The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1899-02-15
THE CAPITAL.
Proceedings in the House and
Senate,

which are OF interest to readers OF
the Register. The first and only
bill which has passed both houses
and will therefore become law
upon receiving the Governors APP
proval is the bill in regard to the
Independent school district of Ce-
redo.
Another bill which passed the
House yesterday was that of Mr..
Harnish, of Wood county, provid-
ing that the regular grand juries of
the Circuit Courts need not be
summoned in counties where there
are Criminal Courts, but that the
Judge of the Circuit Court may
call regular or special grand jury
when he deems it proper. The bill
is designed to settle all disputes as
to whether circuit court grand jur-
les are required to meet regularly
in these counties.
Major Bennett secured the adopt
ion of an amendment to Mr.. Harm
ish's good roads bill which 40
complishes n double purpose. The
bill authorizes county courts, up
on vote of the people, to issue
bonds for the construction of per-
manent county roads. 1t specifics
that they should be paved with
brick or asphalt or macadamized.
The amendment which was adopt
ed on MAJOR Benefits motion pro-
vides that the irreducible school
fund may be invested in these
county bonds by tho board of the
school fund, thus providing funds
for the construction of permanent
good roads and at the same time
providing n safe Investment for the
money which is accumulating in
the irreducible school fund.
The valued policy bill, to compel
insurance companies, of total loss
by fire, to pay the full face value of
the policies, was passed by the
House yesterday. The opposition
to the bill was strong but the vote
on its passage was decisive.
The bill to abolish days of grace
and to provide that notes which
fall due on Sundays or holidays
shall not be protested until the
next day, was passed by the House
yesterday.
The House joint resolution pro-
posing an amendment to the con-
stitution authorizing the incorpor-
alton of missionary societies will
probably pass tomorrow. A vote
was taken on it yesterday but it's
announcement was postponed un-
til tomorrow. The amendment is
designed to authorize the Baptist
Missionary Society to become a
corporation and as such receive
requests, etc.
Mr.. Davis, of Harrison county,
introduced a bill yesterday pro-
viding for the establishment of
free kindergarten schools, wherever
the Board of Education think it
advisable.
President Raymond of the Uni
versity, and Geo. G. Sturgiss,
President of the Board of Regents,
are here in the interest of an APP
preparation for the University and
working against the bill to abolish
the preparatory department.
Senator Osenton's bill taxing ex-
press companies, or the duplicate
of it introduced in the House ought
to pass. 1t provides for tax of
two cents on every package hand
led by an express company in this
State; second, for a tax of two per
cent. of the gross revenue of such
companies; and third, it prohibits
the formation of trusts and COM
bines among express companies to
Cypress the people, making it fell
ony for any one to engage in the
formation of trust, and afRxing
as the penalty imprisonment in the
penitentiaay of from one to three
years.
1.-THE penalty attached is deemed
too severe it may be amended in
that particular.
These concerns, doing business
annually of three or four million
dollars in this State, certainly
should not be permitted to escape
their share of taxation.
And while the express companies
are being looked after, the telegraph
and telephone companies and the
Pullman car trust and other rich
and arrogant tax-dodgers should be
similarly brought up with a round
turn and made to pay their share