Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1901-03-02
End of Legislature.

u lAAC past ~ A0N
at. midnight after a day spent ON the
appropriation bill. For a time II
looked as though a deadlock would
occur over the Pan American appro-
priation which was at the last NOM
ent turned down. The Senate wanted
s25, 900 appropriated for the fair and
the House wanted to strike ont all
but "a. 600. A conference committee
was appointed and it raised the latter
appropriation which was adopted af-
ter q three hour debate. The.S4.O 600 Is
to liauidate fair bills already con
tracted.
Before the Legislature adjourned
President Smith of the Senate was
presented with q handsome silver SER
vice by members and attaches and
Speaker Wilson was given a handsome
diamond pin by members and clerks
of the House.
The appropriation bill calls for the
resignation Of President Raymond, OF
the State University and its accep-
tance by the board of regents before
the university allowance is payable.
Twenty thousand dollars was given
for a geological survey of the state.
The Last Day.
Charleston, w. Va, Feb. 23.-The
main business of a West Virginia Leg
is%lature. in its closing hours is to
pass bills. At twelve o'clock at night
on the last day of the session the cal
endars of both the Houses and the
Senate are loaded down with measures
that have only been born to die.
Some of the very first bills offered
may be found on the last day of the
session ON their first reading in the
branch where the patrons OF them in
troduce them. Some members of the.
Legislature fail TO get even one bill
taken up in an entire session. They
may not be the least useful members
either. 1t may be we'll said, that
there is too much legislation in West
Virginia, rather than too little. 1t
might not be a bad thing to let the
law altogether alone for some years.
There is always something done of
interest in the closing period of n
Legislature, in addition to the enact
ing of laws. Below is a resolution
which passed both the House and Sen
ate and is i'll force and is Il matter of
vast Importance to the people:
"House Joint Resolution No. 36.
Authorizing the Governor Of Wesr
Virginia to appoint a commission to
draft a measure or measures TO revise
the tax assessment and revenue laws
and the laws in relation,to incorpora-
ton of cities, towns and villages of
West Virginia to be submitted to the
next session of the Legislature of this
State.
Whereas, The system of tax assess
ment and revenue laws and laws in
relation TO disbursement of revenue
now in force i'll this State, is substan-
tally the same as that adopted at the
organization of the State, and it is
believed not to be such a system as is
best adapted to the changed condi-
tions, brought about by the develop
ment of the State and its resources,
and that defects exist in the several
acts, now in force under the present
svtsem, and that in forty-five DAYS
the Legislature cannot perfect the
system or put into a consistent and
practicable whole the laws now in
force and
Whereas, A great part of each ses-
sion of the LEGISLATURE is now con
sumed in the enactment of laws relat-
ing to the incorporation of cities and
towns of more than two thousand in
habitants to the prevention of much
needed legislation Therefore be it.
Resolved by the Legislature of West
Virginia That the Governor, sixty
days after the adoption of this resolu-
tion shall appoint a commission TO be
composed of five citizens of this State,
competent and qualified by reason of
their character, learning, occupation,
business or profession for the dis
charge of the duties to be imposed
upon them under this resolution,
whose duty it shall be to consider and
report to the next regular session of
the Legislature of this State or to any
special session which may be called
with power 10 act upon such report
what changes are required in the tax
assessment of revenue laws of the
State, to cqualize taxation, 10 reach
property, firms, persons, and corpora
tions not now bearing their Just pro-
portion of the burdens of taxation
and to raise he necessary mount Of
revenue with the least possible bur
den upon the people and property of
the State and 20 secure a proper dis