The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-05-29

Special Dlspateh to the IntellIgencsr.
CHARLESTON. W. Va. May sS.-Ths
repontS respecting the length Of ses-
alCns OF the legislature and the pay OF
members Were taken up to-day by the
Constitutional committee. and the sub
stitute offered by Senator Fast was
adopted, with but two votes, those Of
MesErs. Farr and Toler, in opposition.
The amendment as agreed upon pro-
vides that mambera OF the legislature
shall be paid four dollars per day and
mileage, not TO exceed sixty days In
regular session, and forty-five days in
special session. Al the same time, the
limit at which the legislature may sit
is removed, but no bill can be introdue-
ed in the regular manner after the for
tIeth day. The governor when calling
special session is given the right to
limit the time OF the session.
The proposed amendment making II
easier than al present for new counties
TO be formed, was also adopted. The
amendment provides that a new county
may be formed with an area Of 525
square miles and 1000 peole, and on 4
majority vote of the citizens Of the ter
ritory Of the proposed new county. pro-
vidGd the county or counties out OF
which a new county Is taken shall not
be reduced below the area and populA-
tIon named.
Mr.. HAnsford's substitute for the re-
port on county organization was adopt-
ed Il provides for q county court in
each county, composed OF three COM
missiOnerB from the county At large.
except that In the counties Of Marshall,
Ohio. Mason. FRyette, Wetzel and KA-
nGWha. there shall be a county court
composed Of one commissioner from
each magisterial district. until other
wise provided by law. Another amend
ment adopted provides that any citizen
adiudged guilty Of selling his vote At
any election shall be disfranchised.
The finishing touch was given the fee
system In the state. wiping the whole
system out In county as wen Is the
state offices. This was done by the
adoption OF an amendment. making the
compensation Of county officers by
stated salaries, and requiring fees TO
be turned into the county treasures. II
was Mr. Darsts amendment and car
ried by to 6. Senator Whitaker pre-
scented an amendment. which was
adopted, improving the organic law re-
spectinE the state school fund. The ef-
feet of the amendment is TO prevent the
diversion Of any part OF the proceeds
of the fund into any other fund other
than the school fund, and prescribing
other regulations as TO the methods to
be employed in Investing the fund, etc.
Senators Young and Farr departed
for their respective homes this evening,
imperative business requiring their At-
tehtlon. The lntellgenOar correspond
ent asked Chairman Fast what he an-
ticIpRted would be done about q special
session OF the legislature to act on the
report OF the committee, to which he
replied, that he did not know whether
there would be q special session or not.
He had no opinion to express on that
subject.
terviewS which had appeared In GER
tain newspapers representing him to
have said that Il the governor refused
to call special session the members Of
the legislature would call themselves
together. were not authorized BY him
and ne had delivered no expressions
whatever on that subject, and that
such interviews were bogus"