Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-02-23
Special to the Register


Tie Senate has completed its consider
alton of the general appropriation bill
and advanced it TO its third reading
with a number of amendments. The
House has proceeded more slowly and
has not yet concluded the consideration
of all the items forsthe. first year, The
appropriations occupied fthe attentions
of both branches almost to- thefentire
exclusion Of other business.
/ During the morning session of the
Senate, however, the House bill to tax
the express companies came up as a
special. order and was passed.
The House passed the bill to tax the
telegraph companies, which will come
up in the Senate to-day. but may not
be taken from the calendar.
The omnibus bill will not be- enacted
into a law. There remains but two
days of the session, and there are so
many measures upon the House ealen-
dar in addition to the appropriation
bill that there will be no time to pass
it, even under suspension of the
rules.
The passage of the express bill would
necessitate a number of amendments
tosthe omnibus bill in which the con-
currence of the Senate would be nee
essary.
The Wheeling bridge bill was sign
ed by the governor to-day, and is now
a law. ~
The governor presented to Capt.
Bobby" McNichol, the pen with
which he affixed his signature to the
measure.
There is a difference of sentiment
from Che present Hzpussk and sea4se
With TefeTenee to many Items III the
appropriation bill and this fact will
necessitate conference committee with
a consequent delay In legislation The
University Jared exceedingly well in
the Senate.
A number of ladies of Morgantown
connected directly or indirectly with
the institution, came down to advocate
an appropriation for a dormitory for
ladies. Upon Senator Kids motion,
SIS, 1000 was inserted in the bill for that
purpose in the first year, and a like
amount in the second year. The House
has not yet acted upon this matter.
The Senate bill also added $4,000 for a
new edition of the code, and this item
was stricken out of the House bill.
In the Senate fight was made against
the appropriation of $4,000 a year for
the State militia, part of the expense
being for an encampment.
There are several militia representa-
tives in the body, and they fought stub
bornly against the proposed cut. SEN
ator Fast alleged that the new law
makes it absolutely impossible to get
along with smaller appropriation.
In the House the item was cut to $l0,
900 year. Those who oppose such a
large amount for THE militia say it
will get from the national government
the $4,000 which Isl the States claim
for equipping the two West Virginia
regiments, which would bring the mil
itary appropriation for the two years
up to $4,000.
The Senate also cut out the appro-
preparation for the geological survey.
Senator Cole attempted to have stricken
out of the bill several items pertaining
to the State binding and printing, which
were not allowed by the last Iegisla-
ture, for work done prior TO its meet
ing. The claims were proven and al
lowed by the finance committees of both
branches. Members of the committee
made explanations, and tne items were
permitted to remain. Other amend
ments to the appropriation bills in the
House and the Senate are covered in
the routine report Of the proceedings
elsewhere.
The House will not recede from its ac-
ton in rejecting the Senate bill to take
the capitalization limit off corporations,
which may be chartered Under the laws Of
the State. The present limitation IS
$4,000, which prevents the Incorporation
of trusts one Of the arguments urged
in support of the bill was the statement
that it would yield large revenue in the
shape of annual taxes and could not have
a pernicious effect because Of the clause
which prevents the corporations 50 char
tered from doing business in West yir-
ginia.
All the state Office holders favor the
bill, and have been advocating its pas
sage.
A corporation lawyer from Boston has
also been here lobbying for the measure.
The Governor is credited with saying
that it would bring to the State treas
ury, in the shape of taxes q sum approx
mating 5000 year. If an effort is
made to revive the bill Jake Fisher has
a card up his sleeve, which will defeat
any such end. he has found decision
of the United States Supreme Court which
holds, in language 50 plain as TO be i'm
possible for any other construction, that
such a measure would be unconstitutional
Independent of this consideration the bill
has been opposed on the broad ground
that 1t involves al surrender of principle
for few thousandA of dollars of revenue
HARRY v. ARKLE.