Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-11-02

- g-'.ta''ce &c the eau OF the late Con-
nal Convention. and is made neces-
by he proclamation of a new or
r, 'aw for The State, Usually but one
zzss77 81 each General Assembly is held
-nE The TWO years of its life. but al
re- 5s .hers have been two sessions, and
me t5ir5 VIII continue far into next
yasr
Tha-s viii be 3 few changes in the per-
rel Of the body. and possibly one
change politically. owing to the probable
e-Etoa # q Democrat to succeed Mr. J.
y. 1iaPeak- OF Carroll county. Mr.. Don
Halssy. ore OF the welI-known younger
members OF the bar, viii succeed Senator
a-,er Glass as the member Of the upper
r5use from Lynchburs and Campbell \
e 7.5Eoera5 VII be returned to succeed Cap
zs1 J. c. Gent. member of the House
rom RussaG county. who recently re-
tg7ad-
An Interesting Question.
whether any Of the members who de-
c5zsd 10 take the oath = The short sum
r-er session viii be ex ed or not re-
mains to he seen. AT the late summer
session Speaker Ryan. OF the House an
"-2l7ced that he would proceed slowly in
Enforcing the constitutional Inhibition
against The service in that body of any
who had not taken the oath to support
ths new Constitution. Several Republi-
wars took The oath. with certain speci-
ned reservations. II is probable that all
those who have not done so will sub
s--tbe TO 1t without qua1.fica ton. If not,
there may be g dramatic scene in the
=ease
So fzr as can be ascertained in ed-
Tz1ce the session is going 10 be quiet
md busy one. devoid OF the sensational
i IS impossible 10 foresee wilas measures
nay be proposed, however. that may
arouse great feeling The bulk Of the
~9rk 70 be done Is OF laborious nature,
a5.aly to be disposed OF largely in com
1iJtees.
Revise the Statutes.
Many Of the statutes Of the old Code
lave been rendered obsolete by the many
changes i'm the Constitution. All of these
Ill have 10 be p~uned out. and many
must be superseded by new legislation in
Uniformity with and designed TO carry
aat the organic Ia7. Altogether the work
Till require q thorough overhaULng and
-svisior Of the statutes. Many Of the
nav statutes to be provided must be
6ra v71 with great care. and the best judg-
T-eut and powers Of dictation viii be
needed in the work. The burden Will fall
g9oa the lawyer members who. In the
gaumfttea rooms. must shape the statutes
50 that they viii mean just what is in
ter6ed. neither more nor less.
Ali through the Constitution the en-
fQ~oeraeat q the provisions is denpendent
,non ieEisiati enactment The work Of
a7Ndtnc this legislation viii be appor
toned ancng the various committee as
aa1allv as possible.
tn TO Christmas.
The General Assembly will have been
N session scarcely moe than a month
R.aa9 the Christmas holiday season comes,
sut an adjournment Of ten days or more
ViH probably be had then. Before Christ.
mas fl is not thought much more may be
d71e than the division of the work and
sis reference to committees and the orsani-
z8tton oI the committees and their divis
Ion into subcommittee.
After the holiday recess the body will
Eet down to work in earnest, and the
Indications are that it will continue labor
t-s for months 10 come. a few Of the
more snugu.ne estimate that the Legisla-
tgre mi.I complete its work and adjourn
f0Gr or five months but the majority
rrate that il viii continue at least
s.N months. and probably longer There
no srait to the length OF the term, and,
therefore. no need TO hurry. though few
nl7rarers are anxious TO finish as soon as
possible This is the first tine in a great
rzzl Years that a General Assembly has
@ ne opportunity to sit Indefinitely on
t- pay and this Is rendered necessary
r. ne great volume CT work TO be done
shorter Sessions to Follow.
Is result of the ot5eration of the new
Constitution q great deal of the business
formerly tnrusted to the legislative has
lssn taken out OF the hands Of that body.
and hereafter the sessions will be greatly
S1rtcned. For instance, the General AS
sgT0iy win no longer grant charter bills.
#aash in the past have consumed so
moon Of the time OF The lawmakers.
.rse viii be considered and passed upon
1 the Corporation Commission. or by the
oo.-sg Many OF the stubbornest fights.
5r1 hose that attracted to the ca pital the
aFeesr lobb es were precipitated by ap-
ra-aton for charters. This is all dis
neEsed with Furthermore the introduc-
t2r Of private relief bills which hereto
7re numbered The calendar. will no lon
ger he had. The courts are given power
70 consider and act upon them.
These Mean Fights.
Considerable general legislation. in ad-
eion 10 that necessitated by the new
HyasGtliion. Viii be introduced at this
sss.an. Several bills OF great interest 10
.e+.a'ssI VIII De piltI'b. dibciiS s''SH'
me p-opoaing an extension of the corpo-
sle limits and another regulating the
granting Of liquor licenses and granting
2sEnlSs on 10 stll within certain specinea
l'3ls on Sunday. Both Of these Wiii
.-'ey precp'tate stubborn fights. and De
s1r OCCASION for lively and protrac'eh
a'iaas in committee when the measures
f'.grfed 10 are taken up. There WIN be
considerable legislation Of a local nature
's.at!#g TO other cities and counties
II has been intiaated that an amend
Heat 10 the new, State Constitution WI!
pe offered, the design OF which is TO per-
ie'la'c the operation Of the understand
ing clause as a condition OF registration,
aao therefore as Limitation on suffrage.
ms Will certainly provoke long ana
po%effui battle with an avalanche OF ora
.oFy ard debate, II the amendment is OF
Tered