The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-01-31
COMMITTEE WORK.
The House Committee on Rail-
roads Hears Arguments.
Mr.. MORRISS SCHOOL BOOK BILL
&Aportod 10 the iiou,o Yesterday.
Tho Bill an Elaborate Ono - Tho
Provlsions-Vigorous Debate ou tho
Erroneous Assessment Biii - Tho
Charleston Consolidation Bill Passos
tho House With n Wh0op-A Wheel.
Ing Committee Present.


Specia, Dispatch 10 he Intliqencer.
CHARLESTON, W. Va, Jan. 30.-The
house committee on railroads, In session
this afternoon. heard argument OF V. B.
Archer against the railroad com mission
bill, and J. II. Gaines in Its favor. Tho
committee adjourned until Tomorrow
afternoon, when Mr.. Gaines will com.
plote his arguments. Hon. c. Wood
DAILY will follow him. opposing tho bill,
and Hon. John B. Floyd will speak In
its favor. Tomorrow evening a joint
meeting will be held to hear General
st. Clair and others on the bill pro.
hibiting railroad companies from en-.
gaging in the coal business.
Chairman Morris, OF tho committee
on education. reported the school book
bill to-day. The list Of books was az
given in yesterdays lSTELLIoEscRR, the
bill being substantially as introduced
by Mr.. Morris, except for the subssitu.
ton Of text books, indicated in last
nights dispatch. A striking feature OF
the bill. one that Seems TO be popular
with the people, is provision that all
school books shall befurnshed at three.
iiiths OF the present retail price. Secre-
tariei OF boards OF education are TO be
made deposi,aries for school books and
are to receive commission OF S per cent
on sales. Tho committee had the bill
under consideration several days. 1t 10
an elaborate one and many consider it
an acceptable solution OF the school
book problem. Mr.. Norris deserves
credit Tor his earnest efforts to dispose
OF this troublesome question at an early
day, and no one doubts the honesty OF
his purpose. On his motion tho bill
was taken up tonight and ordered to
its second reading.
House bill No. IS, extending the time
for the correction Of erroneous assess-
ments, was again vigorously discussed
to-day. 1t was opposed by Messru. Nor.
ris. Campbell, Jones, Hawkins, Roy
nolds, Hess anHl Evans, all OF whom
considered it in the interest OF foreign
land owners or q dangerous measure
for other reasons. Me.srs. Fleming and
Martin favored its adoption. 1t was re.
committed to the judiciary committee.
There seems to be nothing to indicate
that the farmers are clamoring for its
passage.
Part OF the morning and all OF the
afternoon sessions OF the senate were
occupied in discussing the bill providing
for O twenty-cent general and fifteen
cent school levy. d Mr. Whitaker op-
posed it on the grounds that the finances
OF tho state would not justify iLs pas
sage. He moved to amend BY substi-
tuting twenty-five for twenty. This
amendment. and several others pro-
posed, were voted down. Senators
Reed and Hoge shared Mr.. Whitaker's
views and Messrs Lockney. Scott Fin.
ley and Mahood favored tho bill in its
present form. 1t was advanced to its
third reading. Its friends claim to be
confident OF its passage.
House bill 243, introduced by Mr..
Hnrmer to-day, is almost a verbatim
copy OF the law now in effect in Texas.
It known as tho "anti-trust bill' and
10 sweeping in its provisions.
The bill providing for the consolida-
tion OF Charleston und Elk City called
for very vigorous speeches this after
noon from Mr. Martin and Speaker
Edwards in reply to Mr.. Mcdonald,
who wantad to postpone action on it
until Monday. Mr.. Martin gave clear,
lucid statement Of the history of the
movement and paid his respects ia no
uncertain terms TO those opposing,
whom he characterized as a "haf dozen
men who bad constituted themselves q
protectorate Of the city," MI. Edwards
said tho opposition was led by ex.Gov-
ernor Wilson, who opposed tho bill for
the reason that it would probably make
Charleston Il safely Republican city,
while the business interests Of the peo.
ple demanded its passage. The bill
went through the house with o whoop,
aud its friends think it will pass the
senate. 1t is being strongly advocated
by leading citizens of both parties,
while the opposition to it is also divided
between Republicans and Democrats,
Its passage will give Charleston
population OF from twelve to fifteen
thousand, while the Incorporated terri.
tory will still DO comparatively small.
Judge Fleming this evening asked
that the bill reponling the appropria-
ton for the heirs OF Beverly Tucker and
E. W. Wilson, OF 10 per cont of the
states share Of the direct tax, be recon.
mit,ed to tho judiciary committee. say.
ins 1t was claimed that Tucker and vii.
son had both rendered the state ser.
vices, and that they should he remun.
Grated. Mr.. Reynolds said tho house
could do justice in tho case just as well
MS tho committe, and objected to re.
commit,nl. Mr. Fleming withdrew his
request for tho present.
Messrs. Henry Bacr, John Riheldafler
and Joseph Spoidel, OF tho Wheeling
chamber of commerce. arrived this
evoning. 1t Is understood they will op.
pose the passage Of senate bill 4s, con.
cerning acts valid between parties, but