The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1913-01-15

Providing for Office Of Lieu
tenant Governor is Al
ready Prepared:

4 CHARLESTON, Jan. 15.-Atf gfney
General Conley has completed the
drafting Of a resolution creating an
office of lieutenant governor forsthe
state of West Virginia;
The resolution win be introduced
in both the Honse and Senate as soon
as the organization of the two bodies
is Effected
The joint resolution follows:
Proposing amendments 10 section
"a OF article vi and section 16 of ar
ticle VII, Of the constitution, OF this
state, ana creating the office Of lieu
tenant governor.
Resolved by the legislature OF
West Virginia. two thirds of ali the
members elected to each, House
agreeing thereto:
That the following be and the same
are hereby proposed as amendments
to the constitution OF this state, to-
wit:
That section "a of article vi of the
constitution as 1t now is be stricken
out and the following inserted in lieu
thereof;
"a. A majority of the members
elected to each House Of the legisla-
ture shall constitute quorum; but
smaller number may adjourn from
day to day. and shall be authorized to
compel the attendance of the absent
members, as each House may pro-
vide. Each House shall determine
the rules Of its proceedings and be
the judge of the election, returns and
qualifications OF its own members.
The lieutenant governor shall call
the Senate to order and preside over
the sessions thereof, and shall have
the right to vote only when there Is
an equal division. In the absence
Of the lieutenant governor the SEN
ate may elect from its own body the
presiding. officer, except the ,lieuten-
ant governor, and remove him at
pleasure. The House of Delegates
shall choose a speaker from it's own
body The delegate present who has
served in thets House the longest
whether in consecutive terms or
noQ shall call-th House to order at
the first session of each new House
of Delegates, plandi preside over it
until the speaker thereof shall have
been chosen and have taken his seat.
But il the service in the House Of
two or more delegates Jbe equal, the
one of them oldest in years shall call
the House to order and preside over
it until the speaker shall have been
chosen and taken his seat.
New Section. VI
That section sixteen of article VII
of the constitution as it now is to be
stricken out and the following insert
ed therein lieu thereof.
16. The office of lieutenant COVER
nor is hereby created The lieuten-
ant governor shall have the same
qualifications as the governor. His
salary shall be fixed by the legisla-
ture. Before entering upon his duties
he shall take the oath or affirmation
required by section sixteen OF article
vi of the constitution. A lieutenant
governor shall be elected at the gem
eral election held in November. 1916,
and every four years thereafter. His
election shall be determined as pro-
vided in section three of article VII
of the constitution. The term of
office of the first lieutenant governor
elected hereunder shall commence
on the first day OF December, 1916,
and expire on the fourth day Of
March, 1921, and the term OF office
thereafter shall be for four years
and commence on the fourth day OF
March next after his election. In
case of the death, conviction on i'm
peachment, failure to qualify, resig-
nation or other disability of the gov
Eernor,' the lieutenant governor shall
act as governor until the next gem
eral election and until his successor
is elected and qualified, or during the
disability OF the governor; and If the
lieutenant governor for any of the
above named causes shall become in
capable of performing the duties of
governor. the same shall devolye up
on the speaker OF the House of Dele
gates; and in all other cases where
there is no one to act as governor
Zone shall be chosen by the joint vote
Of the Legislature Whenever va
cancy shall occur in the office of gov
.ternor ninety days or more before any
general election, a governor shall be
elected for the unexpired term at
such election.