The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-01-20
SAVE NAMES NJ N '|'E|":,. {
OF SOLDIERS |. / L:
An Exceedingly Important Bill
Creatingsa--p apartment NJ
.tro4uced y Yesterday;
COLLECT ALL HISTORIC DATA

gHof. lip. S. blackburn Smith, member
Of the House of Delegates from Clarke.
Will to-day introduce an exceedingly inn
portant bill designed Tor the collection
and preservation Of Confederate records
and finally all data relating prominent
~ to the history Of the State.
Virginia Is at7last waking from her
slumbcr in this matter. and finds that
she. Maryland and Missouri stand alone
CT all the Southern States In taking care
OF the rosters OF their soldiers md the
essential facts Of their history. Even
Florida. which contributed out Of hcri
numerical weakness only q few thou
sand soldiers to the Southern cause IS
taking care that their names shall not
DO lost and that her military record IN
this conflict shall not be forgotten.
Judge George Z. Christian referred in a
speech at Lee Camp last night to Vir-
g!nias hitherto hardness in his matter
and warmly comm Senator Daniel
for his interest and effective efforts IN
making amends for tho neglect OF the
past.
Tho matter was ip formally discussed
yesterday by members OF the General
Assembly who met Immediately after
tho adjournment OF tho House a letter
from Senator ,Danie4 urging prompt ac-
- -" AIM AND PURPOSE.
The bill; which Mr.. Smith, who Is the
chairman Of the History Committee Of
the Sons Of Veterans, will introduce, has
been drawn Up, though, subject to minor
changes. It best explains tho purpose
and aim Of Itself, 4 saying;
'The objects and purposes OF the said
department are the care and custody Of
Official archives B the collection OF ma
tcrIals bearing on tho history Of the
state and OF tho territory included there
in. from the earliest times; the COM
pletion and publication of tho States
official records ana other historical ma
ter!als; tho diffusion Of knowledge in
reference to the history and resources
OF the State; the encouragement OF his
torcal work and research ana the per-
fcrmance Of such other acts and re-
nuIrements-ns may DO enjoined by law"
Tho proposed measure provides for. a
board OF ten trustees ono from each con-
gresslonol district, requested TO be ~.
pointed by ne spb}eet 70 tas
OF $500 a year, with $500 for Incidental q
expenses, The Governor, ,ex-ofllelo. !, !. y
made memher % te comp s tIo Xc.
appoint appoined and nd meet Tor organization in
ten days from the passage Or the ACT,
Other Important Duties,
(, other duties 81 the director ' says the
~, "rhhnta ' an oftlciai and statistical rcgste,
OF the stnte OF Virginia shall be compiled
every every, two years BY the director TO con;
TAN q brief ssetSesb q ~ 59o o segesa
from rom v HIid ths Supreme Court judgess
tho members OF the senate and HOUSE I1s,a, s, o.
e H M s ana e g Htys o
Gals, (3) listsa'or all State Inst tdtions
With officials al State and county popu'
lat i y and election statistics. and ~ mis-,
celaneous slatlsticsi and sald reslisd5eeil
copies = for puf free dIstrIbuton, tue printing
aud binding to be paid for as other print
Ing and binding heretnsbeffoore, g. fEIote
private Citizens behind It, doubtless the
Bin will be passed promptly and With al
essentially features preserved, ~