Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-02-16
Special to the Register.

Special to the Register.
Charleston, w. Va, February 15.-
In the two branches to-day eleven bills
were passed, of which number the
House passed nine.
Owing to the waste of time in the
Senate no bill from that body has yet
reached its third reading in the House.
Two House bills have passed the Sen
ate, and another batch will probably
go through tomorrow. This was
made possible by a day of earnest work
in the Senate, resulting in the advance
ment of many bills on the calendar.
OF the eleven measures which to-day
passed the branches in which they
originated, most were of a purely local
character.
The three most important were
House bills. One was Mr.. Bowman's
measure to tax express companies. An
other was Mr.. McKinney's bill requir-
ing employers to take precautions to
prevent accidents to employees and re-
curing the placing of fire escapes upon
factory buildings of a certain descrip-
ton. 1t was endorsed by the Trades
Assembly, and Messrs. Tighe and Sal
isbury did a great deal of effective
work in its behalf. The third bill was
Mr.. Behrens's measure providing for a
State board to be known as the West
Virginia Humane Society and apprO-
priating $4,000 for the purpose. 1t was
%stubbornly fought at every stage, but
had a handsome majority on its final
passage. Mrs. John K. List, of Wheel
ing, who has been here advocating its
passage, is one of the happiest women
in Charleston.
Mr.. Mansfeld's bill providing for the
re-assessment of all real estate, will
probably fail to become a law because
of the Senate's determination that all
the work shall be done by Republican
assessors to be appointed by the State
Board of Public Works. In its original
shape the bill provided that the county
courts appoint the assessors This was
found to be unconstitutional and the
House amended the bill to give the
Auditor the appointing power, upon the
recommendation of the several county
courts. 1t was passed in this shape,
but the Republican Judiciary Commit
tee of the Senate lodged the appoint
ing power in the Board of Public
Works, and struck u the provision
that recommendations be made by the
county courts. In the Senate to-day,
Mr.. Farr offered an amendment which
he said Mr.. Mansfield had agreed to,
but which Mr.. Mansfield authorizes the
Register to deny. 1t empowered the
county courts to recommend three
names, not more than two to be of per-
sons of the same political party. Sen
ator Kidd stated that his county and
many others were entitled to but one
assessor, and such an amendment
would mean a Republican in each in
stance.
Mr.. Mansfield states that the county
courts are Republican in 81 counties,
and Democratic in "a. He thinks the
Republicans should be satisfied with
this proposition, but they appear de-
termined to hog" it. The bill will
probably be passed tomorrow. The
House will not accept the Senate
amendment, and unless the Senate re-
cedes the measure will fail.
The Greater Fairmont bill went to
it's third reading in the Senate without
amendment, and will probably pass to-
day.
Senator Sturm received a great many
ocp11 mn IA - +iC,,C frCD, tho roOn1o 80
Palatine who were displeased with his
course, and he wisely ~refrained from
insisting upon his partisan amend
ments which endangered the bill.
The Parkersburg boomees had bills
introduced in the Senate and House
to-day, and in both branches there was
objection to dispensing with the refer
ence to committee. The bills provide
for an election in May to determine
whether the capitol shall be removed.
provided that thirty days before the
election three-fifths of the voters of
Wood county shall have voted for an
issue of bonds to the amount of not
less than $500, 600, for grounds and
building. The Board of Public Works
is TO select the site, and superintend
thG ctdNACA VI Tx bQ44ulllSS, dlU Inc
capitol is not to be removed from
Parkersburg except by a vote of the
people of the State.
The eight Democratic members of the
House committee, appointed under MIR.
Davis resolution to consider constitu-
tional amendments, held a conference
in the Supreme Court chamber tonight
with all the Democratic members. The
object was to eur an expression of
opinion relative to the policy to be our
sued. With this end in view there was
a full and free discussion of the amend
ments proposed by the constitutional
commission. A vote was taken upon
each and it was found that there was a
majority sentiment against over one
half of the amendments. No line of
policy vas determined upon, nor was
this the purpose of the conference.
H. V. Ankle.