The State Capitol has been located continuously in Charleston since 1932, and this July will mark the 75th Anniversary of the first meeting of the West Virginia Legislature under the dome.
The Capitol building itself, while operational for legislative sessions in 1932, was not fully architecturally complete. But, like the laws that govern our state, the building continues to be upgraded and maintained to ensure it stands as a source of pride for West Virginians.
Some 75 years ago, the Senate and House Chambers housed black walnut desks upon which each Senator and Delegate conducted their business. Lawmakers continue to conduct their business upon those same walnut desks except today they have the added benefit of laptop computers, wireless access and an electronic voting system.
But beneath this truly impressive integration of art and engineering, the hustle and bustle of the lawmakers and politicos still draw most of the attention.
The House and Senate Journals of 1932 quoted the 18th Governor of the state, William Conley, as he called the Legislature into an Extraordinary Session to take place on July 12th of that year, “You are indeed singularly honored to be the members of the first legislature to assemble in West Virginia’s new Capitol building,” he said. “It is my sincere belief that the same vision, thought and inspiration that guided those in planning and providing the funds for the erection of this magnificent edifice will guide you in your deliberations to the end that the legislation enacted by you will stand as a monument of relief to our citizens in similar manner as this building stands as a monument to the efforts of those who have made it possible.”
Despite the stretch of time, bills introduced today are similar to bills from many years ago. Roads and transportation were of common discussion, and legislation through the sessions has led to the interstate systems of today.
The same holds true for education. In 1932, members from the North-Central region of the state were focused on advancing our first land grant higher education institution, West Virginia University. Today, the Mountain State hosts 11 publicly funded colleges and universities that share the same ideals, practices and programs to ensure West Virginia scholars are equipped to meet the demands of the 21st Century.
Specific items on the agenda of the 1932 Extraordinary Session included delinquent land sales, fees for “feeding and keeping prisoners” and an emergency revenue measure to balance the state budget, and to “raise an additional sum of $500,000…to be applied to the relief of unemployment over a specified period.”
In comparison, the same issues addressed in the 1932 Special Session continue to be fine-tuned today. Presently, the 2007 Regular Session has already seen four bills introduced concerning property taxation, 23 measures introduced covering the state’s correctional system, two bills introduced regarding unemployment compensation, the state’s budget bill as well as 1,163 other pieces of legislation.
In essence the State Capitol Complex is not only a beautiful place, but ongoing development of West Virginia is also progressing there each day of the session. As the saying goes, the more things change, the more they stay the same. However, West Virginia’s foundation is being maintained and enhanced by today’s lawmakers who sit in the same chambers as those who served 75 years ago but who come equipped with 21st Century ideas.
