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Story
May 7, 1897
The Clarksburg Telegram
Clarksburg, Harrison County, West Virginia
What is this article about?
On May 2 in Charleston, W. Va., the Constitutional Amendment Committee ended a 15-day session, adopting amendments to the state constitution on compulsory ballots, Supreme Court structure, voter registration, election of Secretary of State, legislative pay, and session limits, with more to consider later.
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Constitution Makers.
The Commission has Been Doing.
CHARLESTON, W. Va., May 2.-
The Constitutional Amendment Committee concluded a session of fifteen days Friday and went to rest. They adopted amendments to the Constitution and have on the calendar seven others to be considered and acted upon at the next session, which will begin on the 18th. Among the amendments adopted by the committee are the following:
Section 2 of article IV.. the following words are stricken out. "the voter shall be left to vote either open, sealed or ballot, as he may elect."
The amendment is to make a ballot compulsory.
Amendment to section 2 of article VIII. The following to be in the place of the present section:
Supreme Court of Appeals shall consist of FIVE JUDGES, any three of whom shall constitute a quorum. The judges in office under this article, as amended, until the election of their successors, which shall remain therein until the expiration of their terms of office.
The Judges of the Supreme Court of Appeals shall be elected by the voters of the state and shall hold their offices for the term of ten years, unless sooner removed in a manner prescribed by this Constitution. Except at the general election in the year 1898, one judge shall be elected for the term of four years, and at the general election in the year 1900 one judge shall be elected for the term of six years, and one for the term of ten years.
Section 12 of article II, the words "No citizen shall ever be disfranchised or refused the right or privilege of voting at an election because his name is not or has not been registered or listed as a qualified voter," to be stricken out and the following inserted:
The Legislature shall provide by general law for a REGISTRATION of all qualified voters.
Section 2, article VI. "That the Legislature shall never authorize or create any board or court of registration of voters, to be out."
Amendment to section 2 of article VII., providing for the election of Secretary of State by the people.
Mr. Farr of this district offered the following amendment be adopted by the committee: "That the members of the legislature shall receive for their services the sum of $300 for any session of the legislature, be it long or short, and no more, except the Speaker of the House of Delegates and the President of the Senate shall each receive an additional sum of $100 each. No allowance or emoluments whatever not provided for in this section shall directly or indirectly be paid to the members of either house for postage, stationery, newspapers, or any other purpose whatever."
The following in lieu of section 24, article VI:
No session of the legislature shall continue longer than sixty days after the expiration of the first week of the session, no bills or joint resolutions of the character herein specified shall be introduced in either house unless the Governor shall in a message call the attention of the legislature to the subject of legislation on the matter embraced in the message, and the introduction of bills shall be restricted thereto.
The Commission has Been Doing.
CHARLESTON, W. Va., May 2.-
The Constitutional Amendment Committee concluded a session of fifteen days Friday and went to rest. They adopted amendments to the Constitution and have on the calendar seven others to be considered and acted upon at the next session, which will begin on the 18th. Among the amendments adopted by the committee are the following:
Section 2 of article IV.. the following words are stricken out. "the voter shall be left to vote either open, sealed or ballot, as he may elect."
The amendment is to make a ballot compulsory.
Amendment to section 2 of article VIII. The following to be in the place of the present section:
Supreme Court of Appeals shall consist of FIVE JUDGES, any three of whom shall constitute a quorum. The judges in office under this article, as amended, until the election of their successors, which shall remain therein until the expiration of their terms of office.
The Judges of the Supreme Court of Appeals shall be elected by the voters of the state and shall hold their offices for the term of ten years, unless sooner removed in a manner prescribed by this Constitution. Except at the general election in the year 1898, one judge shall be elected for the term of four years, and at the general election in the year 1900 one judge shall be elected for the term of six years, and one for the term of ten years.
Section 12 of article II, the words "No citizen shall ever be disfranchised or refused the right or privilege of voting at an election because his name is not or has not been registered or listed as a qualified voter," to be stricken out and the following inserted:
The Legislature shall provide by general law for a REGISTRATION of all qualified voters.
Section 2, article VI. "That the Legislature shall never authorize or create any board or court of registration of voters, to be out."
Amendment to section 2 of article VII., providing for the election of Secretary of State by the people.
Mr. Farr of this district offered the following amendment be adopted by the committee: "That the members of the legislature shall receive for their services the sum of $300 for any session of the legislature, be it long or short, and no more, except the Speaker of the House of Delegates and the President of the Senate shall each receive an additional sum of $100 each. No allowance or emoluments whatever not provided for in this section shall directly or indirectly be paid to the members of either house for postage, stationery, newspapers, or any other purpose whatever."
The following in lieu of section 24, article VI:
No session of the legislature shall continue longer than sixty days after the expiration of the first week of the session, no bills or joint resolutions of the character herein specified shall be introduced in either house unless the Governor shall in a message call the attention of the legislature to the subject of legislation on the matter embraced in the message, and the introduction of bills shall be restricted thereto.
What sub-type of article is it?
Historical Event
What themes does it cover?
Justice
Social Manners
What keywords are associated?
Constitutional Amendments
Voter Registration
Supreme Court
Legislative Pay
Session Limits
What entities or persons were involved?
Mr. Farr
Where did it happen?
Charleston, W. Va.
Story Details
Key Persons
Mr. Farr
Location
Charleston, W. Va.
Event Date
May 2
Story Details
The Constitutional Amendment Committee concluded a 15-day session, adopting amendments making ballots compulsory, restructuring the Supreme Court to five judges with specified terms, requiring voter registration, allowing election of Secretary of State by the people, limiting legislative pay to $300 per session plus extras for leaders, and restricting sessions to 60 days with governor's message for bills.