The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1908-01-09
"In Ohio. several years ago, the,

"In Ohio. several years ago, they
found it very beneficial to limit the
prosecution for violations of the
election laws to six months after the
ofrense was committed. / am salts
fed that no other thing will do more
towards getting our election laws
enforced than such, provision as is
outlined In the fifteenth item.
b The Virginia Debt.
81 should think there could be, no
difference of opinion as to the propri-
ETY. of the Governor of the State per-
hitting the Legislature to take such
action as it shall deem best concern
ing the Virginia debt matter. II I
did not put this subject into the call
/ would thereby prohibit the Legis-
lature from taking any action what
ever upon this important subject. l
do not think l would be justified in
doing that. If the Legislature is
dissatisfied with the way in which
the Board of Public Works and the
Attorney General are managing the
interest of the State. they will be at
liberty to take such action as they
see proper. Hence, the sixteenth
item.
Amendments to Constitution.
"As to item seventeen, It is only
necessary to say that there are sew
eral amendments badly needed to
our Constitution. 1t is a good time
to adopt them. because they can be
voted on at the election in Novem.
ber.
Value of Commissions.
Il said moment ago that wop,d
return to the matter of remedy for
the failure of our Legislatures to
meet public expectation. / said that
the present system in this State ia
almost a farce. I am satisfied that
much more could be accomplished n
the Legislature would adopt the Eng
lish idea, which has been adonted n
large measure by the Congress of the
United States and in some of ou.
sister States, Of raising Commissions
70 investigate and make reports
sometimes the commission can con.
sist OF only one man, and never per.
maps necessary to have more than
three. They would be chosen be-
cause Of their ability and fitness for
me work They could investigate
subjects. because they would have
he ability and the time to do So
rhey would learn what other States
nave done, and thereby aid the I.op-
stature in avoiding mistakes that
others have made ana enable u.s. to
pr"nt by the experience OF others
What the members Of the Legislature
need are Information and data. Re-
sides, proper commission vouJd
mot only make report on any given
subject but 1t would put its couclu-
sIons into the form of a well drawn
bill for an act by the Legislature.
We suffer great dear nom loosely
drawn statutes: subject discussed
IN ny message to the last session, in
"hteh | SAID that It would not be en-
Fe"re'I that every member of the Leg.
's'Iture would be an expert drafts
man; that there are very few, even
tmong lawyers; in the history OF the
State have known only about half
dozen; and yet it is very important
indeed mat our statutes SHOULD be
most carefully drawn. The differ
ence !etween good drafting and loose
::rarting of laws Gun be seen by com
pairing the Constitution OF 1863 a
we'll wdtten instrument : with the
present Constitution, which is loose
ly wordcd; SO much so, indeed, that
IL prominent Judge of our Supreme
Court once remarked that It was very
difficult to tell what the Constitution
meant about almost any particular
subject. But che principal thing that
the Legislature needs is Information,
and there is no way whereby it can
be had so well and so cheaply as by
the appointment Of competent per-
sons as commissioners to gather and
report it. AS to the need of good
and wise Legislation. let me mention
few subjects: A comprehensive,
practical road law: railroad, or a
public service, or corporation com
mission; The pollution of our
streams; the game laws; establish
ment of Juvenile court. and the
care of our dependent children, to
save them from becoming confirmed
crlmlnals-a most pressing and I'm
portaut matter; revision of our cor
poration laws. criminal laws, and
houl,;po fowu. 1aU{olnfIon nOncerninry