The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-02-22
Only Five Days Left Out OF
45.Day Period For
Lawmaking.
IS NOT FINISHED
APPROPRIATION AND REVENUE
BILLS UNDER DISCUSSION
NOW.

began the last week Of the session
with i've days In which TO close w
theatairs Of Its regular 46-day period.
Although there has been considerable
discussion Of IN extended or special
session, proof Of the necessity OF II
Is yet TO be produced. 1t Is true there
are a number OF measures yet pend
ing, the enactment Of which are essen
tial for the good Of the state. but
which they a and doubtless will be
considered emergency measures there
Is opportunity for their enactment anu
the necessity OF an extra session elem
mated.
Both from the Legislative and politi.
cal viewpoint, one thing above all
others stands out to meet the OBJ,
server who has watched tho sessions
OF the legislature this year, and
causes him to ponder over the why's
and wheresores OF this one conspicu
GUS thing-the failure OF the ltepub,
llcans In the senate TO select q floor
leader or to recognise some n as the
whip" on the majority side. This fad.
ure has given the majority party mem,
beers no small amount OF concern and
in many instances has prevented the
Accomplishment OF the very purpose
sought because Of tho inability 10 I'll,
derstand one another.
Early in the gession there was a
desire among the Republican mem
bera to caucus, to confer with one an.
other on many questions. Although q
much smaller body tho senate is days
behind tho house. due TO the inability
OF the party having q two to one ina-
jority not being united. AID the ten,
dency on both sides or the chamber
to illibuster.
The water power, the public service
commission, the primary, the corrupt
practice act, the new virginia dep,
committee, will so on the statute
books Of the state. but soue OF lhom
will not be In the form they were
drafted by the persons who studied
the subject and who sought 10 pro
duce q measure, each 1ection oil
which was a necessary unit, from the
title to the repeating clause. anu the
elimination of any section or the vital
changing Of any section would lend 10
disjoInt the measure. and lessen and
make questionable some Of the fea,
lures Of the bill.
While the measures thus far passed
do not call for The expenditure OF
great sums OF money for which the
legislature must provide, there are
many that have gone through the two
houses that will require the taxpayers
to let loose of some OF their change,
either through ieyies for district oil
county High schools or other Dur.
poses affecting the citizens OF q coun,
~.
Whether there will be county sal.
aries bill there are grave doubts. The
house aud senate committees have
thus far been unable to agree. The
senate disliking the figures for the
sherirs. county and circu,x clerks and
prosecuting attorneys, in most In,
stances raised the amount, In some
instances as most as q thousand dol,
liars q year, and then provided that
the fee system should not be abol.
ished during the encumbrency Of the
present officials, which to sheriffs
means two years and the clerks four
years hence. Since the prosecuting
attorneys receive little money they
have not been recognised as pronting
by the fee system. The .sherifts, al
though not affected by the senate
amendment, nor either BY the original
BILL as 1t passed the house, have been
going to the assistance OF, the clerks
who opposed the house provision that
the last two years to which they have
been elected salary only should be
paid. The clerks have proceeded on
the theory that to the victors belongs
the spells and having been elected
while the fec system was in vogue
they are entitled to all the fees, and
oven the interest on the money they
collect belonging to The county. That
the sheriffs ALEC cling to this theory
has been shown by the threnuous Cd.
position put up IN both branches Of
the legislature against the county dc.
positories set. The statement has
frequently been made on tho floor Of
the legislature that this interest
amounts to moro than $4,000 q
year.
The measures 10 raise revenue With
the exception Of the bill placing q tar
on land holding Of moro than I'VE
thousand acres. have not reached the
position To Indicate what 10 likely to
happen to them. That Nthsre 10 stfenu.
Gus opposition to Nil the plans pro.
posed BY Governor Hatfield In his
special message on finance and tara.
ton. has already been demonstrated.
The placing Of 4 tax on moro than
i've thousand and iess than ten thous.
and, has already caused the coal and
gas interests. especially the latter,
to arm themselves. They declare for
q state tar on all property regardless
whether the owner has a few or many
acres.
Chambers Of Commerce has entered
protests against placing a tar on cor.
po~ratiors.
II 10 evident that Il the legislature
10 going TO follow the advice Of those
who have appeared against ali the
measures proposing the raising OF
revenue to run the state, little, II any
revenue would be raised.
Despite the fact that IN etfort was
made to check any appropriation for
buildings OF the West Virginia Uni.