The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-07-16
TIKGINT4'S TURE.
Elected on Somewhat Primitive Plan, The
Basis of Representation Being Uncertain.

"
BASIS of Represent ution Being Uncertain.
Virginia is tho only State the legislative
sessions in which begin in December. There
are two branches Of tho Richmond Legislature.
the duration Of the sessions OF which is ninety
days. The Senators are elected for a term Of
four years in alternate biennial contests and
the Delegates are clcct"l bicnnay for two
years the salary Of the members OF both
branches being tn" sam". S. Il day or MAXI
mum OF $3.50 n session. There is to be gem
eral election OF members of the Richmond Leg
islature this year and the members chosen will
participate. as will the Senators who hold
over" in the choice OF United States Senator
to succeed Mr.. Martin. Democrat, against whom
vigorous contest is being made by other
asplrants. Congressman Jones. Fitzhugh Lee,
john 'oode and Attorney General Montague
Virginia is the only State which is divided
not into counties or parishes. as the case may
lectivrly there are III. Each city in Virginia
is a separate political division and the cities.
elsewhere, are distinct from them and vote as
counties. In tn" division Of Senate districts,
cities and counties are roughly Joined without
reference to population or boundaries Thus
IN this years election a Senator will be chosen
from Bedford fom1y Which is n the Blue Ridge
BE- chosen from district made up OF Elizabeth
city. Warwick county, York county james City.
liam county; There Is in Virginia. Richmond
cry and Richmond county. RchmOnd city
elected its State senator two years ago; Rlch-
mond county, Joined with other counties for
the purrosc. elects senator this year
In the matter Of the choice Of Delegates
There are 100 Delegates In the Virginia House
"a Lower Assembly, the same peculiar view Of
political division prevails. In New York. Penn
sylvania, and IN most other states each Slnty,
however small its population or area. is en-
titled, except in the case OF Hamilton county.
New York. which when admitted did not have.
and has not now. population enough I r the
purpose, To- ono representative at least In Vir-
ginia, however no such rule prevails. Acounty
may have two representatives IN tn" House Of
Delegates at kiChm Dnd and may he Joined
with another county or with another city In u
district having one representative. Elizabeth
CITY. Va, which includes the town OF Hauip-
ton; Is Joined for purposes OF representation
with Accomack, sixty miles distant, and Rich
mOnd city, which has five Delegates, is not
joined with Hit hmOnd county or with Henrico
county, which adjOns il.
1h"re are forty members OF the Virginia
Senate, but thirty-SeVen o. tho districts into
which tho state Is Ovid ri mr." made up Of me
or NOR" cities nr counties, or portions OF cities
the state which have ono senator zach. the
Senate aud tho county a0UudareS being tho
sam" in theS,'. il Is by reason ~ his irr"gu-
!nrity in legislative divisions that Tia" recent
agitation irr IN" election 81 Senate rs by pOIu-
lar vote took its 10. IN" claim hcing nado
that Senator opposed 10y Il majority OF the
vOterS in tho Dld Dominion could under tho
l"tlve majority and without any recourse to
the control ~ the voter
The requisites for voting In NirEln are resi-
dence Of one year in the state and three months
10 the county or city, II citizens VI the CnitSd
StsteA