Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-01-20

number OF bills introduced on the HrsI
dav after the organization of the two
Houses. Thirty bills in the Senate and
eighty-one bills in the House, with
large number of resolutions, was the
record of the first days work in the
respective Houses, when that order OF
business was reached.
With the exception of the Elections
Committee in the Senate, none OF the
committees of either House, mas done
any work, and it is not likely that any
bills will be reported back from the
committees before next week COM
paratively few of the bills thus lar
introduced treat of new subjects, the
majority being bills introduced at for
mer sessions.
The question of framing a new con-
stitution is the theme that is engag-
ing the attention of the members OF
both Houses, and various and dlYerg-
ent are the views expressed in regard TO
the matter. There appears TO be a large
amount of misiniormation among the
members in regard to the subject. One
of the resolutions introduced provides
for the calling of a special session OF
the legislature to frame constitution.
Ii is very plain that the Legislature
has no authority to frame a new con-
stitution and it is rather singular that
a member would propose such Dill
Mr. Foler who introduced House
Joint resolution providing that the
Governor shall call special session OF
the Legislature for the purpose OF
framing and completing a new con-
stitution for the State, recognizes the
fact that he made a mistake. and Will
either withdraw the resolution or
change the wording of it to say that
the Legislature shall be called in spe-
cial session to frame amendments 10
the Constitution. As some of the
members of the Legislature would en-
10Y a few months stay in Charleston
during the season of green leaves and
flowers. they will no doubt push the
resolution providing for the extra SEES
sion. 1t is evident that the Republic
cans are afraid to move in the matter
of a new constitution without the aid
of the Democrats. Indeed, they could
not pass a joint resolution in the lower
House submitting the question OF call
ing a Constitutional Convention to
vote of the people, as the constitution
provides that the passage of such res
olution would require the affirmative
vote of three-fifths of the members OF
each House. which would be forty-three
i'm the lower House. The Republicans
have only forty votes in that body
One of the leading Republicans propo-
ses a special commission, composed OF
both Democrats and Republicans, to sit
during the recess of the Legislature to
revise the constitution, and to make
strictly non-partisan affair of it. He
appears to have no faith in the ability
of the Republican party, or either party
alone, in fact, to frame and secure the
adoption of a new constitution 1t IS
estimated that a constitution framed
bv a convention called for the purpose,
would cost the State over $500 coo.
1t would necessitate three separate cleo
tions-frst on the question of calling
the convention; second, the election of
the members of the convention, and
third. the vote on the adoption of the
instrument, after it shall have been
framed. The final decision will proba-
bly, be the quickest. easiest and surest
way of securing what is desired in the
constitution is for the Legislature to
propose a string of amendments to the
old instrument and have them voted
upon separately by the people. In this
way some of the amendments desired
may be adopted. while the chances are
that many may be defeated.
The old question. so often discussed
at previous sessions of the Legislature,
of reducing the levy for State taxation
and increasing the levy for taxation for
school purposes. will be precipitated in
the lower House by bill introduced
yesterday by Mr.. Kenney. OF Calhoun.
Mr.. Kinney is one of the brightest
members of the House and he is con-
versant with all the matters touching
the interests Of the public schools. He
is we'll equipped for vigorous fight IN
the House for this bill.
1t is evident that the Legislature is
dead set against any agitation of the
Virginia debt question. The members
of the House fell over each other yes
terday, so to speak. in their anxiety TO
move a suspension of the rules TO
adopt Mr.. Collins resolution putting
the question to sleep.
The Legislature will doubtless pass
the bill introduced by Senator Patton,
and patronized by Mrs. Joseph Rutfner,
providing for the establishment of a
home for incurables. Mrs. Ruffner has
worked so faithfully and so long for an
asylum for persons suffering with in
durable diseases that it would be the
proper thing to pass the bill, if only to
reward Mrs. Ruffner for her perseyer-
ence.
The bill introduced yesterday by Mr..
Garvin to form the new county of Au-
gusta. will probably be popular meas
ure and become a law. 1t is strongly
demanded by the people living in the
territory out of which the new county
is to be formed They complain that
they have to travel too long distance
to get to the county seats in their re-
respective counties If this county is