The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1897-02-20

with the result that the public bust
ness is hung up while the debates
go on. The Senate will to-day make
a vigorous protest against the fail
ure of the House to advance Senate
bills.
ELECTION LAWS.
Senate Bill No. 161, said to be the
work of State Chairman Dawson,
has been introduced to revise the
whole election law. The bill seems
to have much merit, and l appre-
bend that it will be passed under
suspension of rules. The bill seeks
to simplify the present law which is
a tumble in many respects. Among
the radical changes are the follow
ing:
1.-The election commissioners
shall be four in number instead of
three, an equal number from the two
largest parties. Each party may
nominate their commissioners. 1t
is bipartisan board two and two.
2-The bill carefully defines the
qualification Of voters and specifies
the particular facts which shall de-
termine residence or non-residence.
3-The certification of nominations is
more, carefully defined and guarded
than in the present law.
! 4-There is a vast improvement in
the form and makeup of the ballot,
enabling the voter to vote a straight
ticket by marking a circle at the
head of the ticket, or to vote for in
dividual candidates by marking OPP
posite the name in square at the
left.
5-In case of challeges the ques-
tions which may be propounded to
the challenged voter are specified.
6-The election board being BIZ
partisan the ballots about which
there is no question, shall, upon be-
ing counted, be destroyed by fire or
otherwise Such ballots as the cleo
ton commissioners are not agreed
about as to the intentions of the vo-
ter, &c, shall have endorsed on them
the manner in which they were
counted, and shall then be sealed up
and returned as rejected ballots"
to be laid before the board of can
vassers.
THE canvassing board shall
consist of four persons, two from
each leading party named by the
county court in the same manner
that the election commissioners are
named. The county courts shall not
act as a board of canvassers, but in
cases of contest the county court
shall judge of the qualification and
election of its own members and
district officers.
SCHOOL BOOK BOARD.
Another measure which seems to
be demanded and is likely to be rail-
roaded through under suspension of
rules is House bill No. 35S to estab-
fish school book board in every
county and to prescribe its duties, sc.
superintendent and eight other repu-
table citizens and taxpayers Of the
county. At least four of the eight
shall be freeholders and not teachers,
and at least three shall be persons ac-
lively engaged in teaching and shall
hold number one certificates or the
equivalent. Not more than five shall
belong to the same political party.
The board shall be appointed by the
county court, the term of Office shall
be four years, and five shall constitute
a quorum. 1t shall be the duty of
this board to select the textbooks for
the schools of their respective coun-
ties in the manner provided by this
act. The boards of education of the
several magisterial districts and indie
pendent districts may, in their dis
erection and at their option, appoint
one or more repositories where the
textbooks may be kept and sold,
but this is not compulsory. We seem
to have arrived at the point where the
only way to meet this school book
question is to take it away from the
Legislature. The latter body is unfit
to determine question of SO many
details with which limited number
only can have much acquaintance.
The controversies among the several
publishing houses before the legisla-
ture gives rise to much talk of scan
dial and corruption, almost always
without foundation, but believed by
many nevertheless, so that men of
high character do not care to go to
the legislature and be subjected to the
charges of this kind that are always
sure to be made In the minds of
many it is a choice between a state
board and county board. Men of
high character would not care to serve
on a state board for the same reasons
that make it unpleasant to meet this
question in a legislative body. The
county board therefore seems to be
the most desirable solution of the
question. 1t delegates the question
to the counties to decide for them
selves what text books shall be adopt
ed and to fix prices, within limits pre-
scrbed by the act. l trust this act
will pass and that it will settle the
school book question for many years
to come.
CRIMINAL CHARGES.
Another bill framed in the inter-
ests of the people and the State
Treasury is Senate Bill No. SO to
regulate the payment of costs in
criminal cases and providing fund
therefor. AS the law now stands
criminal costs and charges in felo-
MES are paid by the state, and in
misdemeanors by the county. All
| fOrfnituraa and inac ooaruo fo tho
state and the net proceeds are to be
paid to the general school fund. I'm
der the new act proposed all fines
shall be paid into the county treas
ury together with all licenses, out of
which if sufficient, the criminal
costs shall be paid. If not suffici-
ent the deficiency shall be certified
by the county court to the Auditor
to be paid out of the State Treasury.
The court or justice before whom
any criminal case is tried shall tax