Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1909-02-12

ment of the state penitentiary are to
be Investigated. The,House and Senate
have appointed a Joint Committee
composed Of Messfs. Fisher aud Flynn
of the Senate and Colcord, Dennis and
Warder. This committee has met al
MoundsviiIe Penitentiary and will
make such an Investigation as they
can in the limited time they have and
with the means at hand.
Everybody expects the great insti-
tuition to be thoroughly wbite-wssbed
but we guess Jake Fisher will have his
eye on them and will expose the rot
tenness.
Though there has been apparently
little progress made in The way of leg
islation the old bills p oviding APP
propriations of all sorts are looked
after with care. The bill providing for
increasing the salaries of the Supreme
Judges and State offices has been NOV
ing.
1t is agreed that the prohibition
amendment VIII rot pass The Senate.
Que Republican member in good
standingin the capitol says that the
Governor said he cid lot expect it to
pass. However, rs The vote has not
been taken a positive declaration ofthe
result would ha re 40 little real founda
as forecast u next ground hog day.
The Senate has referred tbs resolution
TO a committee not overly friendly to
it, and there's ne telling whea it VII
come out Of the committee nor how
badly it Will be torn and shot up when
it does come.
One guesser says the Senate will
defeat the amendment and pass the
Craig local option bill. The House,
which has already passed the amend
ment, Will refuse to pass tie Craig bill.
The session IS drawing rapidly to
close with about two. weeks remaining
Of the 45 days constitutional limit and
yet nothing has been done. Not
single law Of general application has
passed and many Of the important
scheduled TO come up have
not been introduced
Every possible effort is being made
in the State House to force through
The bill to take from the counties, dis
,ricts and cities five per cent of their
axes collected from the public :c9rpor-
atoms and turn it over TO the depleted
state fund. There is no doubt about
.he dangerous emptiness of the general
state fund, and nothing that can be
thought of will be left undone by the |
10 increase its revenues so as |
% avoid increasing the direct state
ak.
The taking off of the state tax was
by an impending deficit of
huge proportions, and if other sources
If income can be worked out to recoup
he losses mat resulted from the low
srlng of this tax it will be done. Just
J 81 no CeTtdUl source mas Deen IOuHO
from which to draw sufficient amount
-e-sn axe up the losses.
The new license law raises the sa-
loon licenf to 81 900 year with the
provise that no municipal corporation
shall impose greater license tax than
the state imposes.
The promise, long deferred, TO give
the people an efficient primary election
law may be fulfilled. Three sucn
have been introduced.
The House Judiciary committee
has decided TO recommend the
passage of the Vinson bill. This
DILL we understand provides that all
from United states Senator
to constable must be nominated by the
people ia general primary election.
That all candidates names must be
placed on the party ticket and the
voter will mark the n me he wishes TO
vote for much as at a ge lerai election.