Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-02-26
West Virginia Legislature
Reaches End of Session.
ENACT BUT FEW MEASURES
Neither Political Party Points With
Pride to Record.
BOTH HOPEFUL OF THE FUTURE
Redistricting of State for Congress
sional Elections Goes Over
to Next Session.
Special Correspondence Of The Star.

special Correspondence OF The Star
WHEELING, ". Va, February o5, 1911.
With the ending Of the biennial session
OF the West Virginia legislature it is
generally agreed that neither the demo-
cratic nor republican parties has muc;,
| TO its credit. The republicans contend
that the developments insure easy sailing
Tor the capturing by their party Of the
legislative body next year. Mostly they
base their claims on the undeniable dis
aHection over the selection OF United
states senators by the democrats. This
oisanection, as pointed out before, is due
IN the case Of Senator-elect Chiffon only
so far as he was in a combination with
Senator Clarence W. Watson. It is
against Watson the guns Of the republi-
can enemy and the democratic dlscon-
| tents are trained.
The achievements Of the legislature
have been few. The democrats assert
that the failure to do much can be
charged to the republicans, because the
proper organization for two weeks b.
skipping to Cincinnati and staying there
one week and haggling over terms of
/ compromise a week more on their return.
For what they did in the way of In
Producing and passing bills the demo-
They started out to prune state expenses
and kept at it consistently. It is a ques-
ton II they did not attempt to lop OF
too much. But at any rate they cut
and slashed appropriations until the next
years tax bills are in a fair way to be
reduced
University Item Incites Personalities
| The personal touch was given I'm the
effort to reduce the appropriations for the
state university at Morgantown. The fire
was conferred on Dean Charles E. Hogg
Of the law school and Prof. Henry Green
Of the academic force. Hogg was eriti-
cised for conducting a law practice on
the side, and 1t was contended he was
drawing fat fees for helping to conduct
West Virgtnia's defense In the Virginia
debt suit, besides practicing In the cir
cult and federal courts. Dean Hogs con-
tributed an elaborate defense in papers
addressed to President Hatfield and
Speaker WetZel, explaining that he work
ed double time to keep up. and that when
he had to miss his classes he arranged
| to have the classes meet him In spare
moments.
! It Is within the bounds OF probability
| that Hogg was objectionable TO the ma
| jorty because a few years ago he desert
ed the democratic fold, since which ne
has been fairly we'll cared for by his
new allies. Inasmuch as the Virginia
| debt case il about concluded, and as his
connection began prior to his gong 70
the university, the caustic legislative crit
| icism did not go to extremes in his
case.
| But Green was indirectly requested to
resign his professorship or cease using an
editorial pen on the paper at Morgan
| town conducted by himself and son.
Prof Green went to Charleston and laid
his defense before the state board OF re-
gents. He said ne was being prosecuted
because OF the progressive IDEAS he al
vanced editorially, and that they would
He stated. furthermore. that he was
fighting for the liberty Of the press and
free speech. and that In no case had ne
| neglected his school work because OF his
days to cease editorial firing, else he viii
be dropped
At Head of Insurgent Newspaper.
The Greens have run an insuryent re-
publican paper which has failed both
sides freely. The octopus was fearlessiy
bearded IN his den by the father and
professor, thereby oecasioning much fric-
ton within the republican ranks In Mo-
| mongolia county and contributing consid-
erably to the party's November losses in
| that section. Opposition 70 Green. there
| fore. came from regular republicans rath-
er than from democrats, as In Hcgg's
case, but the democrats Joined in the as
sault.
| Early in the closing week the custom
| of the United States senaters-elect In Civ
ing banauets to the legislators was OBJ
| served by Messrs. Chiffon and Watson,
who upheld the record for prodfgal feast
| ing inaugurated by Senator Scott. The
| late Senator Elkins Was not SO lavish In
! these affairs. Senator Wilson did not at
tend. wiring that important business at
| Washington detained him, but there were
nearly $50 guests. including Gov. Class
cock and other republicans, as the event
was not limited to the victorious party.
| The following evening Senator Chiffon
Journey ed to Wheeling to address the an
nual Washington birthday banquet OF the
board Of trade. His visit was into the
enenys country, for 1t is in the north
ern part Of tho state where the frost is
thickest by reason OF the outcome OF the
democratic caucus, due largely to The
fact that it is the home territory OF the
unsuccessful candidate, Col. John 7. Nc
GraW.
Chiffon made a good impression before
the 200 banqueters in a comparatively
brief address on the Importance Of more
equitable railroad rates for West virginia
shippers. and OF the differences In some
things between the northern and south.
ern sections Of West Virginia.
Another speaker at the same banquet was
Representative-elect John W. Davis. who
made distinct hit In his toast on West
Virginia" There are growing evidences
| that young Davis Is to be the idol OF the
democracy in this state, and 1t will occa-
sion no surprise II he becomes candt-
| date for governor,
| Still another speaker was II. c. Ogden.
republican leader of the panhandle. who
has been mercilessly assailing Watson
and Chiffon, particularly the former, In
his newspaper the state republican organ,
and who continued it the morning follow
Ing his presence at the festat board with
Mr.. Chiffon.
State. Reorganization Goes Over.
The proposition to make six congress.
sional districts out OF the state has fallen
fiat. The plan partly agreed on by the
legislative committee switched counties
around radically. putting Preston and
Harrison. the homes OF Representatives.
eletc Brown and Davis, into one district
There is a preference for a represent
ative-at-large instead. But the redis-
| trictine will be POSTPONED to the next