Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1917-05-17
LEGISLATURE IN SESSION.

The West Virginia Legislature Con'eheu
in special session on Monday last, pur-
suant 10 the call OF Governor John |. Corn
well. Ia response to an invitation from
both the Senate and the House. passed
without a dissenting vote, Governor
Cornwell appeared before the Legislature
in Joint session and delivered his mes
sage in person
ia ms address the Governor asked es-
peciany mat the State Council OF Defense
be given full power 10 deal with any Sit
uation andto cooperate with the National
Council OF Defense. He called attention
TO the voluntary "home guard" organiza-
tions that have been formed since the
State militia was called into federal ser
vice and asked that he be given power TO
recognize such "home guard" units and,
if necessary, call them into the service OF
the State.
In reference TO the labor situation the
Governor said:
"In times past there has been serious
problem because OF inability OF large num-
bers of men to obtain employment. To-
day if is serious because OF the shortage
of labor and the large number OF able
bodied men who are idle because they
will not or do not work. The census OF
theunemployed being taken at the request
OF tine State Council Of Defense will pre-
sent an amazing showing. at is almost
inconcelvaole that just at this moment
when wages are higher and working con-
dltionS are better than ever before, when
there is great shortage OF labor on the
farms, in the factories and IN the mines,
and the nation in great war urging every
man, woman and child TO conserve food
supplies and produce something, that
thousands of young, able-bodled men
should be idle in the cities and towns OF
this industrial State. ldleness must be
penalized. Public sentiment should be so
aroused that it will be impossible for the
idle person to live content in any COM
munlty
Senator Gregory offered the following
bills: Relative to the punishment fraud
goods sales; legalizing the State Council
of Defense; erovi ling for farm loan bonds;
authorizing State levy to meet the needs
caused by the war; preventing Interrupt
ton OF industrial activities; providing for
distribution OF plants, seeds and sheep;
stopping ldleness and vagrancy.
Two Senate joint resolutions also were
offered, proposing an amendment to the
State Constitution providing for State
budget similar TO that now in force in
Maryland, and providing for assistance TO
the federal government i prosecution OF
the war.
The same bills were offered in the
House. In addition Delegate Mcdonald,
of Kanawha, introduced bill permitting
the federal government TO own more than
25-acre tracts in West Virginia.
Senator Roy E. Parrish, OF Harrison
county. will not attend the session, hav-
ing Joined the Officers Reserve Corps and
gone TO Fort Benjamin Harrison. James
w. Weir, member OF the House from
Randolph cou ty, who was appointed
Secretary TO the Governor, rendered his
resignation TO the House.
Bills were presented in both the Senate
and the House providing for tax on oil
and gas, aud charging the powers Of the
Public Service Commission in order to
conserve the natural resources Of the State
for national defense.
A bill OF wide scope was reported by
the Senate judiciary committee on Tues
day. 1t provides for the conservation of
the agricultural products OF the State, in
order to provide an increased food sup
ply. One section relates TO dogs. The
preservation of the live stock industry,
made necessary by war needs, would put
an end TO the custom OF permitting dogs
TO run at large in this State.
The Virginia debt matter was thrown
into the House by Delegate Basel, of
Lewis county, who was elected on plat
form OF reputation and has sought per-
sistently to have the Legislature take some
action His bill proposes submission
to the vote OF the people the question of
assent or rejection OF the decision OF the
United States Supreme Court by which
West Virginia's debt was put at $l2 $685.
92950,. land interest from July |, 1915.
A bill was introduced by Senator Rosen-
bloom providing that it shall be unlawful
for ''any person or persons employed al
any kind OF labor or service" in West Viz
ginia to strike, either singly or in groups,
during The war The bill also would pro-
hibit the discharge from employment of
any persons because of membership in
any trade union.
a