Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-03-27

Special 70 the Register.
CHARLESTON. w. Va. March %
The numerous errors discovered in the
appropriation bin appear 10 be taking up
a considerable part of the time Of the
State officers. The most serious error
seems 20 be that in regard 20 the apprO-
priation for the National Guard. The
opinion prevails among military officials
that Attorney General Rucker will be
able TO fEd some loophole which Will let
them OUT OF the difficulty. but the legal
lights express a different opinion. While
(, is readily admitted that the muddie is
clearly the result Of q mistake made by
those who drew up the appropriation bin.
yec the mistake is such as viii prevent
the drawing OF money out Of the treasury
for the National Guard. Attorney General
Rucker has gone home. but promises that
his opinion on the matter VIII be forth
coming within few days.
General Rucker gave am informal opin-
ioD before De left on tae matter OF the
printing for The various State institutions.
in the sixteenth chapter OF the Code it is
provided that all OF the printing for the
various State institutions must be ordered
by The superintendent Of public printing.
executed by The contractor or contractors
FOR public printing and paid for out Of
the appropriation made by the Lesis.a-
ture 20 pay fo- public printing. In the
general appropriation bin passed by the
late legislature there is o clause under
the heading Of appropriation for each of
The State institutions. providing that nj,
bills for printing for such institution be
paid oU- CT che contingent fund of the in
st-udcn. which is in direct conflict with
the statute. The Attorney General holds
that where two statutes conflict. the one
last passed must stand. Under this rule he
holds that as The printing for each State
institution mus, be paid out OF the con-
tirccrt fund OF such institution. the boards
o. those institutions VIII have complete
co-t-o, Of the printing. and can have the
printing done wherever and by whoever
they may deem best. Tn fact. the public
printer is no, obliged TO Go il. He is not
obliged 20 print anything that is not or
Le-ol by tae superintendent, Of public
prir-.rr. Tie appropriation bin takes the
matter ont Of the hands OF the superin-
Jender- OF publc printing and the public
printer. As far as the present public
printer Is concerned. he does rot want
the work OF The state institutions. as this
S. the class Of work uuon which he bids
very ,ow. The public printer may refuse
% 90 this work. as L does not come 10
him through the superintendent OF print
ing. as required by law. II the boards Of
these Institutions should De compelled 10
make new contracts for pubic printing.
they VIII nor likely Doe able 10 make con-
with the public printer. and the cost OF
printing for these Institutions viii likely
De- very largely increased or account Of
the new provisions in the appropriation
Iu
No decision has been reached as TO what
IS % be done I'm regard 20 the salary of the
commissioner Of labor Mr. Hood. the
keeper Of the rolls. says the failure Of the
appropriation for the iabo- commissioner
IS only the result OF a c,e-.cel error and
can be corrected. but neither Mr.. Hood
nor any one else would dare 20 tinker
with the bin after it has been passed by
tts LEGISLATURE. II IS not within the u-o-
vince OF any one man 20 say what is Or
what is not q clerical error in an act OF
the Legislature.
There seems 20 - q moro urgent Noes
si,y FOR an extra session or the Lecis'a-
ture 90 correct the mistakes Of the recU-
l1r session than for passing on constitu-
to~al amendments. bur before calling an
extra session the Governor would prob
ably want 90 Ice Unidentified against any
new mistakes thai might be made.
There appears 20 be O. large amount OF
transformation floating around among
the State press ir regard 20 the high hat
bill passed by the Legislature. The bill
has been attributed 20 nearly everybody
except It's author. The facts are that
early in the session Senator Whitaker
introduced a bin imposing a fire upon
The manager Of any theatre who permit
ted The patrons OF the theatre 10 wear
hats -clr would obstruct the view of those
who sat behind them. Senator Whit
ske-'s bill passed bo.h houses without
material II any. change. and became a
law. Several other bills on the subject
were drafted and introduced. One OF these
was q bin providing for a fine. not upon
the owner or manager OF the theatre. but