The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-02-13
DELINouENT DEMoonAoY.
They Refuse 10 Investigate Offices Where
the Fee System Obtains.
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the Fee System Obtains.
Special Correspondence ofl,a laisiliSHtet
CHAmEsroN, w, Va, Feb, 1.-THE
Democrats put themselves on rec
ord to-day as fearing an iuves-
tigation OF the working Of GER
tain offices in the state, when the
proposed committee TO make the in
Yestigation was to be composed OF three
Democrats and only two Republicans.
The large incomes flowing into the OF,
fees OF the auditor and secretary OF
state have for some time past been the
subject OF general comment. The sec
rotary Of state is provided by the con,
stitution with an annual salary Of 81 900
and by the natural growth OF business
and dextTous legislation, passed chiefly
during the incumbency OF the late
Henry S. Walker, the original suitable
income in salary and fees has grown to
the enormous figure OF more than SlO,-
900 year. The amounts now flowing
into the auditors office are also entirely
beyond the contemplation OF the con-
stitution which allows that officer
salary OF $1,000 per annum. The Office
now pays at least $4,000 in excess oil
that sum, There is strong feeling
that the public should be conversant
with these iacts, and it is also thought
that il the figures were laid before the
legislature that body would not dare re-
fuse to pass some legislation to relieve
the people doing business with these
offices OF the excessive burden laid upon
them or convert u considerable portion
OF this money into the general treasury
for the benefit OF the people
In the last campaign both parties
promised to reform and remedy these
evils. But when the opportunity offers
the crack OF the Democratic party whip
drives the members OF that party into
line.
Mr.. Edwards resolution asking for an
investigation OF the amounts received
by the officers was perfectly fair and
should not Nave been subject oil par
tisan action. 1t simply provided for Il
committee OF five, three Democrats and
two Republicans, to investigate and in
quire into the operation and workings
OF the auditors and secretary Of states
OllC6t uuu EGlOIL tllutCOlA w VIZ AOAoV'
The resolution did not require any &C.
ton by the house, but simply asked for
fair investigation and report. And
this fair proposition was voted down by
q party vote,
In the house, Colonel st. Glars sem
ate bill authorizing the consolidation OF
the Chesapeake & Ohio and the Green
brier & New Riverrailroads was passed,
to take effect from its passage, also Mr..
Peck's senate bill relating to corpora
tions for the mutual relief and protec-
ton Of their members, insuring lives on
the assessment plan.
Mr.. Stats road law, which has been
bone OF contention for several days, was
called up as q special order, amended
further and ordered to Its third reading.
Mr.. Johnston offered resolution
providing for sessions from to o
o'clock each evening during the COM
ing week, but objection was made and
it lies over.
The bill for the preservation OF fe-
male employees was ordered to its third
reading,
Bills were introduced as follows:
By Mr.. Bowman, to amend the law
concerning the collection and payment
OF taxes for road purposes.
BY Mr.. O'Kane, authorizing the city
Of Wheeling to generate and sell cleo
tricity. jtal.Iua ; i5JAS6ii
This afternoon the house passed Con-
raids house bill concerning the assess
ment OF taxes; Allen's bill extending
the time in which dlstraint and sale
may be made for taxes and fee bills;
McClunY's bill to amend and embody
into one the laws concerning the deaf
and dumb schools Of tho state; Cham
bers' bill TO tax retailers OF revolvers
and pistols $50 annually; Thomas bill
to amend the boom law, and Princes
bill increasing the school tax to 10 cents
on the 500 valuation. The vote on the
latter was 30 to Is, quite a number oil
the members being paired.
In the senate the judiciary committee
reported back General Watts election
bill with favorable Recommendation and
some amendments. 1t was taken up,
the amendments agreed to aud 1t was
ordered to Its third reading.
Senator Mahood's bill concerning the
diverting Of water courses was made the
special order for Monday at 10 o'clock.
Senator Haynes bill, providing that
claims OF usury cannot be made after
debt has been discharged nor used as
defonse in any suit or proceeding to re-
aliSe upon judgment or decree ii the
defense was not made in the original
suit, was passed.
The afternoon session OF the senate
was spentin passing billsto their third
reading,