Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1903-01-29
Proceedings of the Legislature.

Governor White sent a vigorous
message to the Legislature Monday,
demanding immediate investigation of
lynehing which occurred Sunday
morning at Madison, in the adjoining
county of Boone, and the passage of
suitable laws to prevent recurrence
of such outrages. The cause of the
Governor communication was the
lynching of a young man named Edgar
Mitchell, who was a prisoner in the
Boone county Jail awaiting action of
the court on the charge of killing Lee
Swards, at Danville, Boone county, on
December "a last. A crowd assembled
about the Jail Sunday morning. and
after overpowering the jailer, took
Mitchell from his cell and hanged him
to nearby tree, after which the mob
dispersed.
On Tuesday the compulsory school
law measure was warmly discussed
and finally advanced to third read
ing. The bill providing for free text
books in the public schools was re-
ported favorably and is likely to be-
come a law.
The Senate passed the bill regula-
ting surety, guaranty, bonding and
insurance companies. One feature of
the measure is that it prohibits guar
antee and trust companies from doing
a banking business.
Among the new bills introduced in
the House Tuesday were bills to abol-
ish county school boards and es-
tablish State board, and to make
partnership property liable to execu.
ton and sale for debt of individual
members of the concern.
A resolution was introduced IN the
House proposing an amendment to the
constitution, making the pay of mem
bers of the Legislature $500 a year
during their term of service and mile
age, and that no other allowance be
made for postage, stationery or any
other purpose whatever.
AS was to have been expected, the
committee on railroads reported I'M
favorably on the measure to provide
separate cars for white and colored
persons. commonly known as the Jim
Crow car law.
Senator Caldwell introduced bill
appropriating $1,000 for the erection
of monument to Arthur l. Foreman,
the first Governor of West Virginia.
A movement is on foot to form a
new county, to be called Augusta
county, from parts Of Marion, Mononga-
liza and Wetzel counties, with Man
nington as the county-seat. A big
delegation is on hand to press the
measure, which is strongly opposed by
Fairmont people.
The first bill to pass both houses
was that authorizing the city Of Mar
tinsburg to issue bonds to improve
and enlarge its system of waterworks.
1t passed the House last Friday and
the Senate on Monday.
There is a good deal of talk among
members of the Legislature as to the
advisability of holding constitutional
convention. 1t may be that such
convention will be called and the
scheme OF tax revision submitted at
that time. Bills have been introduced
in both houses providing for an cleo
ton to take the sense of the people
on the question of calling constitu-
tional convention.
At meeting of the finance COM
mittee of the House, Judge Reynolds
was in favor of fixing the salary of the
Governor at $4,000 a year and those
of other State officials at a proportion
ate figure, but strenuous objection de-
veloped, which resulted in Reynolds
figures being cut in half, and the
Reynolds bill fixing the salaries of
State officers will comprise the follow
ing schedule: Governor, $4,000 secre-
tary OF state, $4 900; auditor, 81, 500;
treasurer, $500; encouragement,
1000; state superintendent Of schools,
$4,000; Supreme Court judges,$4 800;
Circuit Court judges, $4,000; clerk
of Supreme Court. 81 500.
The hottest fight of the present ses-
sion in the House occurred yesterday
over the Swisher bill to retain the
preparatory branch of the State Uni
versity at Morgantown. The bill fl
nally passed by vote of SO to %.
Senator Matheny offered a resolu-
ton providing for thorough investi-
cation Of recent lynchings in this State,
and appropriating sufficient amount
to prosecute guilty parties.
Senator Campbell yesterday offered
a resolution in the Senate providing
for an extra session of the Legislature
for the purpose of considering the re-
port of the tax commission and the ac-
companying bills, and also to consid-
er the ACCESSIBILITY Of holding con-
stitutional convention.