Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-01-15
An Industrious Legislature.

Ii Is the customary thing for the people
10 abuse the weather. the newspapers,
Congress. and the Legislature. For the
first three we shall offer no defence Just
now but we wish TO say for this Legs
Iature that II is as industrious body
of men as we have seen here FOR many,
many years The bills already passed
by II and put into the hands OF Governor
o'Ferrall are very considerable in number
and several of them are Of much public
Importance. All these have been passed
whist the committees of the two houses
have been hard at work investigating
subjects which they will report upon by
bills or otherwise later on.
Not only do We find that members are
willing TO work. but we find that they
have plenty OF capacity to deal with the
questions before them. The consideration
of matters i'm committee and the dis
cuss'ons that have taken place on tie
floors of the two houses impress US
with this fact.
II happens that there are as many
important measures before this General
Assembly as have been before any other
luring the past ten years. 1T will proba-
biy occur that all of these measures will
not be acted upon az the Dispatch would
nave them acted upon. but We are not
in the habit OF flying into a passion with
our friends who disagree with us. We
have our opinions, but we do not expect
that all the people win concur with us
all the time.
Yes. we can say Of this Legislature
that il is not only industrious and capable,
but that it is proceeding cautiously, and
sincerely wishes to serve the people well.
But If ii entirely succeeds in this respect
it will 10 what 10 other Virginia Legisla-
ture ever did, 90 tar as we know. When
It comes to dealing with election laws,
the matter of calling a constitutional con-
vention the appropriation of poney 10
meet fnis that, or the other demand,
!, Is but natural that there should be
differences OF opinion. Nevertheless, we
,hall lie much surprised If the public Go
not md that the record that this Legs
AZURE makes is highly creditable TO the
Commonwealth.
The average member-notwithstan1
popular impression to the contrary
) slow TO vote for new appropriations.
indeed. many members think IL their
bonnden duty to vote against all such
bills Now. while the Dispatch knows
that nothing but the closest economy
will carry Virginia through her engage
ments without an increase of taxation.
there are some new appropriations that
must be made If we would do our duty TO
the State One of these Is TO provide
more cell room for the male convcts in
the penitentiary The urgency for this
appropriation we could scarcely exagse-
rate II we would.
II the States finances permitted ii we
should like to see the Legislature provide
FOR building penitentiary No. ?; but we
are told that this would entail cost OF
lot less than $4,000, and that our States
revenues cannot now stand so great a
Drain upon them. Then the next best
thing is TO enlarge the penitentiary here.
10 that Operated in conjunction with the
State farm II may serve the States pur-
poses for the next ten or twelve years.
This can be done at a cost OF $4,000. And
what is more. this can be done under a
plan which will still leave open for the
future decision of the Legislature the
question whether the policy of the State
shall be in favor OF establishing peni-
Tertiary No. .. or Of enlarging the existing
prison. Our own view is that there should
be a new prison. and that II should be
located somewhere near Lynchburg or
Roanoke: but we must say that this is a
view that has as yet received no official
endorsement.
IT, through constitutional convention,
or BY amendments submitted to the people
by two Legislatures. or by acts of As
semby. the number of criminals sent
to the penitentiary is reduced. there will
: be no need for any more room than the
$4,000 will provide But IL, on the other
hand. the courts continue TO increase the
number OF penitentiary convlcts. it viii
Aeventually be for the Legislature TO say
what shall be done as 10 new pcnl-
vtcntiary.
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