Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1882-03-10
TAKING A BREATHING SPELL.

lAhlNU II DINA L 0lUQ OI 4LAA.
The legislature has adjourned sine die,
has met again in extra session at the call
of Governor Cameron, and has then adj
journed from March 9Th to March 18th
next Thursday, for breathing spell-all
done since our last issue. The situation
which requires the stringent remedy, ap-
piled by the majority, Of lime days ad
journment in the midst of busy session
seems to be briefly this. The Coalition
party has working majority in both
houses which is all powerful if it could be
persuaded or intimidated into working
harmoniously; but partly from the fact
that some of its members, deeming that
the main object of the session, the passage
plished; and some others being unwilling
to elect judges in defiance of the dec isions
of the Supreme Court, it has been impos-
sibie to keep this working majority in their
SEATS or. if in their seats, to persuade them
to vote with the majority. In the matter
OF the judges whose terms hare not, under
the decision of the Court of Appeals, ex-
PRED, the Democrats have consistently
and persistently refused to vote any sue
cessors to them, and there have always
been enough Coalition members (mainly
Senators) absent from their seats to make
it imp, ssble to secure a quorum. One or
two candidates for these vacancies, which
are not va cancies, have been voted for but
no valid election had in the absence Of a
quorum. The present recess will give the
Coalition leaders an opportunity for either
Welding their party more solidly or ascer-
taing more definitely that it cannot b.
done. The members will have an oppor'
tunity of seeing their constituents and dis
cussing with them the proprie5y of taking
the revolutionary action which the Coa!i-
ton leaders are urging.
There has been good deal of child 8
play about who rendered the extra session
necessary. but the real c.. ST. is that as CO.
alition party measure an extra session was
absolutely necessary. Fully tWo-thirds of
the session has been wasted on that ever
present nuisance, special legislation, and
had there been greatly less conflicting
views than there have been, we doubt if all
the party measures initiated could have
been carried out in the regular session.
The re-districting Of the State for judicial
circuits; the re-apportioning OF the State
for congressional representation; the re-
peal of the whipping post and chain gang
laws; tae creation of vacancies in county
school observation-disclosures; the providing for
the publication of the laws; the appoint
ment of Commissioners of sales-are all
schemes for the reward of party service
that are imperatively demanded by the CO.
alitionists before this legislature can be al
lowed to return home. In behalf of the
legislation which is expected at the extra
session. Gov. Cameron in his brief message
sent to it Tuesday urges that no factious
attempt shall be made to relieve the ma
jorty in the General Assembly of the
right or the responsibility of legislation
AS it has been very difficult to tell who
this majority" has been in view of the
difference of purpose in the coalition par
ty the people will look with interest to the
re-assembling next Thursday to see if that
majority" is any better defined.