Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-10-13
TIE ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.
Report Of the Legislative Constitutional
Commission,
Prepared by Chairman R. E. Fast,
Made Public AN Immense Docu-
ment, Dealing With History
and Excusing the Commissions
Existence and Work--A List of
Changes in the Document Pro-
posed to Be Made.

report of the Constitutional Amend
ment Committee, prepared by the
chairman, Col. R. E. Fast, was issued
to-day. The report is quite a volumi-
nous one, occupying lightweight octa-
vo pages. The present Constitution
and the proposed amendments thereto
are prined in parallel columns. Chair
man Fast Introduces the report with
a historical sketch of the origin and
work of the committee, referring to the
varions plans discussed by the caucus
of the Republican members Of the two
houses of the Legislature, for the revis-
ion Of the Constitution-frst, con-
stitutional convention elected by the
people; second, a constitutional COM
mission to be composed of members
from the State at large, appointed by
the Governor; and third, a non-parti-
san committee appointed by the two
houses Of the Legislature from among
their own members. The first named
plan was rejected because of the enor-
NOUS expense involved, the Constitu-
tional convention of 1872. which is
said to have cost 1851 900, being not
ed; the second named plan was re-
jected because the present COnstitu-
ion provided only two ways by which
that instrument could be amended,
viz, by Constitutional convention and
by the Legislature submitting amend
ments. The plan of the Governors
commission was therefore found to
have no Constitutional authority and
was abandoned, ard the third, or leg
islative committee plan, was adopted
as the only possible one.
After a discussion of the demand, or
supposed demand, of the people for
amendments to the Constitution, and
giving a long list of citizens of the
State who either appeared before the
committee or sent letters, the amend
ments proposed by the committee are
the following:
Article 2, Section This section is
amended so as to include Mingo in the
list of counties IF the State.
Article 8, Section Exchanging the
word "and" TO cor" making it read
without due process of law or the
Judgment of his peers"
Article 8. Section 13-Adding the
words, But an appeal from the judg-
ment of Justice upon the verdict of
a jury shall he granted as a matter of
right under such regulations as may be
prescribed by law" It's effect is to
do away with the necessity of taking
down the evidence i'm extenso in a jury
trial before justice and of taking bills
OF exception to the rulings and conduct
of the justice. The mention is to
bring the whole matter, both of law
and fact, up to be tried in the Circuit
Court.
Article 4. Section The amendment
proposed to this section has the effect
of disfranchisiug any male citizen of
this State who shall be found guilty
of selling his vote or receiving any
thing of value for casting his vote at
an election for any particular person"
Article 4, Section 2-This section in
the present Constitution provides that
''the voter shall be left free to vote
by either open, sealed or secret ballot,
as he may elect. The new section makes
any but the secret ballot unlawful.
Article 4, section -: This section is
stricken out and the following inserted:
THE Legislature shall provide by law
for registration of all voters"
Article 6, section %. makes it unlaw-
full for a member to introduce a bill
after the fortieth day of the session,
unless the Governor shall, by special
message, recommend its consideration,
and unless permission for its introduce
ton shall be granted by concurrent
vote of the members elected to each
house
Article 6, section SO. Members of the
Legislature to receive four dollars per
day for actual attendance for a period
not to exceed sixty days at a regular
session, and for forty days at a special
session. No member to receive mile
age for special session called within
ten days after the adjournment of the
regular session. and members to receive
mileage for only one way travelling to
and from the seat of government for a
special session. Con mittees to visit
State institutions to receive no mileage
Article g. section 43. removes the in
hibition upon the Legislature to estab-
fish a board or court Of registration.
Article {. section l. The Office of
Secretary Of the State is made elective
instead otappointive. a commissioner
of insurance is added. The terms of
State officers to begin on the first day
OF January next after their election.
Sections 3, 4 and II are inconsequential
changes.
Article Z, section 10, provides for the
turning of al fees of Secretary of State,
Auditor and other State officers into the
State treasury, and authorizes the Leg
islature to fix the salaries of State off,
GERS.
Article provides for the establish
ment Of criminal circuit courts: that is,
a criminal judge to preside over the
criminal courts of number of coun-
ties.
Giving another judge to the upreme