The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-11-25
In Discussing the Work of the
Special Session Of the
State Legislature.
IN Q Z. E.R.ATE IN IDEAS.
National Committeeman Clears.
UP Misunderst Of
the LeaisIation.

~ Highland. member OF the
I Republican national committee. re-
turned home last night after an a b.
sence or ten days. one week of which
was spents5in New York. where he
was spending short vacation resting
|up after the campnign He went from
| Now York to Charleston arriving
there at noon on Monday. whore he
conferred with Governor Hatfeld and
party eaders regarding the pronosecl
Legislation mt the extra session of the
Legislature.
Mr.. Highland stated that the pro-
gram agreed upon by the lead ders$ 6f
the party wns very mild one. and
one to which no fair-1nindod man
could find any serious objection The
bills agreed upon by the leaders were
ms follows:
First, a bill changing the registras
tion law s;s
Second, a bill amanding tie prfs
mary election law
Third, a bill preventing the remoyz
al Or elective officers. such ;ls gecres
taly Of state, treasurer, attorney gen
eral, superintendent OF schools and
Judges Of the supreme court; bY
what is known MS the arbitTati ION
method.
Fourth. a bill preventing the r
moYal OF appotntiye officers with 4
/ liked term, until they serve ont the
time for which they were appointed.
There was 10 serious OBJ lection TO-
the first three bills, even by the Dem
ocratic leaders said Mr.. highland
but the fourth bill was bitterly d
posed by the Democrats.
The Republican, leaders fiji st
tendance at Charleston seemed to be
very m oderate in their ideas OF the
leg gislatton which should be enacteds
ana were opposed to any radtc tcaI
changes or any reyoIn tionary egfsla-
tion. There was no iegtalat ton pro
posed by Governor III at III eItl M ifIg
one else to take from Mr.. EofnBell
the appointiYe power, or the power So
remove the he ds of he va IA Gus ~
tsti lions, or any oth her sta te otficer
excepting where they have been ap4
pointed for a fixed term of two. fo1r
or six years 1T was the opinion a.
those present that d man appointed
to q fixed term had Just as much
right to serve us thoug ghS he had been
elected by the people q. The leRfala
ton proposed takes no power away
from the governor to appoint officers;
and simp prevents the removal pf
members OF the public service COM
mission and Nom bers of the state
board Of control before their term
expires.
There seemsIto be considerable
mtsund deratandlng regarding the Leg
islatlon proposed y as well as that alz
ready passed. but when the people
thoroughly und derstand the program
there will be no sert touss obi Ion TO
it by any fair-mind nded citizen.
There were, OF course. some more
radical Republicans In attendance
who favored a more drastic program.
but their IDEAS did not prevail and
that element fconstI Itnteds avery small
minority OF those present at the con-
ference. The legislature itself was
also very conservatv and did not
favor any drastic egisIati lon or reyo=
lutionary tactics. and the governor In
Ihis3sp peech before the Repnbl lean con-
ference on Monday declared that he
was opposed to taking any steps ia
deprive the governnr=elect Of the
patronage toNwhi hich he entitled.
simply desire to make these
statements In order to clear up any
derstanding or false impress
.sionss that may be REVEALING through
the mfs-statements of a paxhsan
spress.,, 3s