Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1900-12-29

Charter For aorgantown an Impor-
tant Item.
A great mass OF legislation viii be
introduced at the coming session of
the legislature which conyenes Jan
uary 8, at Charleston. Much of the
legislation win come under the head
OF hold up variety, being introduced
by the eminent legislators for the pur-
pose OF making the great corporations
come up, Then there are bills which
have been introduced regularly every
session for twenty years and as regu-
larry have failed TO become laws,
which will again put in an appearance
and probably again be left TO monlder
in the committee archives.
The most important measure to be
considered by the legislature Is the re-
apportionment. There Is another
congressman TO be provided for and
the legislative districts have TO be
changed. Ii is likely that every coun-
ty will be given at least one represent
alive. Needless TO say the district
ing will be done In such Il manner
that the republicans will not be the
losers. Many conflicting local inter-
ests will make this task hard one.
The size of the house of delegates will
be increased by ten or twelve members.
The counties of Marion aud Fayette
are now entitled to three members in
stead OF of two, and will get them,
and the delegate district of Brooke
and Hancock will be abolished giving
each county a member. Thus the
Panhandle will gain one on its repre-
sentatlon. Considerable dispute will
result from the congressional district
Ing. Some want the fifth congress
man TO be made congressman-at
large, and TO leave the remainder of
the districts as they are at present,
there having been little geographical
change Ia the districts for twenty
years. The majority favor five dis
tricts, however, and they will have to
be outlined TIC insure republican sue
cess and at the same time preserve the
geographical deeeney
TAXATION BILLS.
Taxation bills will occupy great
deal OF attention and once more an eff
fort will be made to provide special
laws for the taxation OF telephone.
telegraph, pipeline and express COM
pdnies. The four were grouped in an
omnibus bin which was considered by
the legislature of '99, but 1t could not
pass In that shape, and the bill was
divided into four parts. or the four
new bills only the one referring to ex-
press companies passed both houses
aud was vetoed by the governor after
the legislature had adjourned. The
telegraph, express and pipeline COM
panies are said TO pay an exceedingly
small amount Of taxes and the idea is
TO make them pay figure ia accord
ance with their income and based
upon the amount OF business they do.
The insurance companies. 1t is said,
will send powerful lobby 20 Charles
ton to impress upon the legislators
the necessity for an insurance depart
ment. This Is another measure that
has been taken up year after year and
has always failed. The insurance
business Is one OF the choicest bits
in the auditors office and depart
ment would cut his revenue down one
half The influence of this official has
always defeated the BILL 1t Is reas-
enable To suppose Scherr's influence
will be as great as that Of any Of his
predecessors.
THE FEE SYSTEM.
Several members go TO Charleston
with knives up their sleeves for the
fee system. The fee system has
weathered good many storms and 1t
is not likely the boys who furnished
the coin for the last campaign are GO
ing TO be deprived of the usufruct this
time. Dawson and Scherr worked too
hard and spent too much to have their
incomes reduced In the interests Of
that very absurd bill.
The foe financial hand Of the trusts
will be seen in the proposal to remove
the S., 600. 900 limit TO capital stock
Of joint stock companies Incorporated
in this state. This limit has been all
that has kept West Virginia from
rivaling New Jersey as -prodnc-
ing state and If the state had an at
torney general who discharged the
full duties OF his office it could be used
as club to drive all the trusts out OF
the state. Several attempts have
been made to get the limit removed,
but have been frustrated by members
Of the legislature who knew what they
were doing. Legislation along the
same lines will be the attempt TO re-
move the limit to the number of acres
OF land, coal, oil, lumber and leather
can hold. The founders OF
the state were far sighted enough to
place wise restraint upon the corpora
tions in this respect and they are res |
tive under the leash. Four years ago
the leather trust tried to have the linn
it to timber holdings removed, but /
the independent tanners fought the
combine and won out
The revision OF the mechanics lien |
law in the interest Of the worxmen is
another old favOrite that will receive