A considerable number of the acts of
the regular legislature session are to go into
effect this week, including an interest rate on
loans under $300.
The measure calls for three and one-half percent a month
interest on the first $150 and two percent on the second $150. The present law
is two percent. The house of delegates passed a measure to restore the present
rate, but it failed in the senate.
Automobile license plates and road signs are to be manufactured
at the state penitentiary under another act. They are now made at a state plant
in Nitro. Pointing out that the legislature failed to make appropriation for
removing the plant, members of the board of control said they would ask an
opinion of the attorney general on what to do.
It was estimated some time ago that the cost of moving the plant
would be about $30,000. The act ordering the change calls for the impeachment of
state officials who fail to comply with its provisions. An effort was made in
the special session to repeal the regular session bill, but the move died in the
house.
Other measures will place paid city firemen, except in
Parkersburg, Clarksburg and Fairmont, under civil service; make the state
treasurer custodian of the school fund; and require contractors on public
improvements to pay prevailing wage scale to employees.
After July 1, members of the county
court of this county will receive $12.50 monthly
instead of $25 heretofore paid them, in addition to
their per diem of $2.
The legislature passed a bill that does away with road
inspection after the state takes charge of county roads on July 1, but allows
compensation for inspecting jails, homes for the poor, bridges and detention
homes. In all cases, the sums are much lower than the tax law formerly allowed
for road inspections.
The original plan was to repeal the law allowing money for
inspection and give commissioners nothing but the $2 a day.
The bill calls for payment in counties of less than 30,000
population of $12.50 a month; 30,000 to 50,000, $50; 50,000 to 100,000, $85; and
over 100,000, $106.25.
If present arrangements hold, Gov. Jay Rockefeller will launch
Calhoun County’s industrial park project on June 16 at 1:30 p.m. Plans call for
the governor to fly by helicopter to Grantsville and meet with county officials
on the site of the proposed industrial park. He will turn over documents
guaranteeing a $104,000 loan to Calhoun Development Corp.
With the funds, CDC will be able to purchase the 32 acres
set aside for the project, and, possibly next month, begin the grading
and earth-moving necessary to prepare the grounds for the first tenants.