Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-22
LEGISLATURE 10 CONVENE
WEST VIRGINIA GOVERNOR TO
CALL EXTRA SESSION.
Amendment to Tax Laws Assigned
as One Of the Reasons-Polit-
ical Gossip.
,ial Correspondence Of The Star.

Special Correspondence Of The Star.
WHEELING. W: Va,
December Il. 1907.
"A special session of the West Vir-
ginia legislature is an assured fact. but
the date for it's assembling is n week
later than was originally indicated. The
supreme court of appeals reaffirmed it's
decision in the Writ county tax case
on the rehearing granted to the adj
ninistration, and that decision wiped
out all doubt of a legislative session.
A reversal of the courts first decision
would have gone long way toward
causing it's abandonment, but Gov. Daw-
son was Inclined to have special ses-
sion just the same.
The chief objection to assembling the
legislature is it's cost. There are mile
age and per diem to be paid for the 116
members. in addition to the compensa-
ton received by the army of attaches.
the cost of printing and other incl
dental expenses. The special session
advocates argue that this cost will be
more than made up to the people by
an act of the legislature which will
correct the defect embodied in the tax
laws as disclosed in the Writ county
case. They argue that unless there is
a positive Limitation to district road
1evies county courts have the privilege
and the power to send tax bills sky
ward. 1t will be the first and principal
purpose of the lawmakers to pass an
amended bill which will put the clamps
on county courts
Although ii is a matter of opinion
whether county courts would be disposed
TO take advantage of a loophole and raise
taxes to the highest possible limit in the
face of popular protest. tho administra-
. I1aNi tInr. 10 q
danger confronting the taxpayers in the
year 1908. This may be true, but the po-
litical effect could hardly amount to
much. inasmuch as the democratic county
courts hold forth only in democratic
counties and republican county courts in
counties of that faith.
Biennial Session Short One.
1t is said. however with truth, that the
West Virginia Legislature does not have
sufficient time in a biennial session of
forty-five days to properly consider legis-
lation of a general character. Local bills
take up most of the time. A special ses-
sion affords the best opportunity for con-
sidering measures which get lost in the
shuttle at regular session. After the
session of 1903 kicked into the waste
basket the elaborate report of the state
tax. commission Gov. White kept a spe-
cial session in mind and called 1t a week
1904, and in two weeks the same body
enacted measures which have since made
up most of the political history of West
Virginia.
Once every twelve years the terms of all
county officers expire simultaneously in
West Virginia. and that time is-at hand.
Consequently the champions of an anti
fee bill believe that their opportunity
must not be neglected. To that end Gov.
Dawson is DESTROYS of putting all county
<1fH Sfro i0h To- Nv hos nj
turning their fees into the state treasury,
Incidentally furnishing a new source of
revenue.
1T is understood he will also ask the
solons to consider a local option bill. \ If
he succeeds along that line 1t will neces-
sarily give the republicans certain new
standing in the 1908 campaign. Gov.
Dawson is credited with foresight even
by his ,bitterest political opponents. That
he has looked over the ground and real
lied the magnetism of temperance and
snti-fee planks to. the, republican plat
form goes without saying.
= Mine, Horror to Be Considered.
The awful mine horror at Monongah is
due also to come In for attention. and
criticism of the state mining department
is. not unlikely There was series Of
serious mine disasters last winter while
the legislature was in session. and a spe-
cial investigating committee was ap-
pointed by joint resolution to visit scenes
and gather informs alton. That committee,
headed by Senator Garland. took a new
leSse on life a few days ago by Journey
inGN3s-Monongah. 20 as to have its report
up Il dSte. Mins legislation in various
items fpr legislative attention.
IL Senator Bailey of Taylor county can
haye HIS way | the legislature will be
aSked/Obce more to restrict the export
1t I'LL NIL
rs matter which hobs up serenely with
recurring sessions. 1t is always serious
in its incipjeney. but usually the dis
,covery is rpAde that the bill would be I'M
leonstitat1onal or would be contrary to the
Interstate commences laws or embarrass-
Ing otherwise. Unless there is something
dong along this line the session will have
mRttraction, fef lobby.
NHws that Representative woodward Is
tos{icceed Capt. Dovener on the rivers
and harbors committee was the most in
teresting item to West Virginians of any
happening at Washington this month.
The place was coveted by Representative
Hubbard. who defeated Dovener for re-
Nominations.
m woodward selection is fraught with
mucN aiGnificance. 1t means a great
feather ii woodya-d's cap. and viii do
more 70 renomnate him in the fourth dis
trict than anything else possible to con-
ceive. He made his fight for Speake6
Cannon's favor with that point in view
Likewise. Hubbard wanted the same COM
mittee place. because he realized its value
Sentimentally. If not materially, the
place meant more to Hubbard.
Interest Of River Counties.
When Dovener was turned down there
was a great wall among the people of the
river countios in the first district, which
was met h he response that Hubbard's
superb Int! iectual attachments and ply
steal vigor i:ould enable him to do even
more for the Ohio river In Congress- or
AT least to continue Dovener's good work.
Dovener was ranking member of the COM
mttee at the time.
Senator Scott wanted Hubbard to sue
coed Dovener on the committee. Doubt
less he felt that the place would clinch
Hubbard in the lower House and initiate
against his reputed desire to change ito
the Senate. Hubbard cannot now expect
TO get on the committee for years to come,
presuming that Woodward will continue
to represent the. fourth district. Two
members from West Virginia on the COM
mittee are not to be hoped for. Disap-
pointed in his pursuit of the river COM
mitteeship, Hubbard may feel disposed to
try for the Senate. But his failure TO
land the committee place means first and
foremost. an added inspiration to State
Senator Haziett to try TO beat Hubbard
for congressional denomination