The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1901-01-08
TUESDAY.......JANUARY 8, 1901.
Weather forecast for Fred
erickS6urg and Vicinity.
Colder and fair Tuesday.
West TO Northeast aoiRdS.
DANGER AHEAD.

In two weeks time the solons will
have assembled in Richmond and the
wheels Of State Legislation will be
ready to start. What they may
grind out no man can foretell. 1t is
not likely that much heed will be
given to the recommendations of Gov
ernor Tyler, as conveyed in his COM
ing message, unless the tenor Of
them happens to strike the public
chord. If the Executive should be
fortunate enough to do this then his
wishes may go. for the people and
the press have much weight as
should be the case-with our Legis-
lature. To the conservative citizen
and the vari-us branches of home
industries the biennial sessions of
the Legislature are fraught with
much perturbation, and it is not sur
prising that so many view the com
ing special session with just as much
snxiety-becsuse it is believed that
every member will go to Richmond
with one or more pet measures in his
pocket and that the food gates of
general legislation will be opened.
We believe, without doubt, that
the general concensus of opinion in
the State is against taking up gener-
al legislation and many good ar
ticles have appeared on the subject,
one of the best of them being that of
State Senator Opie, of Stsunton,
which recently appeared in the Dis
patch. Wereproduce it here as it so
we'll covers the ground:
Feeling assured that we are all act.
mated by a patriotic desire 90 pursue
that line Of conduct which Will pro-
duce the greatest good TO the Com
monwealth, desire to make few
suggestions through your columns to
my colleagues in the General Assem-
bly,. There are quite number Of
members In both houses who agree
with me, that Is would be both unwise
snd detrimental to go into general
legislation In the coming extra session.
Why should we again contend over the
various measures which were 80 vigor-
ously contested during the regular SEES
sion? The insurance bill, the pension
bill. valuation bill, telephone bill, EN-.
ploysrs' liability bill. penitentiary bill,
and many others Of minor importance
would all be fought over again, and as
we are the same body of men IL is
more than probable that the result
would be thesame. Moreover after our
organic law is changed and adopted
new Code will necessarily follow
Then why enact any more statutory
laws until after the constitutional con.
yentionf Then, again. should we IN.
wisely open the door Of she treasury TO
applicants for appropriations there will
be no funds to defray the expenses .of
the convention.
"Without going into the merits Of
any of the appropriations that will be
asked for. I will merely observe that il
we grant one we will be compelled to
grant Others, Therefore the eafest
Dian ia to grant none. Ii Is easier to
refuse TO open the door than it will be
10 close Is after 10 10 once opened. If
Won grant an appropriation TO the pen
itentiary. what will you say when the
new Confederate pensioners ask 10 be
put on an equal footing with the old
pensionersa What when our public in
stitutions ask for additional appropria-
tions to meet their current expenses?
with these cold facts confronting Us
and the additional interest on the pub
lie debt to be met, let us releRate all to
the regular session next December.
'Let us ct the extra session deter
mipe the time, place. and number for
the constitutional convention and I'LL
the vacancies caused by death or other
wise since our last session, and adjourn.
\ .sWe were upjustly criticised on ao-
count OF Some OF cur measures passed
az the regular session; let us not cause.
by unwise action, 9 renewal OF this ad-
verse criticism. Respectfully.
"John N. Opie."