The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-02-23
Amender to Strengthen the
Yost Law Will Be
Shaped Up.
COMMITTEES At WORK.
Public Hearings Set for Pipe
Line and B. and L.
Bills.

CHARLESTON, w. Va, Jan. o.
The committee on prohibition of both
Senate and House of Delegates held
joint meeting after recess was
taken yesterday by the Legislature in
the office of the commissioner of
prohibition and discussed at length
all recognized phases of the pro-
hibltory laws of West Virginia,
which, according to general opinion,
are not sufficient for their purposes.
The committeeman admitted that
amendments are necessary and that
1t will require much time and careful
consideration of the subject before
amendments can be decided on which
will give the remedies sought in re.
ducing the illegal selling industry,
which they say has become menace
to West Virginia society. A number
of bills have been prepared covering
the subject Of prohibition, but none
so far considered by the prohibition
authorities and the legislative com.
mittees handling the subject contain
all the features desired.
Senator Ben L. Rosenbloom, who
has indicated that he will ask for
the adoption of joint resolution
providing for the re.submission of
the question of prohibition to a vote
Of the people, said today that this
resolution will not be presented until
after all those seeking amendments
to the prohibitory laws have finished
their program and have decided on
what changes they wish in the present
statutes.
The first bill to pass the Senate
was that providing for an amend
ment to the Wheeling charter. The
next was that relative to binding the
Supreme Court records in bucKram
instead Of leather. 1t was also passed
by the House.
When the Senate bill to provide the
state with mine rescue car comes
up as special order of business at
2 p. m. today an amendment will be
considered to place the appointment
Of director of mine rescue work in the
hands of the governor and not in
those Of the state mine chief.
Senator Humps bill, which proposes
to give courts of criminal jurisdiction
certain powers with reference to the
release Of prisoners on probation, was
reported favorably by the committee
as was that to provide for state
home for the feeble-minded, and q
number of others, principally of To-.
cal nature.
House committees rejected eight
bills, nearly all of which dealt with
local subjects, and reported favorably
on IA among them being measures
to change the time for holding court
in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Cir
cults, prohibiting division of fees by
physicians and surbeons; amending
section IL, chapter 13S of the code rel.
alive to the practice of medicine and
surgery; requiring persons or concerns
engaging in public service business in
competition with other public service
concerns to receive certificates of ne
cessity and authority from the Public
Service Commission; creating the mu-
nicipal corporation Of Morgantown.
Among the 81 bills originating in the
House were those providing for a
board Of censorship for motion pic.
lures; to prohibit the collection of fees
from employees of industrial organiza-
lions for paying company physi-
clan; to establish a state sanitarium
for negroes. A number of the meas
ures offered cover subjects such as
road improvements and were substi.
tutes for bills formerly presented.
Senate, one by Senator Hawley pro.
vides for the county Of Mercer to bor-
row $46,500 from sinking fund to be
used in improving public roads. An
other, by Senator Rosenbloom, is to
regulate the profession Of shorthand
reporting. Senator Carter introduced
n bill which proposes the establish.
ment of an agricultural department
in connection with the Tyler county
High school and the purchase Of not
less than 100 acres of land for the
purpose. Senator Gregory offered a
bill to exempt Civil war soldiers and
sailors from payment Of occupational
license taxes. Senator Gribble offered
a measure relating to the time Of
holding municipal elections.
Chairman Robert L. Gregory of the
Senate Judiciary committee an
nounced that public hearing will be
held on the oil and gas, pipe line and
compressor bills the evening of Janu-
airy 81 and February 1. There are a
number OF these bills, each proposing
some form OF tax. The Cooley bill.
relating to building and loan associa.
lions, will have a public hearing be-
fore the committee on January 26. II
present plans are carried out the
House and Senate committees, to
which road legislation was referred,
will hold joint session for the pur.
pose of agreeing on some bill. More
than q dozen bills relating to roads
nre now pending in the two houses.
Economy had another inning this
morning when Delegate Sweeney, of
Wood county, offered to act as clerk
of the committee on education with
out charge and with his other duties
and thus save the state 81 day II
the House would make his committee
clerk reading clerk at salary of So
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