.

4. Riot at Cannelton.-In November, 1881, the sheriff of Fayette County reported to the Governor that a riotous combination existed at Cannelton, with which he was unable to cope, and asked for troops. Two companies were sent to him under command of Captains Alderson and Lowry. The military remained on duty only a few days during which time order was restored.

5. Assessment of Property for Taxation.-The population of the State from 1870 to 1880 increased nearly forty per centum; and the net gain in the aggregate valuation of real and personal property, from 1871 to 1881, was a little over five per centum. Had the new farms, the mines, the timber, the railroads added nothing to the wealth of the State? Clearly personal property was not listed for taxation to the proper extent. The Constitution fixed the exemption list; but the Legislature had exempted classes of property in the face of the Constitution. The Governor undertook to see "that the laws be faithfully executed," and that all property not exempted by the Constitution should be listed for taxation. At his instance the Auditor issued instructions to this effect to the assessors. A number of assessors ignored the order. A test case was made against the assessor in Brooke County, by a proceeding in the Supreme Court by mandamus to compel him to obey the Auditor's instructions. The court sustained the Auditor. The policy of the Executive was attacked. The question found its way into politics. A full discussion ensued. As a result of the public agitation in the course of three years, instead of a continued decrease, there was an increase of upwards of $8,000,000 added to the tax lists of the State.

6. The Tax Commission.-During the early agitation of this subject (1883) an act was passed for the appointment of a commission of three, not more than two from the same political party, to investigate (1) the subject of taxation in the State; (2) the facts necessary to enable the Legislature to give effect to Article X of the Constitution, in relation to taxation

and finance; (3) to report information for intelligent legislation to advance the development of the resources of the State; and (4) to report what economies can be introduced into the management of state affairs. The commission made elaborate reports, containing much matter relating to the subject; but it did not submit any bill to remedy the difficulties. No practical results were achieved from the work of the commission.

7. Character of Legislation Adopted.-An amendment to the Constitution was adopted changing the time of the state election so as to coincide with the day on which Federal elec- . tions are held, namely, the Tuesday next after the first Monday in November.

A joint committee of the Legislature was appointed at the regular session of 1881, to sit during the recess, and to prepare such bills as may be necessary for a complete revision of the laws, preparatory to the publication of a new edition of the Code. An adjourned session was held the following year, at which many revised bills were passed. An act was also passed reapportioning representation in the Senate and House of Delegates, and redistricting the State for Representatives in the Congress.

8. United States Senator Chosen.-John E. Kenna, having received a majority of all the votes cast by each house voting separately, was declared elected a Senator of the United States by the Joint Assembly, on January 24, 1883, as the successor of Henry G. Davis. The Republicans voted for Judge George Loomis and the Greenbackers for John T. Janney.

9. Condition of the State (1881-1885).-As a rule the harvests were bountiful; industries were in a satisfactory condition; capital was seeking investment; new lines of railroad were building. One great calamity, however, fell upon the Ohio Valley in 1884. A deep snow lay upon the ground; warm breezes sprang up and a gradual thaw set in; a long continued rainfall followed; and the great flood swept over the

low lands along the Ohio. High water mark at Wheeling reached fifty-three feet, and at the mouth of the Great Kanawha, fifty-seven feet, on February 11, 1884. Much damage was done, and there was great suffering and distress by thousands whose homes were flooded, which was relieved by kindly charity both at home and abroad. By a judicious frugality prosperity once more prevailed, after a time, and the valley again yielded its abundant harvest.

Election of 1884.-By 1884 the Republicans and Greenbackers had effected a fusion, and nominated Edwin Maxwell, who had been a judge of the Supreme Court, for Governor; J. H. Burt for Auditor; Spencer W. Sturm for Treasurer; J. N. Kendall for State Superintendent of Free Schools; and John A. Hutchinson for Attorney General. The Democrats nominated E. Willis Wilson, who had been Speaker of the House of Delegates, for Governor; Patrick F. Duffey for Auditor; William T. Thompson for Treasurer; Benjamin S. Morgan for State Superintendent of Free Schools; and Alfred Caldwell for Attorney General. The campaign was freer from partisan cant than in former times, and there was a disposition to discuss political issues upon their merits. The Democratic candidates were elected by majorities varying between 5,000 and 6,000. The Governor received a majority of 5,289 out of a total vote of 137,587.

CHAPTER XVIII.

WILSON'S ADMINISTRATION (1885-1890).

1. Inauguration of State Officers. The inauguration of Governor Wilson and the rest of the executive officers took place in Wheeling on March 5, 1885. It was an event of a very quiet nature, notwithstanding there was a parade, an inaugural address, a reception, a society ball, and a supper. The oath of office was administered by President Judge Okey Johnson of the Supreme Court of Appeals. The Governor's inaugural was free from partisanship, and there was nothing in it to which any one could take serious objections, except the utterances in regard to railroad monopolies, which foreshadowed his policy on railroad legislation. On the same day Grover Cleveland, the first Democratic president during a quarter of a century, was inaugurated at Washington.

2. Policy of Wilson.-Governor Wilson pointed out that the revenue laws did not secure equality of taxation as contemplated by the Constitution, and that the species of property best able to contribute, evaded the assessor. He suggested such revision as would place the "untaxed invisible personal property" on the assessors' books. He proposed legislation to regulate the costs, charges, and proceedings in criminal cases; to prohibit railroads from issuing free passes to state officials, and delegates to political conventions, and to prohibit also the granting of special fares to them not granted to other passengers; to prohibit "trusts, combinations, and conspiracies to oppress the people and enrich the few," and to reform the election laws. He took up the question of discrim

inations against the people of this State, in freight and passenger charges, by the trunk line roads passing through the State. He said: "Railroad companies are chartered, and the right of eminent domain is conferred upon them, by and for the benefit of the State granting the charter. It can not be conceived that powers were thereby created permitting discriminations between citizens of the same State, or against them in favor of citizens of other States. Discrimination is a public evil. There is not a western State but ships its stock, farm products, and manufactured articles to the Atlantic cities from twenty-five to fifty per cent less, for the same amount of freight, than is exacted from the West Virginia shipper to the same destination; while a like character of discrimination is enforced as between citizens and localities of our own State." These remarks reveal the real character of the quarrel, at the time, between the people and the railroads. The war waged upon this question by the Wilson administration was fierce and relentless. A special session of the Legislature was called to consider, among other things, the regulation of freight and passenger tariffs. Mr. Chew of Jefferson introduced the bill for the purpose. It reached its second reading. There seemed to be a decisive majority in its favor. The opposition attacked it with amendments, and amendments to amendments. One of the most interesting parliamentary tilts ever carried on in a Legislature was on hands. In the midst of it all the President of the Senate (Mr. George E. Price) appeared at the bar and announced the concurrence by the Senate in a House Joint Resolution "Approving the passage by Congress of the Interstate Commerce Bill." There was a lull, but the fight was resumed. At last on a question of amendment the vote stood nineteen to nineteen, with twenty-seven absent and not voting. Further action was postponed until five o'clock; shortly after the House took a recess until seven thirty: but the consideration of the bill was never resumed. It was thought to be