The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-01-24
LAWMAKERS OF VIRGINIA
Old Dominion Legislature ConveneS
i'm Extra Session at Richmond
lis Chief Purpose % Consider Mat
tcrs Relating to the constitutional
for Improvement. ia the Mes
sage Submitted by Governor Tyler


terday al noon for the first time since
1887. The obje-t in bringing this body
together ii extraordinary session IS TO
make arrangements for assembling the
constitutional convention already ordered
by vote OF the people When Lieuten-
ant Governor EchoIs called the Senate 10
order 1hfrty-eIght of the forty members
of thar body gere IL their seats in the
House eighfy-seyea OF one hundred dele
gates responded TO the roll call
The session opens with q determination
on the part OF the Senate not 10 consider
any other matters than those relating to
the constitutional convention It also
provides that there shall be no local leg
islation Of d character TO which there
may be substantial cntroveFsy. The COM
mittees are directed not to report any
bills or resolutions other than these re
ferring to the constitutional convention
The House. on the other hand, mani
tests q disposition TO 90 into general leg
islation. In that body Mr. Embrey. of
fredericksburg introduced three bills
amending the charter of that city. Under
a suspension Of the rules these bills were
passed
Senate providing for assembling the con-
stitutionaI convention. One OF these was
that of Nr. Flood The other and com
petiHg measure was introduced by Mr..
Sands Of Henrieo. This places the repre-
sensation n the convention at eight-two
from eacn OF the forty State Senat oriaI
districts.
The tine Of meeting Of the convention
named ~ the Sands bill is August in
of Fr.T BOD in
Flood S. The pay Of members, the cleo
tiOn en- the fourth Thursday in May and
other details are similar IN both meas
ures-
The following message from Governor
J. Hoge Tyler was presented il both
houses and read:
The Message
In obedience 10 the voice of The people
expressed at The polls On the fourth
Thursday in May last. and in accordance
with z manifest desire Of a majority Of
the people of the State, you have been
convened IN extra session to arrange for
the assembling Of z constitutional con-
VentIon 10 remodel our organic laws.
This duty viii. l am sure receive your
first and most faithful attention, and the
responsibilities Il imposes will be met
In the same wise and patriotic manner
which has ever characterized the repre-
sentatives of The people OF Virginia.
1t is not within my province to outline
the plan on which the convention should
he organized am sure your own con-
illusions viii be wise and best after you
shall have given the subject due consider
alton I would only urge that the strict
est economy be exercised and a plan
adopted which VIII be most economical
and Al the same time consistent with a
suitable representation of the varied in
IF he a Ea
the liberty OF urging as small a repre-
sentatiOn as IN the wisdom Of the General
Assembly may be deemed best. In view
Of the supreme importance of this ques-
ton and owing TO the limited time of
your session I VIII bring 10 your aJIen-
ton only matters demanding immediate
consideration
I am glad 10 inform you that the af-
fairs Of the State are in good condition.
The reports Of the various departments
show commendable devotion 10 duty on
the part OF The officers and various boards
of managers of our State institutions.
PenitentIary Enlargement.
In my last message I had the honor 10
urge the necessity for the enlargement Of
the penitenJ- airy This is still q matter Of
pressing importance, and IS q subject that
= receiving a great deal OF public atten-
tiOu. am aware that the question has
tion and debate. It Is quite probable that
during the limited time Of an extra ses-
sion you may not be able TO give 10 this
subject the attention II deserves, and
would, therefore suggest that a commit
tee be appointed to investigate the whole
matter and report to the next session Of
the Legislature what would be bsst 10 10
II regard 10 the enlargement Of the peni-
Tertiary. and OF what plan. and also 10
what extent I am sure If 8 committee
would investigate this question. especially
during the hot summer months. and see
the suffering and inconvenience and dan
ger TO which The prisoners are exposed on
account OF their crowded condition they
would yield 10 the reasonable demands Of
Justice and report in favor Of some better
system for caring for those unfortunate
people, Quite q number are kept at the
fan all in fact. that can be spared from
tic contract under which those in the
penitentiary are worked. but Il is impos-
sible 10 relieve the congestion. / have
thought that in view OF future ccntiugen-
cies that may arise. as well as Of needs
ths- do now exist, II might be well for
the State to sell the present farm and buy
another somewhat nearer, either above or
below the city or else. bUy more land ad-
1acent 20 that already owned and that il
might be best 10 remove the peuiLentiary
building or erect more buildings on the
farm II the present contract IS continued
iLe --E m fnc sLOe SnOp could De opera ted
10 mutual advantage by having the TWO
together Al different times the number
Of hands required in the shops and On the
farm varies. and IL might be that with iu-
dicicus management either one when not
pressed could supply needed help to the
other There are certainly strong reasons
Why new buildings should not be attached
10 the cd ones They You'd soon become
infested and ne torture 70 the prisoners
would be as great In the new cells as is
now fell IN the old ones. New and modern
cells that csu be kept clean is one Of the
crying Mods Of the institution The
grounds upon which re buildings now
stand are valuable ard would 90 far to-
ward defrayiEg the expense Of making =
change. II removal shogld be deemed ad-
yisable.
CnEjfaI Repairs Urged
This whole question could be thor
oughIy digested and certainly more salts
factory Information could be obtained by
a committee than BIZ the Legislature in
the short period Of its session. and espe-
claIIy with 50 many other matters de
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THE. DOCTORS WIFE