The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1885-01-26
wis DOUBLE RNTENpl.g,

ltlH tnN tWOlnu pufpuse UT oulect VI
the bill to which.we now wish to direct at:
lention. They are intrinsically and
paleably, distinct and independent propo-
sitions and have been acted on as such.
The first was submitted to the people, the
second was committed to the Board OF
Public Works. The one is complete
without the other. There may be o
Capital without a Copitol--a seat Of gov
eminent without the necessary buildings.
The purpose in the one case may DO pur-
sued and expressed without any reference
TO or provision for the other, as was done
by the people under this bill. They are
distinct objects, involving distinct and'in-
dependent consideration and provision.
The whole people might be favorable to
the one whle Numerically opposed TO
the other. There might have been special
reasons for selecting q site for q Capitol,
but equally strong reasons for not, at
that time, making provision for erecting
buildings. The objects are so distinct and
different in their nature and character as
10 be apparent to the most casual reader.
II the ono had been complete without
the other 1t would not have been possible
to divide the bill and submit one part to
the people and not submit the other part.
It's this double purpose or duplicity Of
tho bill which inyaiidates 1t. The plain
proeision Of the constitution of West Wiz.
ginia is: "No act hereafter passed shall
embrace more than one object, and that
shall be expressed in the title."-Art. vi,
Sec. 80.
II, therefore, the bill in question is con-
strucd as embracing two distinct objects,
1t is void in toto, and is to BIO regarded as
meyer, at any time, possessed OF any legal
force. No court or Legislature can cure
1t, and all acts and proceedings under il
fall to the ground and arc to be considered
as though they had never been.
THE popBLE OBJECT or TIE ACT.
Can there be any question about the
double obieptof this actR
We fail TO see Whist uingleness Of pur'
nose or necessary relationthere Is between
the two parts Of bill which provides that
the people shall designate a location fol
the Seat Of government, and then turns
about to put $5O,lQQ In the hands Of the
Board OF Public Works with WHICH to
erect buildings. True, the objects are not
incongruous, but are double and diverse
a, their nature. They violate the princi.
pie, the object and The letter Of the con-
stitutional provision which e inIeHded TO
! prohibit the practice Of bringing together
into tho ssme bill matters distinct and in.
dependent In their nature, and thus Sc
curing the passingot seyegal measures, nc
one Of which, perhaps, would pass upon
its own merits.
We say the bill in question violates this
principle jISt as ef1cctually as though the
TACT were that the appropriation OF go, 00Q
for buildings was unpo phlar and had been
oounled with tho other provisions FOL
locating tho lapital In order to secure ID
massage. II the appropriation had beer
100000, instead oil $4,000, nearly the
whole people OF the State would have de
sirpd TO defeat It, but they would have
been helpless. There was no way otavoid
ing locating the Capital II anybody yoted
and the appropriation followed, not be
cause the people desired 1t, but by virtue
Of It's being an independent object follow
ing vote-net upon the appropriation
but upon the question oflocation.
Is anythingmore needed 70 demonstrate
the double object Of the bill? We MAJ
strike from II all that relates tothe build
ling and the appropriation therefor, ani
that which is left Is complete IN itseli
sensible, capable OF being executed, an'
wholly independent Of that which is re
iected. It will not do to say that Will
there are two measures embraced In tn
bill they aim at q single purpose. This
true but docs not avoid the evident con
tlict with the spirit and meaning Of tn
G Constitution. The language Of the Con
stitution 10 that no act shall "embrac
more than one"-not sub ect but "object.
There Is singleness OF meaning in th
word object that docs not attach 70 th
word subject. While the latter might a
low q DEPRESSION TO gather in all kindre
and congenial branches or parts oil q maj
liter, theWoFd object" Is expressive Of