Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-01-09

Que5lcned; ana tneiI uttl1loHi III hlt OhHor
shall ne final, except IN cases of contested
elections before either house OF the l. gisla-
ture."
No persons were permitted to vote ex-
cepting those who were registered.
Said Sec II does not prohibit a reistra-
tiOn Of voters; but only provides that the
privilege Of voting shall not depend upon
registration.
Said Sec 43 does not prohibit Tegistra-
tion; out simply declares that no board
nor court of registration shall he created.
1t seems TO me thai the words board"
and court, " in this action, are used as
Synonymous terms, aud interpreted, with
reference TO the former laws of this State,
were intended only TO include registration
tribunals having Jurisdiction TO try and
determine the right of voting. However
this RAY be- il is board, OF court Of reg
istratiOn onlp. that is prohibited. A sim
gle registrar for a county, or one for each |
magisterial district, would not constitute /
board, nor could such constitute Conrt |
unle judicial functions be conferred
A law might be passed for the regstra-
tion II voters, aud the registration made |
prima fdcie evidence of the right TO vote
vote. required to prove their qualifications
befOr the commissioners Of election, who
shOpd record them as unregistered voters.
Each voters ballot should be numbered to
correspond with the poll-bCok, or some
other certain mode adopted to identify the
ballot In case OF contest.
CORRUPTION AND UsE OF MONEY IN THE
SELECTION OF CANDIDATES FOR PUBLIC
OFFICE.
ITtpsat what said upon this subject in
former message
Bribery at elections, by our laws, is a
punishable crime; yet it is no violation of
the law to use the very means TO secure
nominations for public Office, that would
constitute bribery at an election. Political
party organizations, though not in law,
are, in fact, part or our governmental
system. They determine in the main,
by their nominations upon whom
political trusts shall be conferred
and, therefore, il becomes as essential
10 prevent the use of undue means, fraud
and corruption, in securing nominations,
as in elections for public office. The use
of money to secure individual support and
advocacy and the delivery OF railroad
passes to delegates TO political conventions,
favonng the nomination to public office OF
such candidates as railroad officials may
desire nominated. are the common methods
now practiced. The use Of rail- Dad passes
for such purpose, IN this State, has be
come 20 open aud notorious as to be thrust
upon the attention of every observing
man. Nothing but the aroused indignation
and discrimination Of the people can sue
cessfuly encounter these means. The at
sence OF laws to condemn and punish such
conduct, ia hut a PROCLAMATION 10 the p'O-
Pile and a warning to every citizen who
aspire3 10 public position, that subser-
viency 10 the demands of wealth and rail
road corporations, is the first inde psnsa
bic rtquisite 10 political success. The
manifost purpose of such methods is to
cOntol by corruption; crush intellectual
and moral worth; deter public utterauce
for the public good; stiiie public senti-
ment ana ,hwart the public will"
The ,e practices result in defiance and
defeat of the public will, hut little less,
IN dec-ee than bribery and corruption
the polls l recommend that they be de
claIed leloniOns crimes.
gAILROAD DETERMINATIONS.
AZ soth the last regular and extra ses-
sions A the Legislature, called attention
b T.. lhiect of railroad discrimination in
freight and passenger charges, endeavOred
70 present some of the great wrongs inflct-
ed upon our people, and recommended
such legislation as would correct the evil
and protect the interests OF this State
The injustice the injury, the withering
effect upon our industries ale 20 apparent
and well known, by every thoughtful
man, that il is unnecessary to repeat
them A large majority Of the States of
the Union have regulated these subjects
by strtutOry laws, and the authority 10 do
20 has passed beyond the domain Of legal |
contention.
The Interstate Commerce law has been |
in effect aOOut two years, and, experience |
has thoroughly demonstrated the wisdom |
of the Act, and rendered it comparatively |
certain that il will never he repealed, or |
changed, except to prevent evasion and |
violation OF Its remedial provisions
Our shippers have rCc.ived great benefits |
under the operation OF this law; but in or
der that they may be secured in ,hs full
advantages TO ba obtained, it is essential
that a commission should he created, un-
der Authority OF the State, whose duty it
should be, amongst others, to ascertain
whether said law is being violated, egiinst |
the inter, SITS nj any Of the people Of this |
State, aud if SO, to file and prosecute COM
plant before the Interstate Commerce |
Commission, for the correction Of the
abuse.
The Legislature having fall control of
commerce within the State, to that de-
partmezt, alone, can we turn for State
regulation.
Sixteen years ago, the people made the
following fundamental declaration:
Railroads heretofore constructed, or
that may hereafter he constructed in this
State, are hereby declared public highways
and shall be free to all persons fer the
transportation OF their persons and prop
eriy thereon, under such regulations as
may he prescribed by law; and the LeRis-
lature shall, from time TO time, pas laws,
applicable to all railroad corporations in
the State, establishing reasonable maxi
mum rates Of charges for the transpOrta
tion of passengers and freights, and pro-
viding for the correction Of abuses, the
prevention of unjust determinations be-
tween through and local or way ffeights
and passenger tlrills, and for the prOtsc
tioa Of the iust rights Of the public, and
shall enforce such laws by adequate pen
allies. See Q, Ariicle ", Constitution.
No law has ever yet be N passed to meet
the requirements Of this Constitutional
command, and afford the protG ctiOn that
the combined wisdom of the State deemed
essential So long as this question
remains open, every effort made
for its just and fair set
tlemeDt, is hsralded abroad as indicating a
hostile attitude towards railroad enter
prize We understand, thoroughly, the
necessity of railroads for the development
Of our natural resources; bat we understand
alsc, that unless reasonable freight charges
he secured for all shippers, the inducement
for the agricultural immigrant, and for
the various enterprises which thoss re-
sources invite, must be'hampered and linn
tied.
renew the recommendation that such
legislation upon this subiect be enacted
as will secure even-hsnded justice to both
the railroads and the people. especially
recommend that, both rs TO passengers and
property, a greater charge for a shorter
thsn q longer distance, and every species
of Discrimination against, or in favor OF,
individuals or localities. and every means
by which it may be accomplished, be abb