Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1897-05-08
THAT CONSTITUTION.

lnf. HNCas G~cFeJafy 81 tue Com
mittee on Constitutional Amend
ments, has sent US o circular letter.
We publish it gratis for our people,
but hope at some time our consti u .
tion may be amended BY some finan-
cial es.eenl. 1t is SIS follows, viz:
The special Joint Committee Of
the Legislature. raised for the pur
pose Of preparing such amendments
to the constitution of tue state OF
West Virginia, as seemed 10 he de
handed by the people, and to re-
port the same TO special, or the
next regular session OF the Legisla-
ture and being d, sirioas Of OBJ
tanning clear aud distiect express
sion from the citizens Of the state as
to he changes or amendments most
needed. and for which there seems
to be the greatest demand, respect
fully directs your attention tosthe
following interroeatories which en-
brace the amendments now under
consideration by the committee, viz:
|. As to article 6. section % !:
Shall the sessions Of he Legislature
be limited, and il so, h,w, and TO
what extent ? Shall members be
paid a fixed salary regardless of
length of sessions?
2. Shall section 43 Of article 6,
iorhidding the enactment OF reg.
istration law be stricken ont, or
SHALL provision be inserted making
it mandatory to enact registration
law?
3. Shall the question of salaries
OF state officers and judges be left
to the Legislature, or shall they be
fixed by Constitution
What Coas i u;ional provi-
sion shall be made, if any, in respect
TO fees which accrue in the several
departments OF the state
5. Shall the Legislature be pro-
hibited from sppropriating money
to any charitable or educational in
stitutioD not under control Of the
state?
6. Shall the Judiciary be recon
structed and if so, in what respect ?
OF how many judges shall the Su-
preme Court consist? How many
judicial circuits shall there be, and
Of what counties shall they consist !?
What shall be done with tie inter-
mediate and criminal courts? What
shall be the limitations on the iuris-
diction Of justices of the peace?
7. What changes shall be made
in county organization and govern.
ment?
8. What changes, i any, shall he
made on the subject of Taxation
and Finance !?
8. What is the sentiment on the
question OF female suffrage?
10. Shall the "School Fund.-
known as the "Irreducible School
Fund.-" remain unmolestcd or,
shall it he allowed to reach an
amount aggregating one million dol.
lars, and all amounts exceeding one
million dollars, including interest,
become dislributable for purposes
Of education or shall it be dis
tributed and abolished?
II. Should an amendment be
proposed prohibiting Independent
school districts
The committee is especially de.
sirous OF obtaining from the people
expressions touching these various
subjects, so that Their action may as
nearly as possible meet the demands
of those who are most affected by
changes in the organic law of the
state. To that end you are asked
to submit: your views upon the prop.
ositions above named, together
- III any other matter pertinent
thereto, either in writing by com
munication addressed to the under
signed, or orally at the next sitting
OF the committee, which will be on
and after Tuesday, May Is, 1897.
All communications will be care.
fully complied and submitted to the
committee for their consideration.
Please make your response as early
as possible, so that no delay may be
necessary in completing the work.
Very respectfully,
E. e. Hoop,
Secretary.