Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-01-29
THE LEGISLATURE
TACKLES THE BILL PROVIDING FOR TIE RE-
ASSESSMENT OF REAL ESTATE,
And Gets Through With It in a Crsditabls Manner
The Appointment Of Commissioners Lodged in
the Board Of Public Works-Senaior
Calls RsapporhOnmsnt Measure.
Special T,isgram 10 the Register.

SPECIAL Itisgrin % ne REGISTER.
CHARLESTON, w. VA, January IS
This has been a long, tedious and irk
some day. The smoke of battle caused
by the introduction of Force bill reSO
lutionS, having abated TO some extent ;
good deal Of hard work was INDUCED il
for a change. Each OF the houses helC
both morning and afternoon sessions
and the greater portion OF the day wa'
taken up in amending bills on the sec
ond reading. The chief event of the
day was the discussion and amendment
Of House Bill No. ,, which provides fol
the reaSSeSsment of the value OF all rea
estate within this State. IL might be
well to state here before entering into
the details of the discussion. that not.
withstanding the great amount OF cur
rent talk about the lobbying that would
be done by large landholderS TO prevent a
reasSesSment Of realty, Of this or a
similar bill will pass the Legislature.
/ IL is not known that single member oi
either House is opposed to reaSSesS-
ment, and II the large landhOlderS have
attempted 70 do any lobbying they GER
tainly have not been successful. How
ever, il is not believed that any person
has attempted TO prevent the passage OF
this bill. Republicans and Democrats
alike recognize the Importance Of reaS-
SeSSment, and next summer reaSSeSS-
ment we will have.
The bill provides that the commission
erS to reaSSeSS the value of real estate
be appointed by the Auditor, by and
with the recommendation OF the several
County Courts of the State.
Judge Ferguson and Col. White er-
gued that that section of the bill was
unconstitutional so far as it applied to
the county courts, aS II was virtually
an appointment 10y said courts, and the
Constitution prohibited the Legislature
from cOnferring upon any court the
favor OF appointment.
Delegate Welch moved to amend so
the recommendation Of county courts be
stricken out.
Pending the adoption of the amend
ment Mr.. Lynch said the county courts
did not appoint, they only recon-
mended
Mr.. Garden said he did not see the
matter in the same light that Mr.. Lynch
did. rs he thought the county courts did
appoint, and the Auditor only con-
lirmed. After. considerable discussion,
the House TOOK recess until three
O'Clock.
On reconvening the House went into
a Committee of the Whole. Mr.. Young
offered substitute TO Mr.. Welch's
amendment. to the effect that each
county elect its own commissioners. II
was soon made quite evident that the
Republicans were endeavOring to drag
politics into the appointment of the
commissioners. Several Of them
sauntered away and did nothing more
in substance than to say they wanted
Republican counties To have Republican
commissioners. Mr.. Welch'S amend
ment 20 strike out the recommendation
OF county courts was finally adopted.
Col. White then offered an amend
ment to the effect that the Board OF
Public Works appoint the commission
ers instead Of the Auditor. After con-
siderable acrimonious discussion, it was
decided TO adopt Col. Whites amend
ment.
Judge Ferguson moved that the com
mittee now rise and report to the House
its action. The motion prevailed and
the House cOncurred in the action Of
the committee.
The Senate spent most of its time this
afternoon considering Senate Bill No. B,
which is Senator Davis re-aSSesSment
bill. A number OF amendments were
proposed, some of which were adopted.
The bill is now very comprehensive
and busineSS-like document. 1t was
originally prepared by Senator Davis,
IA thorough business man. Then IT was
slightly touched up by the commit
tee. The bill aS il now stands, gives
the appointing power to the
Board of Public Works, and was
so amended to-day as to cover all pos
sible defects in the assessment OF town
or city property; also providing for ap-
peal in cases of erroneous assessments.
Senators Watts and 81. Clair Joined
issues again to-day in the discussion OF
this bill. For a short time things be-
gan 70 assume a lively aspect, but soon
an indications of unpleaSantneSS van
ished and the bill was ordered to its
third reading. The bill offered by Sen
ator Gall rediStricting the Senatorial
and Congressional districts is exactly in
line with the recommendations OF the
REGISrEE.