The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-01-20
A PERSONAL PRIVILEGE.
Senator Ferguson Denies the
Gerymauder Story.
is OPPOSED TO THE SCHEME.
Col. St. Clair Comes to the ResouO-.
The School Book Question stum-
berlng...Important Measures
Before the Legislature.
Special DlsDatch 10 The Mtellignocr.

Special DtSpdtch to The IHtelligeRocr.
CHARLEsroX. W. VA, Jan. 19.-To'
day has been rather an uneventEul one
A number OF bills Of more or less i'm
po.tance were introduced in both Senate
and House at their short sessions and
committees have generally been hard al
work. In the House this morning
Judge Ferguson rose to a question ol
privilege and asked the clerk to read an
extract from the ISTELLIoENcRR in re.
gard to the Judiciary Committee being
hard at work on redistriCting bill. He
said that no such bill was in prepara-
ton in the committee to his knowledge,
and he, being chairman Of the commits
tee, would be likely to know If there
was. He was getting tired Of his name
being used in connection with an alleged
gerrymRndering bill, particularly be.
cause be wss opposed to any such meas
ure and always had been.
A ALlTTLE STORY.
The Judge made this statement during
the campaign and it was frequently
quoted in his favor, but people do not
always believe what they hear during
campaign and look upon the Judge with
some suspicion yet. In connection with
his denial he told little story Of his
boyhood days, saying that at one time
his mistress, to whom he was appren.
ticed, accused him OF stealing cherry
preserves. He denied 1t bitterly, but
she continued her accusations until he
concluded that as she would believe him
guilty anyhow he might as well have the
preserves and got themC Whether he
will apply the same principle in the
present instance remains TO be seen.
A NEAT MOVE.
Col. st. Clair this afternoon introduced
a resolution providing for "a committee
Of five from the Senate to act with like
committee of the House to consider the
matter OF redistricting the State. The
resolution will probably be adopted, and
this, at least, will relieve the Judiciary
Committee and Judge Ferguson OF the
responsibility OF fathering the bill, uu-
less the Judge is appointed on this com.
mittee.
TIE SCHOOL BOOK QUESTION.
House bill 96, introduced by Mr..
Shaw to-day, creating a State school
board to purchase school books is pre-.
cisely the came bill as that introduced
by him at the last session and he seems
to take considerable pride in 1t. There
seems TO have been little attention paid
go far to the question Of renewing the
present contract with Van Antwerp,
Bragg & Co., and instead of a diversity
of opinion there seems to be wonderful
dearth OF opinion in regard to it. Mr..
Shaw thinks that an effort will be made
again to have the books printed by the
State and furnished to the people at
cost and says he thinks that the best
plan il "jobs" can be kept out OF it.
Whatever has been done in this matter
so far has been done very quietly.
However, there seems to be strong
sentiment against changing from our
present series OF books, particularly
among members representing rural dis
trfcts, who cay their constituents are
almost solidly opposed it.
ANOTHER OLD BILL.
House bill No. IS by Mr.. Stone Is aIso
an old measure, having been introduced
BY that gentleman two years ago. 1t
provides that the County Court OF each
county shall employ competent teachers
at least four months in each year to in.
struct youths between 9 aud 10 year5 in
county infirmaries and shall proyide
necessary books and stationery; that
primary branches shall be taught and
teachers pay due regard 10 tho religious
and moral character OF children. The
Committee will report favorably upon
it and there seems to be little doubt OF
its passage.