WEST VIRGINIA. 



771 



for the year ending August 12, 1872, was 

 7,582, 10. lOf 



The Waldensians have two chapels in Rome, 

 and three day-schools, with 120 names of pu- 

 pils on their rolls, and 90 pupils in regular 

 attendance. 



WEST VIRGINIA. The Legislature of this 

 State met at Charleston on November 19, 

 1872, the chief object of the session being so 

 to modify the laws that they may conform to 

 the new constitution. After a session of four 

 months, the unfinished business was so large 

 that a joint committee of conference was ap- 

 pointed by both Houses with instructions to 

 report whether it was necessary to take a 

 recess before the first adjournment, and what 

 legislation should in that case be first con- 

 sidered and perfected. 



The committee reported at the end of March 

 that, in their judgment, a speedy recess was 

 indispensable, " unless the two Houses were to 

 continue in session until about the first day of 

 June ; " " believing that, after the first weeks 

 in April, it would be impossible to keep a quo- 

 rum in each House, as so many of the mem- 

 bers were farmers, or engaged in pursuits re- 

 quiring attention at that season of the year," 

 etc. 



The report was laid on the table in the S^en- 

 ate. In the House of Representatives, in "ac- 

 cordance with it, a resolution was introduced 

 providing "that the Legislatnre should adjourn 

 on the 7th of April until the 20th of October 

 ensuing, and no per diem should accrue during 

 thf recess, nor should mileage be allowed for 

 .'itt. ndance at the adjourned session." It met 

 with some opposition from some members who 

 moved to strike off the prohibition of mile- 

 ape, and to turn the recess proposed into an 

 adjournment tine die. These motions were 

 rejected, and the resolution, as originally of- 

 fered, was passed. On its being sent up to the 

 Senate, it via there adopted. 



The Legislature accordingly reassembled in 

 October, 1873, when they continued in session 

 for two months, and adjourned tine die on the 

 22d of December. 



Most of the laws enacted during these ses- 

 sions relate to subjects of a public and general 

 character. Acts of special legislation were 

 comparatively few. 



A very large proportion of the acts passed 

 relate to the Judicial Department of the gov- 

 ernment, from the Supreme Court down to 

 the lowest court, defining their jurisdiction 

 and powers respectively. 



Before taking its recess in April, 1873, the 

 Legislatnre passed a general appropriation bill, 

 fixing the amounts to be paid for the current 

 expenditures of the three State departments 

 during the two fiscal years ending September 

 30, 1873, and 1874, in detail ; as also for the 

 current expenses of the State University, char- 

 itable institutions, and the penitentiary; and 

 for repairs or construction of their respective 

 buildings. 



The following are the. amounts appropriated 

 for the last-named institutions: 



To pay the university at. Moreantown $14,160 00 



To improvement and construction of buildings 



for 1873, $9,000. ; for 1874, $12,0(10 81,000 00 



The West Virginian Hospital for the Insane.. 91 SOS 00 

 To the further construction of hospital bnild- 



_ in g 80,000 00 



Support of lunatics confined in the jails 20 000 00 



Institution for the Deaf and Dumb and the 



Blind 50,000 00 



The penitentiary at Watson 36,000 00 



The Normal Schools at Fairmont, West Lib- 

 erty, Glenville, Shepherdstown, and Mar- 

 shall College 11,500 00 



During the adjourned session held near the 

 end of 1873, a supplementary appropriation 

 bill was introduced, providing, among other 

 things, for the payment of normal - school 

 teachers in 1874. After a warm contest, the 

 bill was defeated, it is said, on account of that 

 proviso. Numerous members of the legislative 

 body, especially in the House of Representa- 

 tives, were decidedly opposed to appropria- 

 tions for the said schools, and required the 

 items relating to them to be struck off from 

 the bill, contending that the money appropri- 

 ated for the instruction and training of stu- 

 dents, with a view to qualify them as teachers 

 in the public schools of West Virginia, instead 

 of being used for that purpose, had been ap- 

 plied to the maintaining of high-schools in 

 different localities at the expense of the State. 

 The disagreement existing between the Gov- 

 ernor and the Legislature in reference to the 

 appointing power, which the Governor seems 

 to consider as vested in him by the constitu- 

 tion with regard to officers of almost all sorts 

 in the State, was intensified in 1873, and 

 threatened to become the cause of public dis- 

 turbances of a very serious character. In 

 obedience to the provision of an act passed by 

 the Legislature on April 1, 1873, the Board of 

 Public Works appointed as the Superintendent 

 of the State Penitentiary William L. Bridges, 

 thus superseding Thomas P. Shallcross, the 

 incumbent of that office formerly appointed 

 by the Governor. Having been duly qualified, 

 the new Superintendent, in company with the 

 Board of Directors, presented himself at the 

 penitentiary on the 1st of May, the day fixed by 

 law, and formally demanded possession of the 

 place. He and the directors were met at the gate 

 by Mr. Shallcross, who refused to admit them ; 

 and, on being asked the reason of his refusal, 

 he produced a written document signed by the 

 Governor, "directing him to act as Superin- 

 tendent until further orders." He added that 

 " he had received verbal orders to exclude all 

 persons." Upon the Board of Directors' offer- 

 ing to make their entrance notwithstanding 

 his refusal, Mr. Shallcross warned them by 

 declaring that, if they attempted to enter for- 

 cibly, he was prepared and resolved to use 

 force on his part to prevent it, and keep them 

 out. At this they retired. 



A suit was soon after instituted before the 

 Supreme Court of the State on complaint of 

 Mr, Bridges against Mr. Shallcross, to compel 



