The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1890-01-22

to office, whose integrity and ability
have earned the confidence and es-
TEEN of his party associates, should
{ be secured against the advantage of
free railroad passes for the friends
of his opponents, the people should
I've protected against that miserable
class of worthless place hunters
who, oblivious 10 the duties and re-
sponsibilities of pu5tic office, surren-
der themselves to the commands of
corporate master.
The railroads, however, do not
yet escape from the Governors
avenging hands. The third divis-
ion of the message is entitled CAS-
sessnents of Railroad Property.
Under ii, ii is recommended that
the State law, allowing Circuit
Judges TO re-rate the assessment on
railroad property, be repealed and
the assessment made by the Board
of Public Works be considered final.
The next following section is devot-
ed to "Protection to Railroad EN-
ployes." A long discussion ensues
concerning the rule of law, which
provides that an employe injured in
the service of a railroad company
by an accident due to the careless
ness of another employer cannot re-
cover damages from the company.
The cruelty and injustice OF the pro-
vision are pointed out, and remedy
discussed. A direct statutory enact
ment, su I'll as has been adopted in a
large number of States, is recon-
mended. Such an enactment would
secure ample redress TO tile en-
ployes, and, as held by the United
States Supreme Court, is in strict
accord with the law of the land.
SUNDAY LABOR ON RAILROADS.
The last railroad section is given
up to the "violation of the Sabbath
day" In this connection, the law
affecting laborers on the Sabbath is
quoted, with several extracts from
decisions of the Supreme Court, ex-
plaining and defining it In the
interest of the public veal, the mes
sage suggests that railroad coupa-
MES be brought under the Sunday
observance law by special enact
ment. The delivery of this broad
side aimed ut the railroads is fol-
lowed by the discharge of Il six
Founder pointed ut corporations in
general. The suggestion is made
that the land of the State is in dam
ger OF being absorbed by corpora
! tions, creatablc by the mere filling
OF a blank form and almost without
money. This danger should be
removed by a law limiting the cor
porate land holding in the State.
a NEW ELECTION LAW.
The succeeding section will at
tract the attention and command
the sympathy of every man who
knows how foully the West Virgin
IN elections were corrupted in 1885,
and the means by which political
tricksters conspired to defeat the will
of honest voters. This portion is at
the same time the most important,
and the most carefully wrought
out, of the whole message. After
enumerating the objects at which
u comprehensive effort to hedge
about the ballot should be arrived,
the Governor continues as follows:
81 again recommend adequate
legislation upon the subjects The
public sentiment awakened to the
dangers of political corruption, is
demanding with unanimous voice,
throughout the length and breadth
OF our country, a practical, thorough
and searching ballot reform. To
prevent bribery and secure the com
piete independence of the voter
must be the aim and desire of every
good citizen. Bribery must be
made odious if free institutions sur
vive. Corruption and liberty can
no more remain with tho same peo-
pie, than one can serve God and
Mammon. Whatever may be our
respective political convictions, GER
tainly we can all unite upon a com
mon ground for the publication OF
elections and the protection of the
ballot.
"The States of Massachusetts.
Connecticut, Indiana, Michigan,
Missouri, Illinois. Kentucky, Ten.
nessee and Montana, have adopted,
in various forms, what is known as
the Australian system. Under these
laws, elections have been held in
Massachusetts, Connecticut, and
Montana, and they have been found
far in advance of the old system.
The crystalization of public opinion
in favor of the Australian system.
indicates that it will be generally
adopted throughout the United
States.
a MODEL ELECTION BILL.
"Knowing by experience the diff
Guilty of preparing bill of consider.
able magnitude, during the limited
time of a legislative session, as an
aid to the Legislature, if it be con
clnded to adopt this system, | have
drafted n bill in harmony with the
constitutional organization of the
State, which is attached hereto, and
which | present as a part thereof.
Having confidence that it will Sc
cure the absolute independence of
the voter by enabling him to pre-
pare and deposit his ballot without
possible interference, and that it
will secure f;iirer and purer elections
N fhf., 20 4