The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1891-01-21

declares il essential 10 the preser-
vation of the purity OF the ballot.
He also recommends that Sc
verer penalties be provided for lille
gal voting, the importion of voters
and such gross frauds as necessitated
the late gubernatorial contest in
this State.
"a re valuation of The wild lands of
the State is recommended, as was
advocated at length by the REGISTER
recently. Valuable coal, iron
and timber lands are now held by
outside parties for speculative pur
poses, the tax on which is mere bag
ateIle, compared to which it should
be on the basis of proper valua-
ton. The enactment of laws. that
will forfeit land npon assessors
books is also recommended.
''The great advancement the State
has made in an educational way is
shown by the statistics from the
report ofthe Superintendent of Free
Schools, which, among other things.
shows the average daily attends
ance to have increased in the past
twenty years from 55.os3 TO 49,
700. The Irreducible School Fund
in 1870 was s229, 300; in 1890 it was
s62O,Ol1.4S, and the General School
Fund in 1870, s2s3,139.o2, and in
1890 $500, 43l %.
1.-The message contains numerous
excellent recommendations for the
Improvement of the various inst;-
tutions ofthc State and for the gen
eral advancement of the pubic good
which we have uot the space to
comment upon"
A very large number of bills
have already been introduced in
both houses. Among them are bills
providing for the Australian ballot
law.
On Friday morning, on motion of
Senator Wiley, the Senate went in
to executive session, to consider the
Governors appointments. Secreta-
ry of State W. A. Obey was unani-
mously confirmed, Notwithstanding
the rumors set afoat by Republi-
cans that there would be an attempt
to defeat his confirmation.
The Republicans refused to vote
for the confirmation of Mine Inspec.
tor Harr, but the Democrats all vo-
ted for him, and he was confirmed,
as was all the other appointments
made by the Governor.
A resolution was introduced in
the House by Judge Samuels look
ing to the re aPportionment and re-
districting of the State for Congress
ionaI and Legislative purposes.
Senator Camden's arrival in the
city Saturday, created quite COM
motion among the politicians, but
his visit had no political significance,
as he averred, being here simply on
private business matters He left
for Baltimore Saturday afternoon,
and from there will go to Florida
for the remainder of the winter.
Gen. Watts is being much talked
of for Governor on the Democratic
ticket, and just now he seems to be
in the lead, and no doubt would get
the nomination if he would give out
that he was candidate. Hon. w.
4 McCorkle. is also mentioned as a
candidate for the Democratic nomi-
nation for Governor He is a close
personal friend of Gen. Watts. and
it is not likely they will antagonizc
one another. Hon. Wood Daily, of
Kcyser, Gen. Caldwell, of Wheeling
and e. Boyd Faulkner, of Martins
burg, are also being named for this
office.
We found our friend Tracy deep
in the work of his Office and wear
ing his honors gracefully. He will
make Il good officer, and everything
will be straight when he winds up
his affairs at the end of the session.
We are sorry to say that Hon. J.
Austin, one of our delegates, is badly
afflicted with rheumatism, from
which he is suffering severely. But
he is gritty, and remains in his scat
during the sessions of the House.
Charleston is booming city, and
many fine houses have been erected
here within the past year. and a
very large number of fine struct
urcs are under way; property is
changing hands rapidly at big pri.
ces.
We have good many other mat
tiers that we might talk about, but
our letter is already long enough.
We have made arrangements for
a weekly letter from this city, Civ