Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-02-06

1lGlI6T vi ltCl, doluS IL OA1l -AII NOAA'1A
tutcnal amendment, upon which a de-
cisiCn may not be reached on account
CT the pressure of other business. there
is no pending legislation Of a startling
character.
The resolution creating a commission
to revise the school laws of the state
has passed both branches. 1t is mat
ter of considerable Importance to the
educational interests. The commission
will be composed of men thoroughly
familiar with the free school system
and it's needs, and will no doubt recon-
mend number of important amend
ments to the present laws. Inc COM
mission will consider the various bills
which have been referred to the COM
mittees on education in both branches.
The result should be more beneficial
laws, and a more systematic arrange
ment of the statutes pertaining to ed
ucation.
The subject of taxation is always Of
primary Importance; and the action of
the present body is purely problemat-
zeal. The House has had under con-
assessment of State property for pur-
poses of taxation, and has advanced the
measure which appears to be the more
satisfactory A re-assessment should
show a very substantial gain in the
aggregate, and should make possible
corresponding reduction in the levy
The champions of the Agricultural
classes on the floor of the House will
IN CT n no ,ol.-
decrease the value Of farm lands, and
appreciate the value Of coal, timber and
oil lands which were of little worth
when the last assessment was made.
Senator Cole has offered a bill pro-
viding for filling a vacancy in the Of
zice of Governor. The provisions of
the bill were suggested by the situa-
ton during the fight for the Republi-
can caucus nomination for United
States Senator. According to Senator
Coles Interpretation of the present
law, o. S. Marshall, President of the
Senate, would have stepped into Gov
ernor AtkinsOn's shoes in the event
that the latter was elected and quail
fed as the successor to United States
Senator Faulkner. Senator MarshalPS
term of office expires on the first of
December, 1900. The gubernatorial
chair would have been filled at the
general election in November, 1900,
but the GoyernOr-elect could not quail
lily until March 4th, 1901. Senator Cole
therefore holds that between December
4th, 1900, and March 4th, 1901, the
State would be without chief eXecu-
tive. Senator Coles bill provides that
in case of vacancy the President of the
Senate and Speaker Of the House shall
be in the line of succession in the or
der named; and that in case of further
vacancy, the Legislature shall convene
in special session to choose a Gov
ernor, who shall act until the next
general election is held.
Senator Osenton introduced bill on
Friday to prevent bribery in elections.
1t is modelled after the New York law
1t provideE that candidates for minor
Offices shsll, within sixty days after
the election, make sworn statement to
the county clerks of the amounts of
money expended in their campaigns,
giving detailed and itemized accounts.
Candidates for district offices make
their statement to county clerks in
their respective districts; and candi-
dates for State offices, Senate and
House Of Representatives to the Sec
rotary of State. The penalties are
fines of from $500 to $4,000, and from
ten days to one year in jail False
reports are to be punished by confine-
ment in the penitentiary for from one
to two years.
Says Delegate Stewart Bowman:
l have been very much interested in
securing the Introduction of q measure
to relieve Taxpayers and school pat
rons of the present incubus known as
the depository law. The Attorney Gen
eral rules that a bill to abolish the
system would be unconstitutional and
! have thereby done the next best
thing and offered a measure that will
enable dealers to handle them, which
will accomplish practically the same
thing as bill repeating the depository
arrangement. I hand you the ruling
of the Attorney General, as there has
been a popular demand for the repeal
of the law, and the public will be in
terested in knowing why its repeal
cannot be accomplished.
The opinion of Attorney General
Rucker, referred to by Mr.. Bowman,
is as follows: