Evening journal., 1889-03-16
WEST vIRGINIA'S MIDDLE
Prospect That Goff Will Soon
Be Governor.
LEGISLATURES TO BE RECONyENED

IL Is I'm Governor Wilson's Power to Retain
the Chair Two Years n He chooses-But
He win Give the Contestants a Chance
for Fair and Legal Settlement.
CHARLESTON, w. Va, March 16.-The lezis-
latnre Il ho be convened by Governor Wilson
in special session, probably about june /, to
canvass this gubernatorial returns and sde-
clare" for whoa a majority of ballots was
cast BY the decision Of the supreme court
Of appeals on the petihoas Ct Gen. Goff and
Senate President Carr, Governor Wilson's
title to the office is unimpeachabls until such
canvass and declaration shall have been mode
by the legislature
The legislature which refused TO canvass
the returns is no longer in session, its term
having expired by limitation. 1t is consid-
cred probable that Gen Goff viii be found to
have received a majority Of the votes and
hin succeed TO the office. Mr.. Fleming's CON
test is based on the alleged illegality Of some
votes counted for Con. The case has been
full of techniealities throughout, and re-
vision Of the constitution is the only effeclual
means to prevent a repetition OF such difficult
ties
WAs-I~.eToN, March 16--Gen. GofT, of
West virginia, had an intv- view with Fresi-
dent Harrison at the White House Last
night he told a correspondent there wes no
doubt that Mr.. Mason, of West Virginia,
would be named to the senate next week for
commissioner Of internal revenue. This is
one Of the most highly paid offices under the
administration, carrying a salary Of $4,000 a
year, and there has been "A vigorous COMPETE
ton for it,
Gen. Golf feels certain that sooner or later
he will be duly declared elected governor OF
West Virginia, and properly installed into
that office.
"1he legislature Of the state, said the gen
eral, lis the returning board in the election
of a governor Under the constitution the
legislature is bound to meet once in two
years. The new legislature has had its meet
ing, and has failed to perform its constitu-
tional duty as a returning board. | thought
there might be some way OF compelling the
legislature TO perform this duty, but the SUI
preme court Of the state says no The same
court has also decided that Governor Wilson
must hold over until the contest is settled
The only way to settle it is for the holding
over governor 70 call u special session Of the
legislature for that purpose. 1t is within his
power to refrain from calling the legislature
together at all until the next legisla-
ture has been elected The now legis-
lature is bound under the constitution
to meet ip January, 1891. II Mr. Wilson
chooses to exercise the powers which the
courts and the extraordinary state ofafrairs,
now existing, have given him, the question
as to who was elected governor last Novem-
ber may remain unsettled for two years tc
come, but / do not anticipate such DELAY.
The Democrats admit that received ma
jority Of the votes. Their only claim is that
they can throw out enough of these votes to
give the election 10 my opponent, Mr. Fem-
ing. When the depositions have all been
taken and the papers in the case are com
plete, imagine that Mr. Wilson, now acting
governor, viii call the legislature together In
special ssion, and that the legislature will
declare me elected. expect that in the
course Of a few weeks the Democrats viii
conclude to accept tue situation and all will
be rightn