Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-04-22

Charleston, w. Va, April 21.-When
the Constitutional Committee met this
morning, Chairman Fast offered an
amendment giving the Legislature au-
thority to fix the salaries of supreme
and circuit judges
A resolution directing the sub-com-
mittee of the executive department to
report an amendment providing for a
board of pardons, was offered by Mr..
Hanen, and adopted.
Mr.. Whitaker, from the sub-commit-
tee of the executive department, re-
ported favorably on an amendment
providing for the election of the Sec
retary of State and Adjutant General
by a vote of the people; also, an amend
ment providing for the filling of vacan-
cies in the State Offices by appoint
ment by the Governor; also, an amend
ment giving authority to the Legisla-
ture to fix the salaries of State officers;
also. an amendment providing that no
session of the Legislature shall con-
tinue longer than sixty days, and that
after forty-five days of the session shall
have passed. no bills or joint resolu-
tions of the nature of bills shall be in
trodueed unless the Governor shall, by
special message, call attention to the
necessity of legislation on the subject
matter embraced in the message; also,
without recommendation, an amend
ment providing that members Of the
LEGISLATURE receive a salary Of $500 for
a session of the Legislature, without
reference to its length.
Hon. Dave D. Johnson, Of Parkers-
burg. appeared before the committee
and advocated an amendment making it
lawful for religious societies to receive
bequests, divises, etc.
Judge James H. Ferguson, Of this
city. was before the committee and
gave his views on several sections Of
The Constitution, which, in his opinion,
sbould be amended. He was heartily
in favor of the amendment Of the Con-
stitution on the manner proposed. lie
had never liked the present Constitu-
tion and was sorry that he voted for its
adoption. The former Constitution,
that of 1868. was a model, both in the
noint of wisdom and literary construc-
tion. It's construction was principally
tho work of Daniel Lamb, of Wheeling,
who was master at constitution build
ing. Judge Ferguson recommended
amendments providing for five judges
of the Supreme Court. a minority rep
resentative in the Supreme Court, in
creasing the number of county commis-
sioners to five; the loaning Of the per-
manent school fund to the State; eX-
empting growing crops from taxation;
giving to each county at least one rep
resentative in the House of Delegates;
= returning election board to canvass
returns and declare the result.
I Mr.. Toler offered a resolution pro-
viding for a division of the committee
into two sub-committees to visit differ
ent places in the State to hear the views
Of the people on amendments to the
Constitution. which went over till to-
morrow for consideration.
The subcommittee on the judiciary
have taken up for consideration the
amendment offered by Senator Young
Yesterday dividing the State into min
! teen iudicial circuits. Mr. Young's
amendment arranges the judicial dis
tricts as follows. giving two Judges 10
the first circuit and one judge to each
of the others: o,.
| Marshall.
Second-Wetzel and Tyler.
Third-Ritchie ,Doddridge and Pleas
ants.
Fiftb-Jackson. Putnam and Mason.
Sivtb-CabeH Wayne and Lincoln.
seventh Boone. Logan and Mingo.
Fiqbtb-McDowell, Wyoming and
Mingo. Mon
/
roe. o-,u,on
Eleventh-Nicholas, Webster ana
TweIftb-Mineral. Grant, Hampshire,
/ Hardy and Pendleton.
Thirteenth-Morgan, Berkeley and
Jefferson. ~. o,5
Randolph. ,,,n;o,
Sixtee sh-Harrison, Tyler and Bar
| Der. --,. I'D
- FIebteenth-Gilmer, Calhoun and
1Tciiinteentb-Kanawha and Clay.
! Mr. z. 7. Vinsou. of Huntington who
smoke before the committee yesterday
favored an amendment TO the Consti-
tution leaving the redistricting Of the
state 10 the Legislature, az the Federal
Cone,itnticn I,' leaves the matter Of ju-
SiciaI districts to Congress. He would
conv almost exactly the Federal Con-
cfP .titntior in regard TO the judiciary. The
ovre1jence Of mora than a century has
go eo1ebt IN ne that it is the best. 1t is i'm
-osSible r%sSitJ he said. to arrange the circuits
] e - that would be satisfactory