Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1895-03-16
ABOUT THE RECORD.
Facts That Show the Legislature
Was Business Body.
ITS MANY NEW LAWS ENACTED.
A Complete List of the Acts Passed
by the Legislature.


ly nothing. 1t is true that the body
did not accomplish in the IS days of
its session all the reforms that the
Democratic legislatures have failed to
enact or made necessary in rs years
of power, but it will go down in the
history with a record for the business
like dispatch of work that will chal-
lenge comparison with the record of
any Democratic legislature Of recent
years.
A number of good laws passed the
house but failed in the senate, where
the Republican majority was narrow
and the Democratic minority was cap
tious and determined to allow no bills
to pass that would give the Republi-
can party an advantage. The house
passed bill increasing the judicial
districts Ia crying need; bill provid-
ing revised mechanics lien law;
bill reducing the fees OF State officers;
bills abolisliing useless courts, and
several other important measures, bnt
the majority in the Senate was not
strong enough to put them through.
Below is complete list of the laws
that were enacted. The list shows
for itself. The time of the legislature
was not FILTERED away. The Charles
ton Mail draws a neat comparison be-
tween the Republican body just ad-
iourned and its Democratic predeces-
sors, as to dispatch of business, when
it calls attention to the fact that 1.-TWO
years ago the Democratic legislature
failed to pass the appropriation bills
and had to be reconvened by the gov
ernor for the purpose of passing the
appropriation bills. Six years ago
the same thing occurred and hardly
any session of the legislature has ad-
journed at the expiration of the regu-
lar constitutional limit. Had it not
been for the firm stand the Republi-
cans in the legislature two years ago
took in favor of passing the appropri-
alton bills and going home there is
hardly any telling how lorg that body
would have been in extra session.
The session of the legislature that
preceded the one just referred to pass
ed more bad laws than any Legislature
of the State ever passed
THE NEW LAWS.
Following is complete list of the
acts and joint resolutions passed:
An act providing a penalty against
a trustee who may sell or in any way
dispose of property placed in his po-
session to secure a debt without the
consent in writing of the owner.
An act amending the act of 1891,
creating the state board of agriculture.
1t provides for five members Of the
board-one from each congressional
district and one at large, to be appoint
ed by the governor; three of whom to
be of the domiuent political party.
The fiscal year begins on July 1.
S., 900 is appropriated for the expens-
es of the board, with 81 900 for the
secretary. The printing of the board
to be done by the state, and the board
to be furnished an Office in the capitol
building.
An act enabling an insolvent debt
or to prefer creditor for the purpose
of giving security for loan made at
the time of the transaction, but not to
prefer creditor on pre-existing
debt.
An act authorizing the board of ed
ucation Of the independent school dis
trict of Moundsville to issue and sell
its bonds.
An act repeating the criminal court
of Wayne county.
An act providing that when va
cancy shall occur ih the Office Of may
or, recorder, or in the council OF any
incorporated town, the vacancy may
be filled by appointment by the coun-
Gil until the next succeeding election.
An act providing that two days
work shall be performed on the pub
lie roads before the first day of June
in each year.
An act releasing sureties on the
bond of J. A. Williamson, late sheriff
of Barbour county.
An act providing that anyone being
the owner or occupier of any shanty
boat, or a boat of like kind, who an
chors, ties or beaches his boat upon
the real estate of another, for longer
period than twelve hours, without the
permission of the owner of the real
estate on which such boat is anchored,
tied or beached, shall be guilty of mis-
demeanor.
An act providing for the election Of
special judge in any of the criminal
courts of the state, in case the judge
of such criminal court shall not attend
and hold the same.
An act providing for the appoint
ment of deputy clerks for criminal
courts.
An act establishing the county of
Mingo out of part of the county of
Logan.
An act providing penalties for the
issue by justice or constable of a
fee bill of greater amount than the
law allows. A person against whom
such fraudulent fee bill is issued
may recover from the person issuing
the same four times the amount I'M
lawfully charged The person issu-
ing a fraudulent fee bill is liable to
indictment and upon conviction shall
be fined not less than ten dollars, nor
more than fifty dollars, and be i'm
prisoued at the discretion of the court
not to exceed thirty days.
An act anneXing Elk City to Char
lesion and placing both cities under
one municipal government
An act providing for the removal
from office of any county or district
officer for official misconduct, incom-
potency, habitual drunkenness, neg
lect of duty or gross immortality
An act providing that towns of less
than three hundred voters may hold
municipal elections under the law in
force prior to the adoption of the Aus
tralian ballot system.