Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-01-15
THE SENATE.
Tho Session Begins Without the Services of
Minister.


The Session Begins without the Services of
q Minister.
There was q slight delay in the opening
of the Senate, and the clock had to be
turned back. The gavel fell with every
Senator in his seat, and an unusually small
number of spectators in the gallery. W. c.
McGreW, of Monongalis, presided, and de-
clared the Senate in session. No minister
was present and prayer was omitted, and
the Senate Immediately proceeded to bust
ness. The officers determined at the eau
euses the preceding night were presented,
and the Democratic nominees elected, to
whom the oath of Office was administered
by the private secretary Of the Governor,
Major jackson Mr.. Price, on taking the
seat Of the President of the Senate, said:
SENATORS: most heartily thank you for
the distinguished honor you have seen fit to
confer upon me. In assuming the duties Of
this position, fully recognize the difficult
ties that viii have to contend with in the
discharge Of the delicate and important du-
Ties which belong to 1t, and | should
feel great hesitaney in Undertaking
tie discharge Of these duties did
not know that can depend upon Senators
one and ali to extend to me that considers-
ton and forbearance which will overlook
defects and lend assistance to the discharge
Of the duties OF the chair.
can promise the Senate that in the dis
Charge Of the duties Of this position shall
eLdeayor to be fair and impartial to all and
do nothing that shall retard the best inter
ests of the State. | am fully satisfied that
that we have all come together with an hon.
est purpose to serve our State to the best of
our ability.
The State has great resources and has
made gratifying progress in the last decade
in developing those resources. Railroads
have been built and are being built in all
directions through our territory. Hundreds
of mines have opened and thousands of
braxny arms are now engaged in bringing
forth from the bowels Of the earth that coal
which underhes $4,000 OF our square miles
our great lumber interests are being de-
Veloped in gratifying manner; and manu-
featuring enterprises are being established.
II becomes us then, elected as we have been
BY the people, to see to it that nothing is
done to retard the growth Of oar State in
these great enterprises. At the same time.
Senator'S, you win agree with me that in the
desire for commercial prosperity, for material
advancement in the rush for wealth, we
should not sacrifice the liberties aud rights
Of the people to the God Of Mammon; that
we shall remember that the liberties and
rights handed down TO Us by our forefathers
are dearer to Us and our people than money
and wealth or powers Of any kind,
and we should, therefore, look first
to the interests OF the great masses
Of the people and see that they are not
trodde1 down by political or any other kind
Of power. | feel satisfied that this is the
desire of every senator before me and feel
satisfied that you viii all cooperate with
the Chair 10 protect the rights of the people,
and promote at the same time all the vast
and varied interests Of the State. / THANK
you again most heartily for this distinguish
ed honor, and viii now announce that the
Senate is ready to proceed 10 business,
The usual resolutions incident to the
opening session were presented and
adopted, Il being resolved, among
other things, that the Democrats oc-
enpy the seats to the right Of the President,
the Republicans those to the left Mr..
MeCreery offered resolution d.
recting the President to APP
point three COMMITTEES clerks one
Of whom, designated By the President
should act as engrossiDg clerk Of the Senate,
snd four pages. B. W. Price. Of MARSHALL
offered an amendment to make the namber
of pages three instead Of four. saying he was
in favor Of reform and restricting expenses.
The amendment was ne agreed to Mr.
NeCreery offered resolution iassructing