The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1897-02-20

the counties a little longer and per
nit the deficiencies, if any to be
paid out Of the State Treasury, but
! would suggest to every county to
begin an economic policy Of retrench-
ment and reform in the matter Of
criminal expenditures, for it cannot
be long until some legislature will
regulate the whole question of Grim
inal expenditures to the counties
and require them to meet in full the
criminal charges. 1t is estimated
that the deficits which have been accu
mulating for years have reach
ed an alarming sum. The report of
the Investigating committee will be
read with interest, if not with alarm,
when it comes. A deficit of $780,
000,0 90 need not be a surprise.
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.
The geological survey bill has
passed the Senate carrying only
So, 900. 90 for 1898. If the lasting
benefits of this bill were fully known
and appreciated it would have passed
carrying all that was asked for. No
test was made. The patron of the
bill moved to cut the appropriation
to $1,000 for 1898. and of course no
one ''called a raise" But what
good would a geological survey do
the farmer? / will answer that by
asking the farmer, 'Would it be any
benefit to you to have a map made
of a vertical section of your land cut
from the surface down to say 5000
feet below the surface, showing you
what minerals, sands, ores etc, are
underlying the sameY' fit would
be of no benefit to know the kind,
number, character, quality, meran-
tile value, DC, DC, of all minerals,
and perhaps oil bearing sands, I'M
der your lands, it would be a waste
of money to have a geological survey.
With ten thousand of an appropria-
tion annually something can be
done. 1t can't be done for less. An
appropriation of S., 900 is waste of
money. 1t can be spent. No trou-
Ible to spend it. But what will we
have to show for it when spentf
We shall see.
The M. Z. Church Cemetery bill,
the Morgantown school district bill,
the University treasurer's bill, the
bill for the relief of cadets, and the
Gettysburg monument bill have all
passed the Senate; whether they
will pass the House is another ques-
ton. We are very much discour-
aged at their slow progress, in the
House.
In justice to myself / desire to
call attention to the following:
CIGARETTE TAX MAY BE REPEALED.
CHARLESTON, Feb. 5.-Unless the
Governor vetoes it, the State tax on
cigarettes will shortly be repealed.
This will be in the nature of a
surprise, for it came up in bill cs-
tensibly to regulate the liquor traffic.
The bill was a Senate bill and
was introduced by Mr.. Fast. 1t
was couched in such language that
it appeared only to regulate the
liquor traffic, the word cigarette
not being mentioned.
Thus the true import of the bill
was not noticed by the anti-cigaret-
fists.
This bill was introduced by Sena-
tor Young of Upshur, was referred
to the Committee ON Judiciary and
was fully discussed and understood
by the Committee. 1t is so thor
oughly understood and conceded by
good lawyers that the law imposing
$4,000 license ON the sale of cigar
cites is law in restraint of trade
and is unconstitutional in that it in
terferes with interstate commerce,
that regardless of what one may
think of cigarettes, it is conceded
the law was dead letter and should
be repealed. A number of appellate
courts have so decided the question
in the United States. Judge Golf
so held in the Minor case. There
was no trick about it. 1t was a
plain bill to repeal the act taxing
cigarettes. If this State desires to
prohibit the sale of cigarettes, and
Congress will pass an act Gas was
done in the case of whiskey after
the decision of the U. S. Court lin
the case of Leisy VS.. Hardin, an act
may then be passed which will be
effective. l did not know the object
of this bill until l read it in Com
mittee.