The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-04-26
STATUS OF
THEIR WORK
Legislature May Not Adjourn
on the 18th Of May.
A DIVERSITY OF OPINION
Many Think That 'fthe Body Takes
Recess on the Date Named Much
Work Will Be Left In
finished.
A DIVERSITY OF OPINION

Although the General Assembly has
adopted resolution providing for re-
cess from May 18th. until late In the au-
tumn, there Is now grave doubt whether
the imperative business before that body
can be disposed of by date agreed upon.
Whie there are many who express the
hope that the work can BIO disposed OF
In time for adjournment until October,
there Is none who expresses well ground
ed, confidence that this will be done.
The purpose of tho adjournment lie to
permit the consideration Of the great
mass Of legislation drafted by the stand
Ing committees OF the two bodies to b>
revised and completed by the Committee
on Final Revision and Adjustment. ms
committee will work In vacation. and
resolution appropriating $500 to defray
Its expenses has already passed botn
houses. When the General Assembly
determined early In the session 10 UNI
dertake n complete rvision of the Code,
the work was divided among the regular
standing committees Of the two houses,
and by them liz turn apportioned among
eubcommittecs, sometimes sitting as joint
subcommittee. and in some cases working
independently OF the committees OF the
other house. Fer months now these COM
mittees and subcommittee have been
mt work. Several of the most important
committees have completed and submitted
their work to the tw obodes and had
It passed upon and approved. Others have
not been SO Industrious or so expeditions.
Many Reports Pending.
In fact. many OF the most important
committees are yet to make reports OF
the portions of the Code assigned t0-them.
Tho work OF Code revision was under
taken In connection with that OF con-
forming the existing statutes to the Con-
stitutIon. This toa, proved n more
formidable task than many anticipated,
In order to ascertain the status OF the
work and the prospects OF adjournment
ut the time fixed. The Times-Dispatch
has made n canvass OF the members OF
the two houses and OF the committee
chalrmcn. and gotten statements from
them as to what Is yet to DO done.
In the House several OF tho most impor-
tant committees. with large volume OF
work assigned to them. have not yet
submitted their reports. This IS true Of
the Committee on Chesapeake and its
Tributaries. the Committee on General
Laws. the Committee for Courts OF JUS
tice and others.
The House Committee on Counties,
Cities and Towns, which has charge
and county government. though near
1y ready. has not yet made Its
report. Nor has the Committee on
Privileges and Elections made It's re-
port. 1t has a mass OF statutory provi-
lions perfecting the operation OF the new
suffrage plan and the condutc OF cleo
tons and primary elections, ali or nearly
all which will elicit some discussion on
the floor OF the two houses.
The House Committee for Schools and
Colleges has about finished its work
but will hold another meeting next
Tuesday before tho work Will be- ready
Tor submission
The House Committee on Roads and
internal Navigation is far from done vet.
and has among other things a general
road law to agree upon and many other
matters Of moment to tho members and
to the people generally.
The House Committee on Asylums and
Prisons also has some work yet to be
done. hut has about completed the draft
of the work.
Finance and Banks. under the leader
ship Of Its energetic chairman, Hon. w.
il. Boaz. has long ago completed Its
work. and 1t has been disposed OF.
Views on Adjournment.
In the Senate the work has been but
little more advanced than in the House.
Judge Mann chairman OF the Privileges
md Elections Committee. when asked
rs to the status of that committees work
Eaid: u think we will be up by May
18th"
Mr.. McIlwaine. chairman OF the Com
ullttee for Courts of Justice. said: "Our
york is all In. We are simply waiting on
Mo House Committee. see no reason
Why we can't get away by the 18TH"
Mr.. Barksdale, chairman of the Com
nittee on General Laws. said: "a partial
report Of the committee Is already In.
10 not think we can possibly get away
by the 18th, and only wish we could
Mr.. Massle chairman of the Committee
on Roads and Internal Navigation, said:
''There are several important matters yet
10 be disposed of by the committee.
among them the Angel bill as to demur-
rage charges upon railroads, and the Clay