Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-02-17

The Measure PASSED By the House Almost
sure OF Defeat other Legislative
yp,eiai 9slegrcn 70 ne Rsgf.tr.

The GiiatOry methods reSOrted 10 oY tue
Republican members Of the House,
which threatened TO prevent the enact
ment OF needed legislation have been
dropped since the decision or the Demo-
cratic conference TO withdraw the bill
amending the election law which is now
pendiDg i'm the Senate. The friends OF
The increase 10 the levy for school pur-
noses contemplated in Delegate Princes
bin. have also Withdrawn their oppo-
siliOn 10 the independent school district
bills. and other measures introduced by
members on tho other side OF the tax
question. Their plan Of cOercing mem
6ers of the Senate into a support OF the
blU offered by Mr.. Prince proved un-
successful. ReciprOcati0n iGlllng' they
tried retaliation, but IS that methoa
threatened 70 react in a manner wnlch
meant defeat 10 some OF their pet meas
ures. they decided 70 allow business 70
proceed regularly during the few re-
naming days OF the session.
These member who arc apparently
willing 20 sacrifice anything 60 force the
wealthy counties 20 contribute % tue
sYDDort of their schools, found after a
few DAYS Of retaljat0ry legislation that
they were PLAYING Il losing game. They
held the weaker hand, and their little
"oluG" was called By tbe opposition %
the Dill offered by Mr.. Prince. Besides,
some of them had other axes to grind,
and came 10 the wise conclusion that
hull doing tactics did not gain support
for their pet measures. They coacede
that Mir. Princes bin will meet with de-
feat ia the Senate.
There has been considerable Specula-
ton as to the attitude which
friends OF Mr.. Princes measure
will assume toward the bin OF senator
Gall when it comes before the House.
This bill fixes the school levy at ten
cents. as at present, aud the levy for
general purposes az twenty cents, re-
ductlon of 1--WE cents on the 500 valua-
ton. Inasmuch as both parties are
committed by their State platforms 20 a
reduction of taxation, and 10 IS plain
that the Increase in the school rate can
not prevail, 10 is believed that the
House Will pass Mr.. Calls BIN without
much opposition. A number Of
prominent advocates Of the iu-
crease I'm the school tax
10 conversation with your cOrreSp0n
dent. stated that they will vote for
Senator Calls bin. It is possible, how
ever. that an effort will be made 70 sub
stitute Is cents for 10 cents in the
school levy, which, If supported by
friends of che increased rate Ia the
House, will so cOmp.icate matters that
no bill looking 20 reduction IN taxa
ton will get through during the Ses-
sion. A conference upon this point has
been suggested, and Ia will probably be
held.
School questions, in their various
forms, have received more attention aad
consumed more time i'm their discussion
that all the other legislation of the SEES
sion. Gen. st. Glars resolution offered
in the Senate YESTERDAY provides SIM
pie aud effective method OF bringing
about q change in the school laws. 10
calls attention 90 the conflict aud con-
fusion in the administration of the laws,
which retard and iniure the efficiency
OF the system, and provides for a com
mission of five persons 70 revise IL. 1t
further provides that the commission
shall furnish the pu0iic printer on or
befQ~NeC embcr I, 1874, q copy OF the
Dk$frepareQ, % be printed, and COPY
mailed % \each member-elect OF
the next Legislature. That there
is imperative need OF reform and re-
vision of the school laws, no person
doubts, but 10 is too late 20 bring about
any changes, aud uD,eSS the matter is
disposed OF I'M accordance with Gen. st.
Clair's resolution, important bills now
before the Legislature must be neglect
ed.
With all doubt removed as TO the at
titude Of the members who favor the
increase in the school tax, upon Sena-
tor Calls bill 20 fix the levy for general
purposes at 20 cents on the 500 valua-
ton, his measure may fail to become
law because of other reasons.
The Finance Committee has worked
upon a basis of 20 cents, with the pur-
pose of keeping the appropriations
down. and they have been scaled pro-
pOrtiOnately, but 10 may be found im-
possible 90 meet the necessary expenses
with q 2O-ceuJ levy. There are mum
Der OF extraordinary appropriations
which will probably be made, among
them for the executive mansion and the
Worlds Fair, aggregating nearly S5O,-
600. The Spencer Asylum Board asked
SlO1, 600 this year 90 complete the
buildings and $4,000 next year
10 stock the farm, equip the
buildings and other necessary expenses.
The committee decided 20 recommend
an appropriation of 500, 600 for each OF
the TWO years, the money for the first
year 20 be borrowed srOm the irraduci-
bic school fund. The Finance Commit
tee held another meeting last night,
and spent several hours in COuSjdera-
ton of the matters before it, but 10 was
found impossible 90 get the apprOpria-
ton Dill ready for to-day. il will prob
ably be submitted 90 the House tO-mOr-
row, and as the memb who favor the
increase 10 the school tax will take q
stand In opposition 20 large or Cxtraya-
CANT appropriations, it is quite probable
that several days Will be spent in the
debate upon it.
A measure which affects Ohio county,
aud should be OF interest 10 the people
there. is the Senate bin now pending on
its third reading, fixing the salaries OK
county officials. The compensation OF
the Sheriff 0f Ohio county is increased
$500, but that OF the Clerk Of the Coun-
" Court remains as az present. The
establishment OF the Criminal Court
however, will more than Offset the ex-
ira compensation of the office. Ii will
necessitate the employment OF an extra
deputy at a salary OF not less than 500
per year, and will cut down the SheriG's
fees very materially. To IS said tha, 10
will reduce the profits Of the office
about 200 a year.
YESTERDAYS SESSIONS.