Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-01-08
WHAT MAY BE EXPECTED.
PROPOSED LEGISLATION.

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Books-EIeeaon Of Csrruli Jsds.s- Gcserai
Lscatoptiss Law.
This session OF the General Assem-
bly, is likely TO be useful to the people
in high degree. but not distinguished
By any very radical legislation. The
fact that the reyisers are diligently at
work on the Code. and win before long
have one volume ready. has the effect
Of diminishing the number Of PROPOSE
tions to change the laws. Numerous
members who came here with the in
tention Of Offering bills to amend cer-
tain sections Of the Code have either
given the revisers the benefit OF their
suggestions and there left the matter,
or have talked over such things with
them and come TO the conclusion that
their ideas were not practicable.
The State is exceedingly fortunate in
having such revisers as Messrs. Z. C.
BuIks, Waller Z. Staples, and j. W.
Riley.
FREE scH0OL-B00Ks.
This subject is one Of the foremost
in importance, and will probably be
acted upon in some shape at this ses-
sion.
II is already clearly seen that free
school-books cannot be given to all
pubIic-school children without impair
inc the school fund to that extent that
the school-terms must be largely re-
duced in length or if the present
terms are to be maintained, then taxes
must be increased. Several schemes
have been proposed. One contemplates
giving the children the books and meet
ing the question Of increased taxation
hereafter. Another proposes TO turn
the whole subject over to the councils
Of cities and to the boards OF supervi-
that the State shall contract for the
school-books by the hundred thousand
and sell them at cost to all children
who are able to buy. To those unable
to buy books will be given free, as now.
What will be the exact action Of the
two houses it is impossible nov TO pre-
dict; but it is improbable that they will
undertake to furnish free books to all
children. They will not enact that the
State shall do it or that the counties
and cities shall do it.
COUPON LEGISLATION.
That some additional legislation in
the shape of coupon-killers is necessary
is generally admitted, but the disposi-
ton seems to be TO await the decisions Of
the Supreme Court Of the United states IN
the Virginia cases now before 1t before
taking such action.
The unanimous resOlye-to put II
blunily, perhaps cOarsely-is to war on
the coupons and 20 encourage funding
of all the old bonds into new 3s.
SPECIAL COURT or APPEALS.
That a special court Of appeals will
be established there is little doubt.
While there is much division Of opin-
ion as to details-fOr instance as 70 how
the docket shall be diylded-there is
scarcely any among the majority party
as 10 creating this court. One plan IS,
in substance. to give the old court the
criminal docket and all other pending
causes that have been docketed since
October, and to give the special court
the old business. That is to say to give
he special court the old business and
he old court the new business. An
her plan is TO give the special court the
4st half Of the civil docket. Another
- 10 allow the old court to assign TO the
) ew court cases in patches OF twenty
tive or fifty.
The House Committee on Courts
Mr.. Munford chairman-conslderS the
subject this morning.
The special court will no doubt be
composed OF fire circuit judges, and 1t
Is intended, as far as the Law goes, that
their opinions shall have equal weight
as authority with those Of the old court.
CIRCUIT JUDGES.
Circuit judges will not be elected for
the present, as there are several bills
and resolutions proposing to alter the
circuits: also. some bills providing
changes in the jurisdiction or county
and Of circuit courts. Not until legls-
lative sentiment is crystalized on these
points will the caucus to nominate can
didates for circuit judges be held. ORly
three or four out Of the seventeen cir-
cult Judges were elected by the Ma
honeites the others were put in Office
by the Democrats.
LOCAL OPTION.
4 general local-option law Is likely
to be passed at this session, fulfilling IN
good faith the pledge Of the party plat
form. Some bills on this subject have
already been presented and referred.
Il is conceded that they demand the
wisest and most panstaking cOnsidera-
tion, and they will no dolbt receive It.
A day or two ago Mr. II. Z. Pollard,
chairman Of the House Committee on
Finance, IN view OF the magnitude OF
the interests involved and the urgency
for extra caution, moved that two
bills sent to them BE- printed for con-
sideration, and il was SO ordered.
RAILROAD COMMISSIONERS.
The opinion is that the General As
sembly will enact q Law creating a
board Of railroad commissioners. with