The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-04-24
An EXTRA SESSION.
Reasons why the General Assembly May
Again Convene.

Ever since the close of the session of the
LEGISLATURE rumors have been ahoat from
time to time that an extra session would have
TO be called within the next few months.
During the past few months this rumor has
to some extent gained in strength and the
possibility of an extra session was yesterday
considered more seriously in some quarters
than ever before. When | asked prominent
Democrat who has his headquarters
at the Capitol building how lie could
substantate such rumor, he told
me that there We're various reasons why an
extra session might be called. In the first
place there was the oyster question: which
was by no means settled by the passage of
the oyster laws during the recent session.
However. it was understood at the time that
the measures were by no means perfect. but
they were passed because they were the best
bills that had yet been introduced.
The lease of the oyster grounds provided
for in the act can only be carried out after
the survey of the natural oyster rocks has
been completed and this viii! not be done be-
fore the end OF this summer. Consequently
any defects of the bill will not be felt until
next year, and then 1t would be seen 10 be an
easy matter 10 wait for remedy until the
Legislature convenes again in reg ular session.
As another reasen why en- extra session
might become necessary the State debt ques-
ton has been mentioned But up to the pres
additional legislation. According to the pro-
visions of the existing law the refunding IF
the bonds Is 10 be done before July lst and
in case this date has arrived before tie trans
action has been accomplished, the State Debt
Commission has the power to extend
the time for six months longer. At any event
no legislation would be required before the
end Of the present year. l am informed,
however, from reliable source that the bonds
collected AT the instigatiOn of the OlcOtt COM
mittee are at present on the ocean. on the
way TO this country. and it is therefore rea-
sonable to suppose that the matter will be
settled long before July lst.
Then, again. II is SAID that number of bills
that failed TO become laws during the last
session are of sufficient Importance 10 war
rant the calling OF an extra session. Among
these bills is one introduced by Colonel j.
Catlett Gibson. of Culpeper. which provides
for an increase OF the pay of the members Of
the Legislature and IT'S officers. The present
law allows the members a compensation of a
per day or 1850 per session, and $3.50 for an
extra session. Ii Is admitted by all that this
COMPENSATION is mere pittance, and Mr..
GlbsOn's bill raised the pay of the members
to 1850 per session and 1925 for an extra ses
sion.
Should an extra session be called it would
become necessary TO fill vacancy in the
delegation from this city, which has occurred
by the nomination of Mr. j. Taylor Stratton
for the Common Council, for with his Qualif-
cation as a member Of the Council his term
OF office as a member of the House of Dele.
gates Id superseded. according to the proyi-
sion OF the Constitution OF Virginia. which
reads as follows.
Members Of common councils shall hold
no other Office IN cities and no city officer
shall hold seat IN the General Assembly,