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

THE SERVICE COMMISSION.
Another Illustration of the Manner In
" hicii Republicans Work.
Probably no bill considered by the
Legislature Of 1897 will SO
well illustrate the principles Of
the veteran rank and file Of
West Virginia Republicans as
this. 1t was striking instance
of that species of legislation that is ''for
the old flag and an appropriation every
time" It contained a sop for the SOL
der vote, afforded an opportunity for
sQuandering the surplus in the State
Treasury, and provided a few extra
places for some of the prominent work.
ers who had failed to connect else
where, and also furnished an occasion
for the House members to show how
little they know or care about the State
Constitution.
The provisions of the bill as it was
introduced and passed the House are
substantially as follows:
The Governor is empowered to select
three citizens to constitute a Board, to
be known as the West Virginia Volun-
teer State Services Commission. The
duty Of the Board is to ascertain the
number Of those who during the Civil
War rendered services in the patriotic
organization known as the West Vir-
ginia State Services or Militia, to ascer-
tain the period of such services, and
what sums of money are still due for
them. The Board must hold two ses-
sions q year in each Congressional dis
trict Of the State. and each of these ses-
sions must continue at least fourteen
days The members Of the Commission
are to receive three dollars day each,
together with the mileage fees allowed
to Judges Of the Circuit Court, payable
on their own certificates, and are au-
thorized to employ a clerk. 1t is also
to make a report annually of its find
ings, that is to be printed by the Public
Printer and submitted to the Governor
mailed to each member of the Legisla-
ture
The bill was amended by the Senate
so as to make fourteen days the max
imum instead of the minimum length CT
each session, and in some other not very
important particulars. 1t came back to
the House. and on the question whether
it should pass as amended by the Sen
ate, the vote was, ayes "a, noes 90, abb
sent and not voting 8. The Speaker
thereupon. either
IN IGNORANCE OR DEFIANCE
of the provision of the Constitution re-
curing an amended bill to be passed by
a majority of all the members-elect Of
the House voting on it. declared the
bill passed. The Senate was so noti-
fed and the bill transmitted through
the Committee on Enrolled Bills to the
Governor. 1t was returned by him to
the House, vetoed, and the Republicans
tried strenuously to pass it over the
veto. They were unable, however, to
do this, the vote being again, ayes 81,
noes 20 absent and not voting 6.
The bill does not appear to have re-
ceived a single Democratic vote in the
House at any time, and only one Repub-
lican voted persistently against it. If
any two of the Republicans that were
absent and not voting at the last effort
to pass it had voted aye, it would have
become law in spite of the veto. 1t
is, however, beyond question that only
the veto of the Democratic Governor
prevented the wholesale raid on the
Treasury from being accomplished, and
that if the next Legislature should be
Republican. this measure viii have
more than reasonable chance of being
pushed through.
1t is difficult TO estimate
THE CONSTANT DRAIN
to which the State Treasury would now
be subject if this measure were on the
statute books. The cost of the commits
sion alone would probably have amount
ed to at least two thousand dollars 4
year, without printing. As to the aggrs-
gate amount Of claims tina. Touid have
been allowed, it is entirely a matter Of
conjecture. Probably the specia. cnau-