Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1915-02-25
Our Charleston Letter
NEWS OF THE LEGISLATURE
By ]. W. Weir.

Appropriation Diho ano tax meoouEco-
Among the more important measures
passed during the session. mary of
which were not acted upon however;
until the last day. were the primary
bill. the corrupt practice bill, the bill
revising and broadening compensation
act, the public service commission bill
with all the vast power it vests in
political commission. the Virginia debt
bill creating new commission, the
county salary bill, and the state coun-
ty depository bill, The county salary
bill will not go ipto fl ct until 1921.
A department Of health was created,
and pure food bill was passed by the
Senate. Full crew legislation failed.
A registration bill was passed over the
prott st of Democratic members of the
House and Senate which instead of
lettering the present law weakens it
to the extent of providing for registra-
ton on election day, opening the door
to fraud, corruption and repeating.
The water power bill failed to pass the
State.
The present legislature will go down
into history as having gone farther
than any legislature which ever before
assembled toward abridging the right
of local self government and approp-
Rating to itself To right TO manage
and govern municipalities. Wi h one
sided msjorities in both branches of
the legislature, the law making body,
drunk with power. has struck some
very vital blows at Republican form of
government. Municipal administrations
have been ripped out of Office and in
almost every instance the majority has
denied the right Of referendum vote
by the people of the cities and munich
palities affected. Williamson will have
a city commission appoited by the Gov
ernor- Parkersburg will have an cleo
Ition board appointed in part by the
Circuit and County Courts Of Wood
county. Fairmont will have a new
charter, not of it's own choosing, but
put through the legislature by the in
fluence of the administration. Charles
ton has a new charter under which the
election board is appointed by the
County Court. i Senator Gregoty, prob
ably the closest man in the Senate te
the present Governor. says that mum
CAPABILITIES are irresponsible and there.
fore ought not to be allowed to govern
| themselves, and his attitude is con-
strued to reflect the Governors. The
| tendency at Charleston at the present
time, is toward transferring all the
powers of government to the Execu
| tive. That has been seen in the bill
permitting the Governor to appoint
members Of County Courts; in Public
Service Commission bill, and in the nu
merous charters, particularly the Viii
hanson charter, probably the most no
tarious piece eff legislation ever enac
ted.
No expenses in the administration o
the affairs of the State have been cur
tailsd The appropriation bill to be re
ported may reduce the expense of con
Quoting State institutions about 5000,
600 but there has been no reduction il
the departments. The legislature ba
run wild with its attaches. Tue Hous
has almost eighty and the Senate pro
portionatt ly as large number, some o
whom have not been at Charlestol
more than few dayc during the legis
lature. New offices at high salarie
have been created. Economy has no
been in evidence at all. The legisla
ture would have desired to reduce e2
penses and cut down salaries. but
has appeared to be afraid of highe
power, and bills introduced by Demo
Gratis to abolish needless offices hav
been shelved in committee. As a re
suit of the wanton waste Of publ
money and the failure of the admins
tration and the legislature to practic
economy it will probably become necel
sary to lay state levy of 20 or 25c o
the hundred dollars valuetion.
A bill authorizing the County Cour
of Jefferson county to change the sit
and relocate the Jail was passed b
both houses during the week.
| This Pure Food bill was passed by tn
House without dissenting vote.
| Senate bill No. BIC, the County Roa
Engineer Bill which makes it options
with, counties whether they shall hay
county road engineers or not was pass
ed by the House.
Last Saturday the House passed tn
Reynolds Blessing redistricting bill d
viding the state into six Congressions
Districts as follows:
1 First-Hancock, Brooke. Ohio. MAJ
shall. Wetzel, Marion and Taylor.
4 Second Monongalia, Preston. Ran
dolph, Barbour, Tucker. Pendletor
Grant. Hardy, Mineral. Hampshire
Morgan, Berkeley and Jefferson.
Third Richie. Doddridge, Harrison
Calhoun. Gilmer. Lewis. Upshire Bra1
ton, Clay. Nicholas and Webster.
Fourth Tyler. Peasants, Wood. Ma
son. Writ. jackson, Roane. Putma
and Cabell.
Fifth-Wayne, Lincoln, Mingo. Il
lgan. Mcdowell. Mercer. Wyoming
Summers and Monroe.
Sixth Kanawha, Boone, Raleigh
Fayette, Greenbrier and Pocahontas.
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