The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-02-06

present session OF the legislature Is over
half completed. Tomorrow begins the
fourth week. If even 4 s..iall proportion
Of the business now pending is to be
disposed OF, there will have to be some
determined hustllng. OF all the meas
ures before the house, only four bills
have been passed and three Of them
have been OF purely local interest. The
senate has done somewhat better, hav-
ing disposed of nine or ten bills. several
OF them of considerable Importance, and
in addition has devoted considerable at
tention to the report of the constitutions
al commission.
The actual business OF the session Is
apt to be further delayed this week by
the consideration OF the two contests.
Tuesday the Brohard-Dent case will
come up in the house and on the same
day, In accordance with the agreement
entered into between the leaders of the
two bodies two weeks ago, the Kidd
Morris matter will come up in the SEN
ate.
The house is going to seat Dent. or
this there seems no doubt This state
ment ls made on the authority OF one of
the Democratic leaders. who Is respon-
slble for the additional information that
the majority will have its action entire
ly on the report OF the subcommittee
which went to Grafton and recountcd
the ballots. This report shows n major
lty in favor Of Dent OF "a. and more
than one Democratic leader has ex-
pressed himself as being confident that
the report Is correct. No further inres-
tlgatlon has been made into the case
since the committee returned.
The Re-asscmcnt Bill.
As TO legislation, the chief matter OF
the calendar OF the house Is Mr. Mans
fields re-assessment bill. which is
probably the most important measure
thus far introduced into that branch OF
the legislature. The bill passed TO Its
second reading yesterday and will come
up on Its third reading and passage to-
morrow. 1t provides for the re-assess-
ment Of all real estate in the state. the
assessmea. TO be made by 4 special
commissioner for each assessment dis
trict In every county. The commission
ers are to be appointed by the auditor
on the recommendation OF the county
court. The bill will likely go through.
but at first 1t did not have such smooth
sailing, 1t had rival in Mr.. Bcunett's
dill on the same subject. which differed
from 1t In several vital particulars. In
. ~, Hr-t ,AF. D., - -. Ia
rided that taxation on the new assess
ment should go into effect this vear.
which, Mr. Mansfield coutended. was
an imposs!bill;y. In the second place.
the Bennett bill provided that re-as-
sessment could be had in any district at
any time oa the application Of q hun
drcd citizens OF that district. And. In the
third place. It made no provision for
equalizing boards 10 decide as TO the
rate between adjoining districts and
save the board OF public works no au-
thority to equalize as 10 the rate be-
tween adjoining counties Mr.. Benefits
bill has been practically abandoned.
The measure is different In very es-
ssnt!al particular from the last assess
ment act. as regards the appointment OF
the assessment commissioners. Under
the last act these appointments were
made by the board OF public works.
Tax and Surety Bills.
Young Mr.. Bowmans income tax pro-
position seems to be meeting with some
favor: and so confident Is he that It will
meet with consideration that he has cx-
pressed his intention OF embodying II In
! 4 bill, which he will probably introduce
the coming week.
4 similar measure 10 Mr.. Bowman's Is
Mr.. MaDsfcld's double re-assessment
bill. This is 4 rather queer measure. In
order that all forms of wealth may be
reached, 1t provides. among other
things. that the assessor shall stamp
all notes and other securities. and that
II they are not 50 stamped they shall be
held invalid II they come into the
courts. The opponents OF the measure
argue that 1t is based on fallacy. For
example. II u man sells n drove OF cattle
and receives note for them he must be
assessed for the note though he may
already have paid taxes Cn the cattle,
thus being compelled to pay twice for
given amount OF wealth. Thus the bill
derives its title OF double re-assessment.
Attorney T. NJ. Garvin. OF Wheeling,
! hus been here for several days in the
interest OF a bill. which was introduced
in the house at his request. The bill is
a measure TO put home surety compan-
les on the sImc basis as foreign surety
companies. At present home companies
nrc required to take out 4 special char
ter to do business. This works 4 hard
ship upon them, TO the advantage OF
foreign companies.
Election Bribery,
Senator Cornwelrs bill for an election
bribery law Is exciting considerable in
terest. II requires all candidates for
United States senator, congressman. or
my OF the various state Offices to file,
within sixty days after election, with
the secretary of state q sworn itemized
statement OF all his campaign expenses.
Similarly. nll candidates for state scna-
tor circuit judge. house Of delegates.
and few other semi-statc offices, and
Nil candidates for county and municipal
Offices 10 file suCh statements with the
county clerk Of their county The PEN
ats Tor failure 10 file the statement
within the specified time is. In the first
set OF cases, n fine ot from $500 to $1,000
or from one to twelve months In jail; IN
the second set OF cases. u fine OF from
800 10 $500 or from ten 10 thirty days In
jail: and In the third. II iinc OF from $50
TO 5000. The penalty FOR false state
ment Is. like for any other perjury, con-
ilnemen: IN the pcnitcn;lLry.
One Of the most important measures
proposed yesterday was n bill introduce
ed in both the house and senate, pro-
vldlnE for the establishment OF hosplt-
nls for the treatment Of persons cngag-
od In occupations Injurious 10 life limb.
Or health. There are 10 br three hosp,-
als--one In the Flint Top region. In cith-
or Mercer or Mcdowell county: one IN
the New River region, IN either Kama
wha o" Fagette counties; una one in the