The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1904-01-22
Richmond Letter.
Richmond. Va. Ian. IS. 100

Richmond, Va, Jan. Is, 1904.
Many people have been disposed t.
criticise the new Legislature because il
celebrated its succession to the "Lonl
Parliament" by almost Immediately
taking a recess Of three days, but in it:
day or two Of preliminary session II
has shown It's intention to transact q
great deal Of business by the important
and serious character Of the work it has
cut out for itself.
Many bills Of importance which fail
ed to pass the last Legislature have
been re-introduced. Among them are
Senator Anderson's bill providing for
the annexation by cities and towns of
suburban districts. This bill gives he
power Of annexation, virtually, to the
corporation judge of the city affected &.
The bill failed Of passage during the
last hours Of the past session, owing to
the vigorous fight made against it by
Hon. Thos. W. Gardner, Of Henrico.
1t may pass the present Legislature,
with some minor amendments, as its
two most determined opponents,
Messrs. Gardner and Mort, were not re-
elected to the House.
Another important bill which has
been re-intrOduced is Mr.. Cations bill
providing for au insurance bureau un.
der the supervision Of the Corporation
Commission, with Commissioner ell
ected by the General Assembly. When
this bill was first introduced, It was
supposed that it was done to provide a
good place for Col. Jos. Button, Secre-
tary Of the Senate, but subsequently
Col. Button declared that he would not
be a candidate for any position Until it
should be created. The bill passed the |
House, but was talked to death in the
senate by Senator Cogbill, who occu-
)ied the floor during the last two days
II the session, carrying on a solitary,
,ut successful fllibuster.
Should the bill now pass, as is pr,b-
bile, the contest for the Commissioner
hip, which is to pay salary Of S2iOO
year, it is thought will be between
'ol. Button and Mr.. f. G.. Akers, of
iynchburg, formerly chief clerk to the
railroad Commissioner.
Senator Phlegar and Senator Patte-
On are at work On general primary
i'll, which will shortly be presented
{ is understood that this will be even
lore stringent in its provisions than
ne Barksdale bill. Politicians who
'ok below the surface think that the
ltent Of the bill is to make primaries
u United States Senators a matter of
ate law, so that, if the opponents OF
ne primary system should be in the
lajority at the Democratic state con-
sntion this summer, it will be out of
leir power to nullify the action Of the
orfolk Convention, Of 1901, which
-ovided for primaries. If the bill,
hen presented, is seen to have this
lect, lively fight will be precipitat-
!, as it is no secret that the enemies OF
e primary system are extremely &C.
We and aggressive.
Though the Oyster himself does no
king, he is much talked about by
Irginia Legislators, and the present
eneral Assembly will prove no excep.
IN to the rule. Messrs. w. ID. Card.
sll and +. {. Jordan are likely TO
axe another vigorous attempt TO break :
e Baylor Survey. The bill will be
fore the body within ten days, and
lobby will again be full Of tidewater
ople, some strongly for-others as -.
ongly against-the proposed legis- il
ion. =
The expected happened at the Demo-
ltc joint caucus last Wednesday .
zen Capt. J. II. O'Bannon, the in '
mbent, defeated Mr.. Horace A. Haw. =
IS for Public Printer, by majority