viii enhanced ten
dollars the very minute lit is done. Why sop
Because Pennsylvania is progressive in her
laws and legislates for ths benefit Of her
people. The taxes would be reduced one
half or more, her system Of laws governing
judgments, collecting of taxes and the dis
tribution Of county officials and their duties,
All of which eonduces to the interest of the
peOple At the least cost would bring about
this result The lutelligeneer hints that
the Constitution Of the State should be re-
modelled before the work Of codifying the
laws is begun. We admit there Is
room for Improvement in the Organic
laws OF the State, but is this
good ground for staying of this
work. Give rs the codi6cation
and when the constitution is remodeled the
/ laws can be revised 10 conform Thereto. III
lsthe laws Of our State cannot be made 10 suit
the best interests Of our people under the
present constitution, or if It obscure and
hard to comprehend, constitutional con-
ven,ion would be in order. Let Us get out
Of the darkness let the cost be what it viii.
We have grouped our way long enough, and
been derided by our sister States for our
| hardness until we are ashamed of our situa-
ton. If West Virginia had modelled her
hNWs and constitution after some Of the
weStern States, and given such hbershtY and
refoi m as would have kept her abreast OF
the times, she wOald not now be pineing
over few dollars necessary to pay the cost
of A maher that has become . burning
shame 10 the Stste because Its great neces-
sity. PeCele never become enraged over an
appropriation or law that a6sorbs their taxes
If it brings to them return innring to their
benefit. A State cannot afford to withhold
laws that are necessity to Der people. and
she should make them open frank and
clean and wen digested. in such form, that
/ the world can read them at its pleasure.
Life is TOO short for man to do months
work and then have to spend two months
hunting up the law to learn how to recover
his wages. BE wants the information TO be
At hand 50 be can 90 ahead without con-
L ...ltss.., -. As&,-now Tia American r,eo-