The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-02-28
TIE COST Oh WIND.

one Of The greatest drawbacks 10 pros
peritv and to comfortable existence IN
the West are the terrible effects OF cy-
clones and tornadoes. which often sweep
the plains. leaving death and destruction
in their paths. In this respect nature
has been kind to Virginia: but while we
have been spared this constant menace to
life and property. we are cursed with
a class Of wind-storms whose effects are
not so apparent. but are. we believe
quite as disastrous 10 the best interests
of our State as the cyclones and lorna
does are TO Kansas and Nebraska.
Here nature is beneiicent. but man Is
terrible. The storms of legislative wind
which break forth with distressing fire.
quancy in the halls of our Capitol
equal in violence and in injury the rude
Boreas OF the North and West and in
defiance OF pressure OF public business
continue TO rage with terrific fury, and
even when no answer cometh. they
beat against the wasting strand and
murmur themselves away"
1t is plain that many OF the laws gov
erning private and public business in Nir-
ginla are absolutely unsuited to present
economic conditions. and the failure TO
remedy the evils in these laws must
continue TO work great hardships upon all
business interests and seriously retard the
development and progress of our State.
Bills are introduced at every session OF
the Legislature providing remedies for
these troubles. These bills reach the cal
endars. bat there they arc either talked
10 death. or more frequently. are not
considered at all. Tor the biennial legis-
lative wind-storm breaks loose. and then
nothing can stop II but final adjournment
What Is the occasion, anyhow. for all
Of this sophomore Jabber? Certainly il
cannot be claimed that IL changes a vote
one way or the other. IL these speeches
were printed and distributed. as are the
speeches in Congress. there might be
some excuse for them on political grounds
but they are not printed IN any form,
nor are they even heard. for the opening
of one OF these set speeches" is signal
for an exodus OF the members TO the
nearest place OF relreshment. leaving the
speaker 10 exhaust his throat and lungs
upon vacant chairs.
These human whirlwinds would be lu-
dicrous were they not so expensive.
session OF the General Assembly costs the
state about $1,000 ana 10 lasts about
seventy-nye days. not including Sundays
and holidays. making the cost about $1,000
per day. At liberal estimate the mem
bers 90 not work over ten hours per
day. including committee service, thus
making the cost 10 the Stale 500 per
hour Upon this basis st is hard 10 osti-
mate how much OF the peoples money
goes away tn legislative wind each ses-
sion. when We consider thai these fur
ffes prevent much needed legislation. and
waste days which cost the people 800
per hour. we arc forced 10 the concur
sion that they arc more expensive than
the western cyclones.
II is but fair. however. TO many hard
working and patient members 10 say that
the legislative cyclone is the exception
,n both houses. and that he is as OBJ
1ectionablc TO them as to the public. who
want business attended 20. There are.
indeed. some freesilver members who
after a specimen Of this bombast bun
combe. Will admit that silence is golden