The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-02-08
THE LEGISLATURE,
AN Important Road Bill Introduced
by Mr.. Edwards
PROVIDES FOR WORKING CONNECTS
on the Highways-Tho Sessions I'm
usually Dull in Both Houses-Dem,
ocrats in the House Decide TO Allow
Minority Representation ona Board
of Regents-A Number OF New Bills
Introduced.
nL,rnlrh % IN In,eLlineloer.


CHARLESTON, W. Va. Feb. r.
( Among the most important measures
introduced at this session is the bill
offered to-day by Mr., Edwards, Of Ka-
nawha, providing for the working and
construction OF public roads and for the
employment of convicta thereon. 1t
provides for the appointment, by tho
governor, OF FIVE state commissioners OF
highways, two Of them to belong to n
different political party than the others,
and state engineer OF highways, whose
duty IT shall be to lay out and deter
mine lines OF highway and attend to
other matters pertaining to their con-
struction. On their requislhon it shall
be the duty Of the superintendent OF
the penitentiary, tho Pruntytown re-
fotmatory, etc, to furnish not less than
two-thirds OF the male persons In their
charge to work on the roads at such
times and places rs the commissioners
may direct. II seems that the passage
OF the bill must result In an improved
System Of roads in West Virginia.
All the bills introduced in the house
to-day came out Of their order, by I'M
animous consent, The speaker re-,
quested the members to hereafter intro
duce their measures in their regular
order. Other bills were as follows:
BY Mr.. Layelle, making 1t discretionary
with prosecuting attorneys whether
witnesses before grand juries shall be
paid. By Mr., Davis, OF Cabell, relating
to corrections OF erroneous assessments
BY Mr.. Edwards authorizing cities and
towns to purchase or contract for gas or
electric works. By Mr.. Wilson, of Ohio,
by request, to amend the game laws.
BY Mr.. Thomas, to provide Tor tho
amicable adjustment Of grievances and
disputes that may arise between en-
ployers and employees. BY Mr.. Wills,
to amend tho code concerning state and
local boards of health and otfenses
AGAINST tho public health. By Mr..
cambridge, to enforce the use in the
schools OF the class books authorized by
law rs q whole.
The sessions to-day have been unus-
ually dull, not only to the lookeron but
in the amount OF business disposed oil.
Most OF the time was passed in reading
bills first or second time and order
ing them to their next reading.
Amendments were few and generally
unimportant. There was little discus
sion this morning over Mr.. Hartley's
amendment to the bill relating to tho
deaf and blind school. 1t provides that |
not more than Eve OF the seven regents
shall belong to tho same political party.
A similar amendment met with consid-
cradle opposition from the Democratic
side q few days ago. But there seems
to have been change OF opinion. Mr..
Hartley said that in his magisterial dis
trict, whore there was an overwhelming
Republican majority they always had
one Democratic member OF the board OF
education, because they believed the
minority should DO represented. Mr..
HoE, Of Roane, didn't believe his party
could afford to vote down tho amend-
ment. He believed the minority had
rights that should be respected, This
opinion was shared in by Messrs. Johns
ton, Mcolung and othtrs, and the
amendment was agreed to by large
majority. The bill is now on its third
reading.
The committee TO visit Marshall col
lege reported that the street exten-
sions proposed in the bill now before
the house would in no way damage the
college property, but would on the con-
trafy add 10 its value. The committee |
ON taxation and finance reported favor
ably on the bill providing for tho sale OF |
lands for the benefit OF the school fund |
and for relieving the title OF the state to
forfeited lands.
MIR. St Glars senate bill providing
for tho consolidation OF tho Chesa-
peake & Ohio and the Greenbrier & |
New River Railroad Companies, was or
dered to lis third reading. The bill to
amend the coke concerning state board |
OF examiners and granting state Certiti- |
Gates was recommitted to the commit
tee on education. Mr.. Chambers bill !
to tax retailers OF revolvers and pistols |
was called up as special order and re-
suited in quite a lengthy discussion. 1t
was ordered to its third reading.
In the senate this morning the com
mittee on roads and navigation report
cd favoFably on the bill empowering |
the county court Of Kanawha county to |
build or purchase a bridge across the |
Kanawha river at Charleston.
1uG
favorabiy on the bills empowering the |
governor to procure certified copies oil |
patents, plRts and surveys OF lands in |
this state. etc, and the bill amending |
the code concerning the appointment OF |
notary publics. Tho bill amonding the
town charter OF Clarksburg was sent to
the committee OH counties and NUM-
cipal corporations Mr.. Stapleton's bill |
for the prevention OF cruelty to animals
was killed by striking out the enacting
clause on motion OF Mr.. Scott. Mr..
Haynes INTRODUCED bill to amend tho
usnry law II provides that when
debt has been discharged no claim for
usury can be made afterwards, nor can
IL be used as q counter claim to any |
other debt against tho person who has
made the payment, also II judgment
DO secured against q debtor aud he fails
to make the defense OF usury he shall |
not thereafter be allowed to mako such
defense in any suit or proceeding to
reaiize upon such judgment
At the afternoon session Mr. Parks
bill relating to tho assessment OF taxes
was roiOctcd, and tho committee on
education reported iavorably on the
bill establishing tho school district OF
Now Cumberland