Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-02-10

CIAL ORDER--GOSSIP AND NEWS
FROM THE STATE CAPITAL.
Special to the Register.
Charleston, w. Va. February O.
Both branches of the Legislature adj
journed to-day until Saturday morn
ing, which virtually means an adjourn
ment until Monday, as no business will
be transacted Saturday.
This loss of time is necessitated by
the legislative ball Friday night, for
which social function the hall of the
House and the Senate chamber are re-
quired.
There was some opposition to grant
ing this courtesy to citizens of Charles
ton this year for obvious reasons. The
ball promises to be brilliant affair in
every sense of the word.
The first bill to pass both branches
was House bill No. l. creating the
independent school district of Ceredo,
which now awaits the signature of the
Governor.
The House has made much greater
progress than the Senate. having
passed nearly a score of bills.
Senator Anthony Smith still snorts
under the blow which his pet measure
to suppress prize fighting received. He
says some real naughty things about
the wicked personal encounters under
the auspices of Wheeling athletic clubs.
To-day he introduced a resolution di
recting the committee on military to
inquire into the expediency of report
ing a bill to suppress football and
other public nuisances of like nature"
AS a matter of fact, there are some
members who desire West Virginia to
taking the initiative in making football
playing felony.
Mr.. Coles election bill was under con-
sideration in the Senate this afternoon
and number of amendments were Of
fered. 1t was made special order for
Monday afternoon. Mr.. Stump intro
duced a bill in the House to tax Pull
man cars.
The House committee on finance still
finds it's time occupied in the hearing
of requests for appropriations for the
various State institutions 1t has not
yet reached the promising stage,
The sum total of the appropriations
asked reached the enormous figure of
$1,000 600. All the heads of institutions
agree that this is an unreasonable
amount, but they urge that the cut
should be on the other fellow. Within
a few days the committee will begin
the preparation of the appropriation
bill When the different sums are al
lowed, there will probably be another
readjustment before the bill is finally
reported to the House.
! Harry Mcclure is in high glee over
his discovery that the House, notwith-
standing It's refusal 10 act fayOrdDly
upon the Saturday half holiday, has
passed bill which in effect makes the
half holiday possible. House bin No
25 provides that all notes falling due
on Saturdays are payable before noon
of that day. If not paid ar that time,
they are to be paid or protested on the
following Monday. If the bill passes
in its present form, it will enable the
banks in Wheeling to close their doors
at noon on Saturdays.
Another feature of the bill establish
ing certain legal holidays is the pre-
vision which includes the first Monday
in September as Labor Day.
There has been so much lobbying on
the floor of the House. and so much
consequent disorder during the proceed
ings, that Speaker Mckinney yesterday
deemed it necessary to deliver little
lecture on decOrum. He advised the
members to refrain from conversation,
from interruptlng speakers, from wear
ing their hats, from smoking, etc. The
House also adopted a resolution limit
ing speeches to ten minutes, and pro-
Vidng that members may speak but
once upon any motion. These matters
have facilitated the transaction of bust
ness, and with the night sessions the
hope is entertained that there will be
no necessity for prolonging the session
of the Legislature.
The publication of Mr. Oldfield's pri-
yate letter has caused considerable dis
CuSSlOu. NIL OlQlltlu NIONt the I6IlGE
10 his wife, and it was incomplete when
the House suddenly adjourned. He was
anxious TO catch a train for Hinton, and
in his haste he locked his desk and left
the letter pad lying on the cover. The
temptation to appropriate the letter
pad was too much for some unknown
person, and as a matter of course the
letter was taken with it. 1t found its
way to table in the Speakers room,
where it had been lying undisturbed
for fully a week. Then a comparison
was made with Mr.. Oldfeld's handwrit-
ing and it was discovered that the let
ter was genuine. Mr.. Oldfield remem-
bered his carelessness when he reached
Hinton and hurried back in the fear
that he had written even more damag-
ing matter. He returned to find the
letter gone, and was very much sur
Hrised to find it in cold type.
Mr.. w. L. Mansfield, of Wayne,
terling Democrat, editor and lawyer.
rs one of the Oldest members of the
y Legislature in either branch He has