Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-01-30

HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED.
THE APPROPRIATION BILL UN-
DER CONSIDERATION IN COM
MITTEE-MANY EXTRAVAGANT
CLAIMS FOR MONEY PRESENT
ED-THE MORRIS-KIDD CON-
TEST MAY COME UP THIS
WEEK-MILITARY MATTERS.
Special to the Register.
Charleston, w. Va, January 29.-On
Wednesday one-half of the Legislative
session will have passed, and as yet
practically nothing has been accom-
plished in the way of legislation, or in
any other way except politically. The
Senatorial fight has occupied the en-
tire attention of all the members until
within the last few days, and since
then there has been a reaction and
Of the first two weeks. On Saturday
for the first time, the committees OF
the two houses got down to actual
work and considered a large number OF
bills that lad accumulated upon their
desks. Tomorrow their reports will
be made, and from that time on BON
houses will probably have full calen-
OARS. AS usual the bulk of the work
will be done towards the end Of The
session, and most OF it will be crowded
into the last few days.
The Committee on Taxation and
Finance has already under considera-
ton the appropriation bill, which VIII
be framed and presented as 0 o as
they can complete the consideration Of
the various claims laid before it for
money. Never before has such extrav-
agant claims been made by the various
State institutions. The Home for IN
curables asks for $500, 900, and the Uni
versity for $3.50 900, and nearly every
recommendation made by the Governor
in his message to the Legislature was
that motley be appropriated for some
purpose or other. The boosted balance
of over one million dollars in the State
treasury, which has beer so thoroughly
advertised by the State administra-
ton, would very soon disappear en-
tirely if all the money asked for were
appropriated at this session, but at the
head of the House Committee on Tax
alton and Finance is a most careful
and conservative man, w. l.. Mans
field, of Wayne county, who can be lii
eral when necessary, but will not con-
sent to the injudicious expenditures of
a cent of the States money. He has
been in the Legislature long enough to
know how e~Xtravagant the requests
usually are for money and how much
they have to be cut down ordinarily.
He is thoroughly familiar with the af-
fairs of the State and knows as well as
any other member in the Legislature
what is required to conduct all the
State institutions and pay it's general
bills. Under his guidance the people
of the State may rest assured that the
appropriation bill will be neither mig
gardly nor ~eXtravagant, but will carry
with it such appropriations as are ne
cessary and wise for the proper admin
iStration of the State government.
Although the final determination of
the Morris-Kidd contest case has been
set for the 18th of February, which is on
Tuesday of next week, an effort will be
made this week to have the matter
taken up by unanimous consent and
determined at once. There seems to
be no reason for delay in the matter,
and both Morris and Kidd are anxious
to end the suspense and have it deter
mined finally which one is entitled to
the seat. An attempt was made last
week to have the consideration of the
case made a special order for to-mor-
row, but there was objection from the
Republican side of the Senate and
nothing could be done. If one or two
senator's can be induced to withdraw
their objections, it is believed the case
a be taken up and disposed of quick
ly. All the evidence seems to have
been declared, and there is no good
reason for delaying the hearing of the
case unless it be the reason expressed
by Senator Farr that his vote would
depend upon the action of the House
in the Brohard-Dent case. He may in
oAoI uHO1 QSldy III uCicI ulluluS TIE
case in order tlsS he may be able to
vote according to the action in the
House, rather than upon the merits of
the case.
The aspirations of the Adjutant
General, J.. w. M. Appleton, to become
a Major-General, will hardly be realiz-
ed at this session of the Legislature.
The Governor recommended in his
message that the Adjutant General
should be given the rank of Major
General in order to prevent any future
controversies between him and the
Brigade Commander, both of whom
have the rank of Brigadier General I'M
der the State military laws. A bill
TO that effect has been referred to the
military committee of the House, of
which Mr.. Ash, who is a Major in the
National Guard, and under the Adult
ant General, is the chairman. The re-
port of the committee will be in favor
of the bill, but a minority report will
be made and it is more than probable
that the minority report will be adopt
ed by the House, a full agreement hav-
ing already been effected by which the
relative ranks of the two officers has
been determined.
GEO. w. SUMMERS.
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