The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-01-18
GOVERNORS MESSAGE TO THE LEGISLAT URE|


fortunate Inmates are wen cared for,
shall not take time 70 refer 10
3 other reports. as these reports speak
for Themselves and acauafnt you with
their work and needs 28
County Courts.
The present form Of county govern
rnent has not proved general sue,
cess. In some counties three com
.rissioners seem to be sufficient to full
n the conditions. but In the larger
and more populous counties, where the
public business IS OF larger volume.
three commissioners are not suif-
Client The compensation paid Is ride
,Ilousiy low. and prevents securing the
services of mon Of competent business
ability in this important office. espe.
cially In the larger counties. In a
number OF counties Of the State the
vnlume OF public business is large, is
very varied in It's character. consists
OF numerous details. and amounts in
the course OF a year 10 many thou.
sands Of dollars Properly to handle
this business requires men Of bust.
ness training. and such men can not
afford to give their time practically
for nothing. The conditions among
the counties, also. are very dissimilar
in our State, SO that what is adapted
TO one Of the newer or less developed
counties does not suit the conditions
81 the older and more developed coun-
ties. This state ofslffairs has always
made 1t difficult to pass legislation
applicable to All the counties. know
of no way of meeting this condition Of
AFFAIRS except by allowing more elias.
ITCHY In our laws. With reference to
the county courts 1 suggest that two
amendments to the Constitution be
submitted to the people. Both of
these. believe, were adopted by the
last House % Delegates, hut failed to
be considered in the senat. The first
on is as follows tomittings the formal
caption): Isl!
That section 20 Of article eight Of
the Constitution Of the State of West
Virginia be amended so that the same
shall read as follows:
90. The commissioners shall be
elected by the voters of the county
and hold their Office for the term Of
six years, except that at the first
meeting Of said Commissioners they
shah designate by lot, or otherwise.
in such manner as they may deter
mine. one of their number, who shall
hold his office for the term of two
years, one for four years, and one for
sts years, so that one shall be elect
< every two years. But no two Of
said commissioners shall be elected
from the same magisterial district.
And IL two or more persons residing
in the same district shall receive the
greater number of votes cast at any
election. then only the one of such
persons receiving the highest NUM-
Der shall be declared elected, and the
person living in another district. who
shall receive the next highest number
OF votes. shall be declared elected,
Said commissioners shall annually
elect one Of their number as presi-
dent. and each shall receive two dol
lars per day for his services in court.
to be paid out Of the county treasury:
provided, that such Compensation may
be increased in any county by the as
sent Of majority Of the votes cast
on the question at any general or spe.
ciai election.
The object Of this amendment was
10 allow each county to pay their
commissioners what they pleased.
The SECOND amendment, as follows.
was designed 70 give the people Of
the larger counties the opportunity to
create such fiscal body as they
might think best for their welfare.
to pay them what they pleased. and to
allow the people to make one of them
a kind Of county auditor, whose com,
pensation would have to be greater
for the larger amount Of work done
by him; hence the power given to pay
different compensation 10 and pre-
scribe different duties for the meta.
bers:
That section 20 Of article eight of
the Constitution Of the State of West
virginia be amended so that 1t shall
read as follows:
20. The Legislature shall have au-
thority 10 reform, altar OF modify the
county court established by this ar.
ticie in any county. and In lieu there.
Of. with the assent OF majority of
the voters Of such county voting at
an election, create another tribunal
for the Transaction Of the business re.
quired TO be performed by the county
CT It created by this article. and
pi ribbed the compensation and du.
Ties of each nefnber f,f .snch tribunal.