The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1916-11-16
GOVERNOR HATFIELD ISSUED CALL
FOR EXTRA SESSION LAST NIGHT
BODY WILL MEET NOON
CHARLESTON
For Purpose of Amending the
Laws Relating to Tenure of
Office of Officials.

CHARLESTON, W. Va, Nov. 10
Governor Fl. n. Hatfield tonight issued
Il proclamation calling for the West
Virginia legislature 10 convene here on
November 20. in extraordinary session.
for the purpose Of amending certain
laws affecting the tenure OF elective
and appointive officers. taking from the
Governor the arbitrary power Of re-
moving elective and appointive officers
without appeal or resort TO the courts:
TO amend the primary anu registration
laws. 10 admit Socialist and other MI
nority parties. and 70 make the pubic
service commission and the state
board Of control non-partisan. or ol-
partisan. il the legislature sees fit.
In addition. the legislature is asked
10 consider changing the statute SO
that the board OF public works. Instead
of the Governor, will name the third
member OF the tribunal. which. under
the law. Is called upon 70 hear contests
invoiying election officers. and in that
cas-, the removal of an appointlFe ofl-
Ger cannot be made without the ap-
pruval Of ;hr board Of public works.
The i!rrS"At taW permits ihe conteStee
and thE. rCn'"siaN! 10 name member
each Of thr tribunal. With thr Governor
naming ihs t:Iird In case Of anpoln-
rive uiNca">. r&" GCvern0r. tho present
law provides. c;u r"n!Ove ~. n without
rial uu H. @rDiGii> nau!Ch - The stat
ute.
The Proclamation.
Governor lGuutield'S proclamation
calling FOR All ..X:rsj session nj the West
Virginia lc&i&la;urr ;Gr next Monday
said in part:
"A Proclamation 20 Ine People H1 me
State of West Virginia. greeting:
"Whersas. humorous complaints
have, been made 10 TI| against me
WORKINGS nf the primary election Jaw
and i:>r laws relating 10 the r"gisIra'
zion Of yusers. il having been present.
el 10 III, in tho NOS torcelul way tuii-
i.!c nle'"o.t in which ihr latter law
was 2u:lio;! il the recent election was
prcductiy., ot gross frauds and repeal
iN@ c. votes. particularly in tac coGf-
f:e; Of Marion. LOGAN. Cabell iH'l
Brooke. :! tr";-inG been charged by re-
spcnsibln citizens % standing III ne
state TIA; severa; hundred coion,ZGd
voters under different names had been
registered by affidavit il Marion
County and had voted sercrat times -
The election: that 'rr registration "i1
iicrvS uf Logan CouH;y h,u faileo or
refused 20 rcGj&;"r about one taou$'
I'D their :e"iSiSai ion hUnk~. which TUi-
..i.. were, refused BY Democratic el"C-
;io0 officers lrhey being in tho MA
ori:v, tn" privilege OF voting upon
affidavit as prov;Iicl hy iGW: and t,ioI
nc sam" condition nf 2ftIirS existed
II Cahell. Crock aAif O;hrr counties;
"a lesser extent: aEi
Whereas. certain statues "nacleG
IN rSS3 permit ruut"s,< of n" election
of :hn niec;ed cXecutiv" officers OF the
>.t2ie ot',": than fhr Governor hetnf'
= tribunal. - b. designated a. :oi-
lows: One 20 h" appointed hN thr corr
,esiant. one 10 b. 3nIo;n;.'ti ny he
ronrcStee. ard nuc 10 b" appointed ~
rHn Gorcrno: Of the STATE. from when
tribunal t&eTe IS No. appeal; and
The 1872 Statute
Whereas. certain S;airtrS ~nacie'l
in 1872 give ti:e Governor III" power q
renloEal not Oui" Oi appointive OF
..c"$ whose terms are fixed by la".
bllf also OF duly elected Officers Of tiits
executive department. without appeat
or resort 20 the courts. providing ~
the case Of the rcnova; OF such exec
Iiiye officer or Officers. that the Gov
"rror does not nav" 70 report his It.
;;on until the session OF Legislature.
following such removal. or removals.
whici! could BE- IWu wears tacr'&t:ft;
and curthc: providing that unless 'A''
iceiSiatu.a by i4lni resolution shat!
C!SGpprCv" OF suCa removal or ren;0E-
ais IF state ,lrcIive officers except
ne Secretary Of Stat" Such removal ~
removals shall br final: and in the
caS,. o. the removal OF the Secretary
uf State. the Governor is not even r.
qursd 70 report his action to the leg
iSlaiuro: and
Whereas. majority Of thr mrmb"rS
uf til" senate oi West Virginia and 4