The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-11-29
four new LAWS;
TWO AMENDED BY
SPECIAL SESSION
3ubernatoriaI Contest No
tices Must Be Filed
Earlier.
NOTHING DRASTIC DONE
Registering by Affidavit on
Day Of Election is Pro-
hibited.

Avs MIlLLeu iIllU tue StdlubCS W thC
special session of the Legislature
which adjourned yesterday, allow ap
pointive and elective officers of the
state to appeal to the Supreme Court
In case the Governor removes them
before the end OF their terms. These
acts were put through to tie the hands
Of John J. Cornwell, Democratic gov
ernor-elect, from doing anything the
Republicans term as revolutionary.
Two other laws have to do with the
contesting Of elective offices. One
which might fit an attempt TO unseat
Mr.. Cornwell requires that notice OF
the contest OF a governor or other eIcc,
tive state officer must be given 90 days
after the day of election. Applied to
the present situation, 1t would mean
that II Judge Ira e. Robinson, defeated
Republican nominee for Governor
wants to contest the election OF Mr.,
Gornwell, he must give him notice by
JANUARY z, 1917, or three days before
the legislature meets to declare the
result of the election.
Under the old law the so days notica
could be construed to mean 90 days
after the declaration OF the legisIa.
ture, or March 10. This would have
been after Mr.. CornwCll took office
and the trainers OF the law passed at
this session evidently wanted the no.
lice to be given before Gov. Hatfield
retired, for in case OF contest he
would continue as Governor Until the
Legislature decided his successor.
Under the West Virginia Constitu.
ton no act of assembly shall take ef.
fect for 80 days after ITS passage un'
less the legislature by I two-thtr IL
vote shall otherwise rlirect
At this session the only ilw vote!
into immediate force was the one pay.
ing the salaries and expenses Of the
members. It would mean the act re.
curing notice of contest of the Coz
ernor's elec:IGn would not he operative
until 80 days after November -. The
day 1t became law, and in case the
Robinson forces file Il contest they
would have &c proceed under the old
law.
This legisla:ure also amended the
Registration and primary laws. The
Important thing done in the registra.
ton law is to remove the provision
which allowed an elector to register by
affidavit on the day Of election. Under
this section Of the law the Democrats
are credited with having added many
votes, possibly enough to elect the
governor. The new law provides that
an elector not on the registry list can
rot vote. There is some disposition
tofquestion the conStitutIUnaliy Of this
feature.
The registration bill delayed the ad
journment of the legislature. 1t was
agreed to in conference. After the re-
port was adopted in both Houses a mis-
take was found in the printed copies
two sections having been trausposed
The printer corrected this, but the leg
tslature did not think 1t necessary to
reconsider its action. Senator Fox
Democratic leader, tried to question
the constitutionality Of the act because
OF this alleged irregularity, but he did
not accomplish anything, as the Sen
hte adjourned finally as he was Ell
deavoring to secure recognition. Then
there was not a quorum present in
either House, a majority of the sena
tors and delegates having left the city
shortly after noon.
The principal changes in the pri
mary bill follows:
Candidates for offices to he filled by
cities, towns or villages of less than
10000 population do not need to be
Nominated, the old limit being 5000
population; by direct vote party com
stead of June primaries.
LII
than 10 per cent. of the total vote cast
for Governor at the next preceding
general election of any group of citi
zens may nominate candidates and
elect committeeman. either by party
conventions or nomination petitions.
Parties having notional organiza
tons and having cast less than Is pei
cent, OF the total vote for Governor ir
1912, may, without the payment Of
fees; nominate candidates for public
offices otherwise than by conventions
and primary elections. In such case 9
certificate shall be signed by resident:
within the state or political division
In which the nomination Is to be made
equal TO per cent. of the entire vote
cast at the general election in 1912
I provided the number of signature.
Ehaliinot exceed 1000 nor be less thar
2b. This restores the rights OF the So
cialists, Prohibitionists and Progress
I siyes.
n No person may be a candidate fol
domination to office in any politica
party .'unless it be openly known tina
K huch person is a bona fide member o
hnch party" This would prevent {
man from getting more than one nom
I Inationiin primary.
\ In printing the primary ballots thu
+ positions Of the names of the candi
4 dates shall be changed in each Office
niviAon. AS nearly as possible al
Equal number of ballots will be printed
after each change, the intention beinl
that every other ballot shall have The
names in q different position. Under
Ibis system the candidates will no
haye5an advantage because his name
begins with a letter In the beginning
NJ the alphabet.
Four certificates of the result Of the