Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-10-24

81 saying whether they Thought such
revision necessary, and o. saying who
should be chosen to undertake It. The
infamy OF being the Arst body 70 at
tempt to foist itself on the people in
the role of q constitutional convention
is peculiar to the Republican Legisla-
ture of 1897.
The Constitution Of 1879 was made
when the people were peculiarly sensi-
tive as to evils growing out OF pros
criptive and partisan laws, ard hence
its radical features are of a broad, lib
eral and non-partisan character. The
progress Of time showed some errors
of detail affecting the judiciary system
and county government. These have
been corrected by amendments with
but
LITTLE COST OR INCONVENIENCE
to the people. Many parts OF the Con-
stitution have been construed by the
courts, and the great body OF the sta
tute law has been systematized in har-
mony with its provisions. The people
have grown familiar with it, and of
late years scarcely anything has been
said against it by any one at all famil-
lar with its provisions. In the poll
tical campaigns of 1894 and 1896 no
complaint was heard against it. In
fact, nothing was heard of it at all.
Among the lesser results Of the Ma
tional cyclone that swept the Demo-
Gratis from power throughout the coun-
try, was the election of the Republi-
can Legislature of 1897 in West Vir-
ginia. There were some honest men.
and some of fair natural capacity that
were members of this Legislature. But
it is 10 exaggeration to say that II
there ever was Legislature in the his
tory of the State that
WAS CONSCIOUSLY NOT FITTED
to tinker with the State Constitution
this was the one. Any one that takes
time to think will see that in system
SO interviewer as the laws must be
hardly an article in the Constitution
could be changed without possible far
reaching effects. For this among other
reasons, no class is so necessary in a
constitutional convention as experienced
and thoroughly trained lawyers. and yet
it is far within the mark TO say that
there was not a single lawyer in this
Legislature whose reputation has yet
reached beyond the borders of his own
county.
If the Legislature really believed that
there were any particular articles or
sections of the Constitution requiring
amendment, they should have so de-
clared by joint resolution and submitted
the proposed amendments to vote at
the next general election. Or, II they
believed that the entire Constitution
required revision they should have had
the boldness to say so, and submit <he
question of holding constitutional con-
party in control of the Legislature APP
pears to have been afraid to meet the
people on the last question, and it
could not avail itself of the first method
In the case of partisan amendments.
since it had not the necessary two
thirds vote in the House. A third
fhnrnTnFa IF
spirit Of the Constitution, was sought
to be followed. A joint committee of
eighteen legislators was chosen to sit
and receive proposals to amend the Con-
stitution. Drag-nets were scattered
over the State in the shape of invita-
tons to every class to come forward
and make suggestions. It was hoped
that there would be sufficiently numer-
Gus to serve as an excuse for convert
ing a contemplated extra session of the
Legislature into virtual constitutional
convention.
Fortunately, and to the credit of the
State be it said. these hopes were not
realized. The committee
SAT- DAY AFTER DAY
waiting for the people to rush forward
with suggestions, but scarcely any ap-
peared, and the result was that few
Insignificant amendments have been
proposed to be submitted at some future
time when the committee and the Leg
islature that appointed 1t will have both
passed out of existence. If the ordinary
and proper course had been pursued
these amendments, if proper to be
passed, would now be ready to be voted
on, and scarcely any additional ex-
pense on this account at least. would
have been added to the most costly Or
binary session of the Legislature the
State has ever yet had. AS it is, these
amendments amount to practically
nothing, and the State has been put to
an expense of thousands of dollars that
some members and officials might draw
a steady per diem out Of the States
Treasury while waiting TO see IL some
body might not be found to come for