The broad ax., 1919-03-01
By J. C. GnMER
charleston. w. Va. special-The

II
during the period of the war Of the
Birth of a Nation" and similar pic
lures and plays, put into effect last
summer by an order of the Executive
State Council of Defense, was con-
tinued indefinitely by the legislature,
Thursday last, when it passed mea-
sure drafted by H. ]. Capehart, one
of the three colored members of the
lower house. The law provides as a
penalty not only for exhibiting but
also for advertising such pictures and
plays a fine of not more than $1,000
and confinement in jail of not more
then so days, the latter at the dis
erection of the court.
Other legislation of special benefit
to the race was the creation of the
Office of state supervisor of colored
schools with a salary of $4,000 per
annum and $500 for travelling ex-
penses, and an advisory board to the
state board of education to be COM
posed of two citizens of color, the
compensation of each to be $1,000
year and $500 for travelling expenses.
This advisory board, acting with the
supervisor, practically will have
charge of all matters pertaining to
the states colored educational insti-
tutions. It authoritively is reported
that among the first duties it will be
called upon to perform viii be the
recommending to the state board of
education of president for the West
Virginia Collegiate Institute where a
change has been under consideration
for some time.
In the matter of appropriations for
the next two years the legislature
was very liberal to the colored insti-
tutions. For the erection and main
tenance of a hospital for colored in
sane $165,000 was provided. Forty
thousand dollars was voted for land,
buildings and current expenses of a
colored deaf and blind school. Other
institutions and their appropriations
are: colored tuberculosis sanitarium,
$4S, 900; orphans home, $37, 900; W.
Va. Collegiate Institute, $146,0O0;
Bluefield Colored Institute, $1,000;
Storer College "a private institution)
$5,400; Barnett, Harrison, Mercer,
and Lomax Hospitals privately own
ed) each 81, 500, a total of $5OS, 900.
As with appropriations so was the
legislature in handing out positions.
There were % colored attaches, rang
ing from clerks to janitors and maids. |
And if any discrimination was shown |
in committee assignments, the colored |
members of the house of delegates
were the beneficiaries. N. Nutter. of |
Kanawha County served on the judi
ciary, forfeited and unappropriated
lands and insurance committees; Cole
man, of Fayette, on the forestry and
conservation, penitentiary, labor, and
medicine and sanitation; Capehart,
of Mcdowell, on taxation and finance,
claims and grievances, humane insti-
buttons and public buildings, execu-
tive Offices and library, and railroad
Commenting on the services of
these gentlemen on the occasion of
the presentation to him of a loving
cup by Mr.. Nutter for the cloak room
the speaker of the. house
said that, one and all, had per-
formed the duties assigned them
equally as well as the other members;
that he had broken precedents in
placing them on the most responsible
committees, but that their records
were such as to reflect credit upon
him who had appointed them, upon
themselves, their race and their state.
Il