Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-02-20
From a Staff Correspondent.

Any forecast of the legislation of the
coming week would be pure guess
work. There are but five days of the
session remaining. The same degree
of attention to business, the same de-
sire to expedite it's consideration and
the same lack of long-winded debate,
as has been manifested during the past
few days, would make it possible, I'M
der a suspension of the rules, % pass
all the purely local measures as well
as the greater part of the general leg
islation which is pending.
Unfortunately, however, there still
remains for consideration a measure
which demands more attention, and in
cidentally more discussion, than any
other which has been offered. Refer
ence is made to the appropriation bill,
which is expected to consume a great
deal of time. The actual amount or
time will determine the fate OF sew
eral pet measures which have not been
very far advanced upon the calendar,
on account of lack of interest or in
fuence, or other cause. In view OF the
short period remaining, it is unfortun-
ate that the Legislature is not gov
Termed by the rule of the national legis-
lative body, in which appropriation
bills originate in the lower house.
There is a difference in several items
in the House and Senate bills, and the
degree of bitterness with which they
have been fought in the conferences be-
tween members of the two committees
iustifies the prediction that there will
be a waste of time when the respective
bills come up for consideration upon
their second reading.
About twenty House bills have pass
ed the Senate, and several have been
signed by the Governor, among them
the measure requiring executions to
take Mace within the walls of the pen
itentiary, instead of in the several coun-
ties, and the West Virginia Humane
Society bill. Mrs. List secured the pen
with which the Governor affixed his
signature to the latter. But n Senate
bill has been enacted into a law. 1t
is a local measure pertaining to the
independent school district OF st. Al
bans. The House has a number OF Sen
ate bills on second and third reading,
however, and several of them Will
probably be passed early in the week.
The measures which have met with
the most stubborn opposition have been
the bills for the assessment and taxa
ton of the m~onopolies. AS has been
stated heretofore, for reasons which
have been explained in detail, it was
found impracticable to pass the omni-
bus bill, for the taxation of telegraph,
telephone, pipe line and express COM
panies. The telephone companies and
the pipe line companies were ellmln-
ated for the reason, in the first in
stance, that they were properly sub
iects of the local authorities, and in
JuG SSGOllu instance pCNeNba6S W. Pr
line companies are already paying in
taxes an amount closely approximating
$50, 900. Separate bills were introduced
TO reach the express and telegraph
companies. Both were offered in the
House. The former vas passed, and
has a very good chance of going
4l...~I Az Co,o+o Tho lotion will
come up in the House tomorrow on
its third reading and will pass, as very
little opposition to it has developed.
The great corporations referred TO
have powerful and influential Hobbies
at work here, and every influence is be-
ing brought to bear to defeat the
measures for taxation in which the
masses are interested.
There is a bill pending in the Senate
which will probably pass tomorrow,
: and which may meet with considerable
opposition in the House. 1t pertains to
the chartering of corporations. The
present law is aimed to prevent the
formation of trusts under the statutes
of West Virginia, and preventing the
issuing of a charter to a corporation
which has a capital stock greater than
5000, 900. The bill referred to re-
moves this limit, but prevents such
companies from operating in this
State. The Senators who advocate its
passage, take the position that the
State will receive a great deal of rev.
enue under it's operation, of which it
is deprived by the present law. 1t is
a we'll known fact that the corporation
laws of West Virginia are very attract
i've, and the charters issued to outside
companies yield a large sum annually
in the shape O f taxes and fees. Yet
there are members of the Legislature
who will look upon the removal of the
limit upon corporations as a sort of
compromise with the principle, and
will oppose the Senate bill on that
broad ground.
There is still a remote possibility