The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-02-04
THE WORK OF
THE LEGISLATURE
Few Bills of General Interest Have
Been Passed.
IMPORTANT MISUNDERSTANDING.
The Movement Looking to Holding a
Constitutional Conycntion-Grcat
Fight Over Proposed New Rich
nlond Line to Washington.

The Legislature Will adjourn in about
a month. Two-thirds Of the session has
been spent. The remaining days will be
busy cncs.
There has been very little legislation
of public interest enacted. Two bills that
have attracted much abortion have been
placed uIcn the statute-books. One lss
the Epps measure to require railroad
companies to provide separate coaches or
separate apartments in cars for the white
and the black races. This act goes into
effect on the first of next July. The
Mathews bill requiring steamboat COM
parties tc separate the races on steam
boats has also become a law.
Tho other measure referred to which is.
central in its application is the one en-
largins the powers of the State Board of
Agriculture and providing for more
thorough inspection of fertilizers,
a number of bills have been passed,
making changes in the Code, but the gen.
eral public has but little interest in
them. Many acts have been passed in
cooperating companies to transact bust
ness, but. as already stated, there has
BEEN very little general legislation in the
strict acceptance Of the term.
MEN ARE CONSERVATIVE
This Legislature seems to be a very
conservative one. Certainly no radical
legislation has yet been enacted. There
are :. number of measures in which the
public, as a rule, feels an interest pend
ing in the Senate or the House or in the
committees.
The Parks employers liability act has
passed the House by 2 very close vote.
What its fate will be in the Senate re-
mains to be seen A similar measure
went through the lower branch at the
J.r+ s.-o Eo1 3y,4 !, Ccp-
ate. notwithstanding the brilliant fight
made for it by Senator McIlwaine and
others. The bill passed the House two
years ago by Il larger majority than it
received last Friday.
THE CONVENTION.
Probably the Elost important measure
that will pass the General Assembly Will
be the Flood joint resolution to submit
20 the voters on the fourth Thursday in
next May the question of calling a con-
stitutional convention. 1t has been de-
tcrmined to make this a Democratic party
issue as far as the action of the Demo-
cratic caucus can do so. The Democrats
in the General Assembly are pledged to
use their best endavors to have the propo-
sition adopted by the people at the polls.
There Will have to be n State conven-
ton in the spring to elect delegates to
the National Democratic Convention.
Some of the party leaders favor the hold
lHes VI ILLS iiectlilE III liic lollcl Idl ol
April in order that it may take action
concerning the call for the convention.
In other words. it is desirable for the
State convention to approve Of the action
of the caucus in making this a party
issue.
AN EXTRA SESSION.
Should the convention scheme carry
at the May election 1t is probable the
Legislature will be convened in extra ses-
sion at once to make provision for tho
holding of the convention and the cleo
ton of delegates to that body. Then
there will have to be an election for dele
gates, and the convention will probably
be held in the fall
The advocates of the convention, as a
rule, are anxious that the new constitu-
ton be drafted as early ns practicable
NOW that the agitation has begun in
earnest.
There are number of important meas
ares yet to be disposed Of. One Is Sena-
tor Barksdales bill to prohibit and pun
ish the corrupt use of money in elections. !
1t is not believed this act will pass at |
this session, but there are quite number /
who thing it will eventually become |:
law in this State.
TRAVELLING AUDITORS.
Senator Glass bill providing for travel |!
ing auditors to examine the accounts of |
all officers who are charged with the col !
lection of moneys for the Commonwealth, !
is yet to be considered. It has very !
earnest supporters and as far as has de- |
veloped there is no opposition to the OBJ |
ject sought to be attained.
The greatest fight of the whole session |
will be over the proposition to sell out
the States holdings in the Richmond, I
and Potomac road, and ,
grant a charter to a company to build
parallel line to Washington. This matter
VIII be considered by the Senate Commit
tee on Roads next Tuesday afternoon.
There are many who advocate rival
line, but. on the other hand, there Is
strong opposition to the States dispos-
Ing Of stock that is paying SO handsome
~.