Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1902-12-04
NOTES FROM THE
STATE CAPITOL
Bill introduced to Repeal Prohibition
Law Passed at Last Session.
COMPANY STORE BILL is KILLED.
John s. Wise Case is Dismissed. Other
Bills introduced. News Notes Gen
orally as Seen by Correspondent.

orally as Seen by Correspondent
Richmond, Va, Dec. 1.-Two bills have
been introduced in the House of Delegates
TO repeal my prohibition law passed at the
last session for the counties of Giles, Taze-
well, Buchanan and Dickinson. The pat
rons of these bills to repeal, are Mr.. Full
ton, of Wise ,and Capt. Gent, of Russell.
think it is due these gentlemen that if any
of their constituents think the temperance
cause in our section is to be imperled by
such invidious legislation, that these, their
representatives, should be informed at
once as to the position the good people of
Wise and Russell occupy Personal letters
from representatives of the best people in
. those counties to these gentlemen will
have a helpful influence on these bills. At
would be very discouraging indeed,f the
temperance people will not ia ke time to
rite letter to uphold the law which pro-
hbits both the manufacture and sale Of
LIQUOR in four counties of this Common.
wealth.
The Folkes Bill, prohibiting Company
Ste es," was killed in committee. While
his i'll was considered too drastic, it is
str ugly in the minds of large majority
of TIE members of the General Assembly
that n.1ny of these stores need regulating.
If compsints continue to reach here of the
injustice Suffered by employees through
the company store, there will be trouble
yet before this legislature adjourns Since
the defeat of tfts bill, another has been in
troduced by Mr., Folkes requiring semi
monthly cash payments to employees. L
believe this bill will pass
Chief Justice Fuller dismissed the cases
brought by Jno. S. Wise to test the validi-
ty of Virgnia's new Constitution. 1t was
my good fortune to hear the argument IN
these cases.. 1t now seems to be under
stood that Mr.. Wise's next move will be
to sue the registrars and judges of election
for damages in cases where persons have
been improperly refused their rights. In
3. my judgment the question involved will
be passed upon in this way. The friends
of the new Constitution may well have
&grave apprehensions as to the fate Of the
suffrage article when this test is made.
l have great hopes of obtaining fair
election law at, this session. The desire
seems to possess the minds of the best
men in the General Assembly, to have fair
election laws.
Several bills have been introduced as to
the method of appointing justices of the
peace and Commissioners Of the Revenue.
Also some talk about how to select free
school trustees. On all of these questions
I stand for election by the people. 1t
seems likely that this will become the law.
This legislature is sore on the question of
appointments by anybody. If the people
will speak and write to their representa-
tives on this subject they may be able to
save Themselves a few privileges yet. l
have prepared bill for the election and
fixing the jurisdiction of justices which l
think will commend itself to'the people of
our section. Especially in the 22nd Judi
clal District where it will take two judges
to attend to the business, do we need
to greatly enlarge the jurisdiction of the
justices? Never have the people been
more interested in the work of the General
Assembly than they are now. There has
never been time when wise suggestions
made by constituents would receive great
er consideration than now. In order to
awaken interest in the problems now con-
fronting the lawmakers of Virginia, l
shall from time to time call the attention
of the people to these things through the
columns of the Republican"
One very important change will likely
be made in the school system. The trail
of the political serpent which has for 80
long cursed and crushed our free schools
may now be largely obllterated by placing
the power of appointmen OF the Boards Of
Visitors of our educational institutions in
the hands of the Supreme Court instead of
having the Boards appointed by the Gov
ernor. The State Board of Education will
be composed of the Governor, Attorney
General and Supt. of Public instruction.
The latter to be elected by the people.
To these are added three experienced edu-
Gators to be elected every four years by
the Senate, from,a Inst of eligibles from the
faculties of certain state schools and nomi-
mated by the respective boards of visitors.
To my mind this is exceedingly important
The people ought to clamor loud for the
appointment of these boards by the Court
of Appeals instead Of by the Governor
]. N. HARMAN.