Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1899-02-27

Work done in the closing hoars-C0n-
ference Committee Reports ON the
Appropriation bill-Passes the SEN
ate without treuble-A snag struck
in the House but it finally pulls
through Some gossip in relation to
the Closing hours-How the monop-
olies got the better of the people.
CHARLESTON, W. Va, Feb. 81
West Virginians are proverbially big
hearted and broad minded, and there
were few exceptions in the State law
making body. Ia no manner were
these commendable traits manifested
in greater degree Than in the season
OF handshaking and well wishing
which followed the sine die adjourn
ment Saturday afternoon.
In spite of the stubborn and often
acrimonious session during the closing
hours of the forty-tive days fixed by
the State constitution a resolution was
offered in the Senate to extend the
session "a hours for the passage OF the
general and legislative appropriation
bills. It met with very little opposi-
tion ia the Senate, but after two I'M
successful attempts to amend In the
House, it went through with the bare
four-fifths majority required, and only
after considerable pressure had been
broughtAto bear upon those who were
opposed to it.
The necessity for an. additional day
was created by the failure of the con-
ference committee of the House and
Senate to reach prompt and amicable
agreement upon the items in the gen.
eral appropriation bill. which varied
in the respective branches. The
House substituted its appropriation
bill for that of the Senate when it
came upon its second reading and the
Senate refused to concur, and the con-
ference committee wrestled for several
hours with the knotty problem OF
bringing about such an adjustment Of
the differences as would meet with the
approval of both the House and SEN
ate.
There was a great deal of wrang-
ling in the committee.
The HOUSE ITEMS WERE LOWER.
than those of the Senate, and for an
hour or two neither committee showed
any disposition to yield an inch. The
principal points in dispute were the
amounts to be given to the Univer-
sity, Storer College and the hospitals
for the insane. An agreement was
finally patched up after eleven o'clock
and reported to both houses.
THE LAST HOURS
of the session were exceedingly tame.
In the Senate the report OF the con-
ference committee on the general APP
preparation bill went through with
but one dissenting vote. 1t was cast
by Mr.. Whitaker, who explained that
the bill appropriated money unconsti-
tutionally. and he felt thai he could
not conscientiously support it. He
referred to the Rucker item, upon
which he expressed himself in such
vigorous fashion few days ago.
In the House there was show of
opposition, and for a time the fate Of
the measure was uncertain. 1t was
fought by number Of the Democrats
who have steadfastly opposed large
appropriations. There was differ
ence between the Senate and House
in the aggregate of the sum they APP
propriated amounting to approximate
ly hundred thousand dollars. In
the conference committee, the House
members succeeded in cutting down
the Senate bill about $40 00 Upon
the roll call in the House the bill was
defeated by a majority Of several votes
but the result was not announced.
AS a result of considerable hard
work, sufficient number allowed
themselves to be persuaded that it was
the part OF wisdom to accept the bill
rather than to necessitate the calling
of an extra session by the Governor.
Upon these representations, and so
stated by the members who changed
their votes, the bill
SECURED MAJORITY.
and was passed.
In the afternoon there was bare
quorum to await the enrolling Of the
bill. A number of resolutions of
thanks were offered and adopted in
both branches.
1t is reported that the Governor will
refuse to sign the bill to tax the ex-
press companies upon the ground that
it is unconstitutional. The Governor
is known to be very fertile in excuses,
and such action would not surprise
friends OF the measure. In such event
the entire movement to compel mon
opolistic corporations to pay just