The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1914-06-10
BUSINESS MEN TALK
ABOUT NEEDED LAWS
During Their State Session in
the Waldo Assembly Room
Wednesday Morning.
ORDERS REFERENDUM
On State Referendum and on a
Reorganization of State
Legislative System.

recommendations for new legisla-
ton chiefly occupied the attention of
the West Virginia Business Mems AS
ISOLATION Wednesday In It's fifth annu-
al convention, which is in progress in
the assembly hall OF teh Waldo hotel.
While legislation designed to protect
the business man in the collection of
debts commanded the most interest,
the association went a step farther
and took whirl at the initiative, ref
erendum and recall, and considered
the advisability of changing the state
legislature from the bicameral to the
unicameral basis and reducing Its
membership 10 only thirty.
Referendum Invoked.
These last mentioned measures,
however. failed Of adoption by the
association and after a lengthy dis
cussion 1t was decided to subject them
to referendum of It's own by refer
ring them to the various local asso-
Citations affiliated with the state as
ISOLATION for vote, the result Of
which Is to be certified to the state
association. The desire for statute
embracing the initiative, referendum
and recall, and for change of the
state legislature from Senate and a
House of Delegates to one chamber
consisting OF only thirty members
originated with the legislative corn
mittee of the association, which
recommended their adoption.
Bad Check Law Bad.
Among the legislative amendments
advocated was a revision of the bad
check statute so as To remove any re-
striction as to the consideration on
which bad check Is based. The law
as 1t now stands has been interpreted
by the supreme court to mean that
the making, issuance and delivery Of
check on bank in payment of a
pre-existing debt to his creditor by
enc who has no funds or insufficient
funds in such bank to pay the same, is
not an offense under the section. Tho
association also desires repeal OF
the provision requiring checks to be
protested.
The association also went on record
as favoring an amendment of the
statute affecting embezzlements by
which not only officers, agents, clerks
and servants of the state and its polit-
ical subdivisions, corporations. firms,
persons, or association of persons, etc.
shall be held liable, but also any
other person who may be found gull
ty of the offense.
Personally Exemptions.
A recommendation of the legisla-
tive committee to urge a change of
the statute respecting exemptions of
personal property by married men so
as to require the filing of schedules
with the county clerk as Is required
by the homestead exemption statute,
was also adopted by the association.
That is, a married man who desires
the benefit of the $500 personal prop
erty exemption must file his schedul .
before the debt is incurred and not
afterward.
Go After Railroads.
A statute should require railroads
and other common carriers to pay
just claims for damaged freight and
the like within reasonable time, .
in the opinion or the association,
which passed resolution to that
effect and instructed the legislative
committee to advocate the passage Of
such law.
The association again approved a
law restricting untrue and misleading
advertisements and an itlnerant ven
doris law, both of which were previous
-ly approved by the association and
were introduced at its instance at the
last session Of the legislature. Action
was not taken on the measures, how
ever, in that body.
Bankruptcy Schedules.
A resolution was also adopted re-
questing the secretaries of local asso-
Citations to keep constant watch and
record of all bankruptcy schedules in
their respective counties and to EN-
ploy all legitimate means to see that
such schedules are truthful.
The convention will finish it's bust
mes late Wednesday afternoon with
the election and instaNIation of officers
to serve the ensuing year. A meet
ing Of the state association of secre-
taries, branch organization, was
also held late in the afternoon. but
routine business principally engaged
its attention. The gathering will end
with banquet tonight in the banquet
@all of the Waldo MOTEL.