Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1915-02-18
DyJ. ~. Weir,

DyJ. ". Weir
Charleston. W. Va, Feb. 15.-whils
much iegislation has been ground from
the legislative Rrist mill since the 18th
! of January. little Of actual Importance
haa had the stamp Of legislative APP
prevail. During the week ending last
Saturday. the Senate had passed the
Public Service Commission Bin, which
some think might more appropriately |
be called the Political Service Commis-
sion Bill from the nature Of its provi-
sions, constituting the Commission Of
three members Of the same party with
full power Of the Governor to remove
almost at !. will. Both branches passed
weights and measure bin modelled af-
ter the Federal law, which with the
Governors signature, will become a |
law. Many education bills completed
their legislative journey during the
week. County salary legislation re-
ceived the attention Of the Senate dur
ing the week, there beng numerous
increases made by the Senate to the
! bill as it came from the House. The
Senate amended the bill so that it will
not become effective until the expira-
ton Of the terms of all county officials
now in-office The salaries for Jeffer-
son County remain as in the House
Bill.
There yet remains to be finally ac-
ted upon by both houses the water
power bill, workman's compensation
bill. primary bill, corrupt practices
bill, public health bill. public service
commission bill. redistricting bill. all
the tax raising bills, the appropriation
bills, and there remains only eleven
working days in which to act upon
those measures
The majority in the legislature seems
to be entirely amenable to the execu-
tive branch and will if all the bills pro-
posed are passed create many new off.
ces at large salaries, without having
reduced salaries or expenses one iota
so far as the expense from numerous
. offices are concerned. New jobs for
) Office seekers are created every few
days in the legislature so that there is
veritable swarm of clerks. burden
: upon the tax payers. Only one bill to
abolish any Office has been introduced
and that by D-mocrat-your CORES
pondent-a and that bill is peacefully
slumbering in committee. No effort
has been made at retrenchment or
economy SO far as is yet apparent. and
that is the reason it becomes necessary
to raise one million more dollars year
than is now -heihg raised. For instance
the Secretary of the Public Service
Commission receives SIS 900 year and
efforts by the Democrats and few
Republicans to reduce that salary failed
because the Governor was opposed to
reduction. To raise more revenue with
which to liquidate thu present depleted
condition Of the State treasury and &c
) care for the offices SO rapidly sbeing
, created, the Governor has recommen-
dad sn income tax on corporations and
land tax on all holdings in excess Of
FIVE thousand acres.
The Ho ,se passed the Public Service
: Commission bill the first of week. The
| bill prnridaa e-- 49, --pl,uir1 rnreI,e ur
three Republican Commissioners, deny
ing the Democrats representation on
the Commission, and also vesting the
) Governor with the power to remove the
, commissioners, SO that they are entire
!, ly under his control
OIL notwithstanding the fact that the
q Williamson Charter vests the power
] with the Governor to appoint the COM
E missioners of the city of Williamson
. and strike blow at local self-govern-
Y ment, as the minority pointed out, the
5 Republicans of the House voted for
3 the bill to man, almost, and the
a Democrats solidly against it.
: Sixteen Democrats voted against the
D Senate bill abolishing the terms of the
t Supreme Court at Wheeling and Charles
8 Town. Hall and SAMSON. Democrats,
? voted for the bill.
Senator Humps bill Incorporating
the West Virginia horticultural Soeie.
ty was passed by the Senate during the
week.
The Senate OH Wednesday passed the
Charles Town Charter bill at the in
stance of Senator Beckwith.
Mr.. Burr voted for the Child Labor
bill and against the Public Service
!, Commission bill and the Williamson
Charter. He voted for the San Jose
Scale bill and the Davisson Live Stock
: bill.
t The House passed bill requiring
j auto licenses to be paid to the County.
= The Senate has substituted bill to
continue the payments to the state IN
) to fund to be known as the State
) Road Fund.
: The Southern Girl.