The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1909-01-28
Bitter Fight Of a Partisan Ma
lure is Engaged in BY the
State Solons.
HOG DAY
Delegate Hall Wants to Be a
Legal Holiday But is
Ruled Out of Order.

CIARLEsnoN, Jan 2s.AThe lie
gal holiday bill, making Lincoln,
and Icolumbus's birthdays legal holi
days in West Virginia, was passed b,
the Senate this mornlng and va,
passed to dts second reading in tn,
House.
considerable discussion arose owe,
the bill in the House. An amend,
ment to cut out Columbus's birthda,
failed to carry, after some debate
Just after septimus Hall moved to
postpone indefinitely the holiday bill
Delegate Bell, of Clay, called the at.
tention of the House to the fact that
the contested election matter OF VIII
liams, Democrat. and Henkle, Repub-
lican, of Nicholas county, had been
made special order for IL o'clock.
in consideration whereof the speaker
declared Halls motion out of order
and the House proceeded to the con-
tested election matter.
While the holiday bill was being
discussed. Delegate Hall moved to
amend the measure by making
Ground Hog Day, February 2, a legal
holiday also and the motion caused
considerable merriment among the
members. The speaker ruled the
motion out or order.
The Williams and Henkle contest
has developed into a strong fight and
the House Will likely have it under
consideration until adjournment this
afternoon. Robinson, Of Richie, will
speak for Henkle. and Dennis. Of
Greenbrier, win appear for Williams,
each having been allotted two hours to
present arguments and proofs OF Ell
iglbility. It is believed that Henlle
will win out and obtain the seat thus
far held by Williams.
After passing the holiday bill the
Senate took up the free text book bill
of Senator Silver, which was adyanc-
ed. The rest of the morning was de-
voted to discussion of It and 1t was
taken up again after the noon ad-
journment. Likely the whole after
noon will be occupied with It. Sew
eral amendments were offered to the
bill, but so far it remains as origin
ally drafted.
The minority report on the uues-
tion of the submission Of prohibit
tion amendment. signed by Delegates
G. w. Bente, James A. Strother and
NJ. w. Ryan, is as follows:
I'VE, the undersigned beg leave
to submit the following minority re-
port as representing our views on the
proposed constitutional amendment:
First, 1t is fundamentally wrong
to submit any proposition to a vote
of the people which. If it would pass,
would work irreparable mischief and
an injustice. 1t is no answer to this
objection to urge that Il people ars
injured they have themselves to
blame and not the legislature.
Second. it is wrong to contiscata
between five and ten millions OF dol
lars worth of property now used and
in business. which from
the formation of this State had been
recognized as legitimate. without
compensating those injured for the
loss occasioned.
Third, it is fundamentally wrong
to support proposition, the effect
of which would be to permit people
of one part of the State to prohibit
those of another part of the State to
exercise their freedom in saying what
they shall eat or drink. Under the
present law the people in any county
of the State can determine for them
selves whether they shall have in
toxicating liquors sold within the
borders of such county.
Fourth, the stae needs, revenue,
amounting to about half million
dollars annually. and about one-third
Of the total revenue of the State. II
this source of revenue is removed,
how will the State make up the detic-
iency? Prohibition has been a farce
and a failure wherever 1t has been
tried. we believe in a spirit OF fair
ness in the perpetuation Of our pres
ent system of local self-government,
We therefore dissent from the ma
jority report on this resolution