Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1908-12-05
BUSY DAYS AHEAD
FOR LEGISLATORS
Numerous Bills Of Various Kinds Are
to Be Acted Upon at the Coming.
Session.


Charleston Nov. 27-When the
state solons assemble here carry in
January many measures Of import
ance viii find their way, together
with large number Of freak bills,
to the legislative grist mill, which
promises to be worked overtime at
the approaching session.
The prohibition movement, having
excited more discussion and atten-
tionthan any one other state issue,
will claim large share Of the time
of the Legislature. 1t will bring at
once vertiable maelstrom of lobby
ing, and discussion will rivet poll
tical interest all over the state,
wrecking and making the political
future of many member of the
legislature. Even in the absence of
any definite poll of the house, that
body will probably vote overwhelm-
ingiy, as it did at the special session
last winter, for the submission of the
prohibition amendment to the people.
The real fight will be in the sen
ate, which, with its membership OF
only thirty, will not be SO cumber-
some to handle as the lower house.
In the upper house the opponents OF
prohibition are already claiming elev-
en- members pledged to vote against
the submission of the Amendment
number sufficient to defeat this par.
ticular legislation.
Change in School Book Laws.
In one shape or another there is
certain to be some modification of the
present school-book system, which
has entaied so much expense upon
parents of children in the public
schools that it has become a burden.
With the present county board adop-
ton, so many different books are in
use in various counties that a change
OF residence requires constant outlay
for school books. 1t is proposed to
change this system by providing for
the creation of state board or by
provision for free text books
The latter change is considered the
more desirable, but under the tax
laws the levy is so limited that the
establishment of a free textbook sys-
tenn is almost precluded
A demand for better roads has
crystalized in a determined effort to
have the legislature adopt some
measure which will give state aid for
the betterment of roads, and the state
good roads association, of which Del
egate Weir of Randolph county, is
secretary. will interest itself in the
passage of some measure. Either
state aid or state road tax are two
of the methods suggested for the ac-
complshment of such a result.
Unit for State Primary
Both parties are committed to the
adoption of some sort of state pri-
mary system, under which candidates
for the senate, state Offices, and coun-
ty Offices win be chosen.
The legislature will also be asked
to pass upon a measure for the pro-
lection of game by prohibiting hunt
ing for market purposes, or from
sending game so killed out of the
state. Bills will also be introduced
looking toward the conservation OF
the states water supply by the pur
chase of tracts at the headwaters of
certain streams.
A fellow-servants act, defeated sew
eral times in other sessions, will be
again presented and pressed for
adoption. Shorter hours for clerks
for trainmen, etc, will be advocated
as we'll.
Hundreds of other measures OF
more or less Importance will have to
be acted upon in the short space o.
time of the legislative session, so that
| it is fair to assume that no legisla
ture Of recent years will be called
upon to dispose of so much import
ant legislation, as the Forthcoming
one.