Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1901-02-21
Legislative Proceedings.

The "ripper bills" 10 in all, giving
the incoming Governor the authority
to reorganize all the boards of public
institutions in the State, were passed
in both houses by strict party vote.
A number of the Senators made brief
speeches in explaining their votes,
the Democrats taking the ground that
the passage of the bills set bad pre-
cedent, and, further, that it was an
insult to the present Governor.
Mr.. Jackson, chairman of the judi
ciary committee, introduced in the
House bill 33l, to provide for submis-
sion to the people of five proposed
constitutional amendments, which,
under suspension of rules, went from
introduction to passage and without
a negative vote on final passage. The
FIVE amendments are to make the
secretary of state an elective officer, to
put State officers on salaries, to limit
the irreducible school fund to 81 ,OOO,-
900, providing for FIVE judges of Su-
preme Court and to create the office
of county treasurer This is to give
effect to resolutions already offered on
these subjects, the three first named
having already passed.
The general appropriation bill has
been under discussion IN both houses
this week. The geological survey
asked $4,000, but it failed by one
vote in the Senate after debate on
it lasting two hours. Senator Corn
well succeeded in obtaining $4,000 for
the purchase of farm at Romney for
the Deaf and Bind Asylum. The
motion of Senator Campbell, of Jeffer-
son, to strike out the appropriation for
Storer College as being unconstltution-
al and for other reasons was defeated
by the Republican majority after a
somewhat heated controversy. The
humane institutions of the State have
been well taken care of under the APP
preparation bill,
The bill to authorize Shepherdstown
to refund its bonded Indebtedness
passed both houses.
In the Senate Senators Harmer and
Burkhart were appointed commit
tee to purchase a bronze coat Of arms
for the cruiser West Virginia, now
being built by the federal government.
in the Senate an amendment was
offered to the appropriation bill that
none of the money appropriated for
the West Virginia University should
be available until the retirement of
the present president of that instltu-
ton. There were but two or three
votes against the amendment,
Governor Atkinson sent TO the Leg
islature on Tuesday a message con-
corning the appropriation for West
Virginia's exhibit at the Pan-Ameri-
can Exposition at Buffalo, He said
$4,000 had been borrowed to begin
the work, OF which S4,o0i had al
ready been spent. If the Legislature
refused to appropriate money he
would have to refund the money out
of his pocket. He pleaded so urgently
that an item of $4,000 was adopted,
though President Smith Of the Senate
vehemently denounced it as steal of
the rankest sort.
Both houses passed a bill authorizing
boards of education to purchase flags
to be erected over school-houses while
school is in session.
A House bill authorizing the Gov
ernor to appoint commission of five
to draft measure to revise the tax
assessment and revenue laws of the
State and laws in relation to the IN
corporation of cities, towns and villages,
to be submitted at the next session Of
the Legislature, was concurred In by
the Senate and is now law.