The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1897-03-13

Law or no Law.

time has broken out In a new place.
A disregard for law, lack of appreci-
alton for the law, and defiance Of
law, have ceased to surprise or greatly
alarm when manifested in lynchings
and strikes and other mob organiza-
tions; but what shall we say when
this spirit reaches the law-making
power itself!
There has never been, perhaps, in
the history of legislation, and GER
tainly not In the history of this state,
more signal illustration of light es-
TEEN for the authority of law than
that manifested by our own State
Legislature during the recent session,
We cite two instances as sufficiently
Illustrating this spirit, without any
reference to the merits of the measures
themselves. Our sole object is to call
attention to what we regard as very
suggestive, if not very serious, mani
festation of the absence of reverence
and regard for the supremacy of law
in a legislative body.
The first OF these relates to the atti-
tude of legislators toward the bill
for the formation Of the new county
of Augusta, with which movement
our readers ale familiar. Every law
yer knows that both the constitution
and statutes Of our state lay down cer-
tain specific requirements as absolute
ly essential to the proceeding for
creating new county. The pFelimi-
nary steps thus required by the consti-
tuition and laws are made conditions
precedent to the legislature entertain.
ing bill of this character. IL is not
enough that it is possible to show that
the essential conditions to its forma-
ton exist, but they must be affirma-
lively and officially shown before the
Legislature has any jurisdiction of
the matter.
Nevertheless, the projectors of the
new county in question, without any
notice or publication of their purpose,
quietly prepare bill, spring it upon
the legislature, have it regularly intro.
duced and entered upon the calendars
of both branches, refer it to CONF
mittees, report it back favorably, and
actually discuss it for ten days or two
weeks, and secure almost enough sup
port to pass it, when, as a matter of
fact, not one single requirement of the
constitution and laws had been COM
piled with, and legislators knew they
had not been complied with, and the
promoters admitted, as they were
bound to admit, they had not been
complied with, and did not pretend to
comply with them, but relied solely on
the fact that they expected to get
votes enough to pass the bill, law or
no lawl
We forbear to comment on this
plain statement of facts. 1t bears
on its face the significant character
istics to which We refer.
The second illustration is found in
the bill which was deliberately pre-
sented, and admitted to place on the
calendar, and even favorably reported
back from the Finance Committee,
providing for a large appropriation
from the state treasury for the benefit
of a distinctively sectarian institu-
tion-estahlished as such, not pre-
tending to be anything else, or pro-
posing to be anything else in the flu
ture. This latter bill was also sup
ported by..a formidable and sanguine
lobby, was backed up by formidable pc
titions, and was reported to have a
chance to pass! But of what force is
THE BILL OF RIGHTS indeed, as
compared to the important and urgent
necessities of the institution named
in this particular bill!
Let the dance go on. If the BILL
OF RIGHTS can't be suspended when
it stands in the way of favorite legisla-
alton, it is easy to run over and ig-
more it!-The Bar.