Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-02-13
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CHARLESTON, w. VA, February Il.
But twelve actual working days re-
main Of the present session. Few
bills have been passed. a hundred
important measures will yet have TO be
voted upon, and there is talk Of an
extra session. This cannot be done
without the consent Of the Republican
members, and il is thought there are
enough Democrats willing TO join
forces with the members on
the opposite side OF the poll
tical fence 20 defeat any
effort 70 extend the session. Every at
tempt to hold evening sessions has been
voted down, and resolution 70 limit
speeches 10 five minutes met similar
fate. Both branches will have 20 do
some hard work 10 finish the business
before the respective bodies within the
prescribed fOrty-fve days. Very little
time has been wasted in idle discussion,
less than heretofore. according 20 old
members, yet several important bills
cannot come 90 a vote In either House
without q full and free expression OF
opinion.
TIE TAX BILL.
Among the measures which will oc-
cupy considerable time this week, are
the bill fixing the rate of taxation for
school and general purposes, which
comes up 10 the Senate on It's hrst read
ing. 1t is here that the opponents Of
the measure claim TO have strength
sufficient to XIII It. A similar bill was
reported adversely by the Senate FL
nance Committee, but its friends claim
that advantage was taken of their a6-
sence 70 vote upon IL. The vote is GER
tain to be closer than in the House.
The bull-dOzing tactics resOrted 70 by
several friends of the bill in the House,
and which were reported In the
REGISTER, has not helped their
cause. Senator Gall is not the
only member who has been approached
with threats, bu: Delegates Wilson, OF
/ Ohio county, and Smith, Of Marion, are
kaid 10 have been given 90 understand
Mat a vote against the bill meant de-
feat OF measures introduced and advN-
eated by them. II is q significant fact
HAT. with the exception OF three mem
Bers, the vote TO table the BelingtOa In
dependent school district bill Of Sena-
Cor Calls was exactly the same as the
Vote upon the school tax bill. 1t Is
quite natural that some feeling should
result from the situation, and II IS
among the probabilities Of this weeks
legislation that matters pertaining to
the free school system may be greatly
complicated.
Another measure which will not be
easily disposed OF, is
TIE AMENDED ELECTION LAW,
which was ordered to It's third reading
in the Senate on Saturday. Although
In a hopeless minority In that body,
the Republican members by flibuSter-
ing tactics attempted TO check the pro-
gress Of the bill. II the same course
As followed In the House, the bill may
not get through this week. The prin-
cipal objection from the Republican
side, will be directed toward the proyl-
sion that citizens of other States must
declare their intention Of becoming citi-
zens of West Virginia, at least one year
before voting. They will argue that
the section mentioned is uncOnstitu-
fiOnal, ia that that instrument express
az provides that any citizen Of the
United States, who has resided In the
State for period OF twelve months, is
entitled to vote This will be met By
the argument that the declaration Of
intentiOn merely defines the meaning
of residence, under the constitution.
I Among other things for which the
present session is remarkable, is the
large number Of bills introduced 10 es-
tablish
COURTS OF LIMITED JURISDICTION
AT present there are but three county
Criminal courts in the State-in Wood,
Kanawha and FsYette counties. The
demand for or. inal courts in the log
zeal resort OF The crowded condition Of
affairs in the judicial circuits, the
Judges being unable 70 keep the dockets
CLEAR of civil business. The establish
ment OF a number of criminal courts
will relieve the necessity for adopting
the other proposed remedy for the evil,
the increase in the number of circuits.
tAt least a score of bills have been iu-
ftrOduced in both houses 20 establish
criminal courts. The first and
haly one TO go through was
the Ohio county bill, which
will become a law as soon as the Cover
nor afi1es his signature to it. Among
the other bills which will probably pass
9re those establishing criminal courts
in Mercer, Csbell aud probably Mellow
Ell and Wayne. These are counties in
which there is great deal OF crime,
aRd CONSEQUENTLY q great number OF In
dictmentS are found by each grand
jury.
Mr.. Br8ckunier's (, bill providing for
the gradual distribution of the irreduc-
ible school fund, has been lost sight OF
for the past few days, on account of
discussion upon c-aer important mat
ters.
THE FREE SCHOOL SYSTEM
never received more attention than
from the hands Of the present body, but
there is danger that TOO much zeal for
the welfare pf the schools, may result
in mistakes OF Judgment, with eOnse-
Quent harm tather than betterment Of
existing conditions. IL is not probable.
however, that many OF the bills to es-
tablish Independent school districts,