Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1906-03-16
VIRGINlA'S
LEGISLATURE.

ILUlJLHAUNk.
WhirlWind FiniShatSatu
day Midnight Good
Things Done and Left
UndOne.
The regular session of the Virginia
General Assembly which came to close
Saturday night will be famed as one of
the busiest sessions of that body since
the war. 1t was remarkable for many
things, among others that no dog law
or drastic oyster legislation was pro-
posed. For some time past the men,
bers sat day and night almost in con-
tinuous session. A more consistently
Woodworking and hard-worked body of
men has probably not been gotten to-
gether within the past forty years. The
sion was terrific, and members were
more than willing to quit when the con-
stitutional limit of sixty days had been
reached. The pace was killing. In the
general scramble to rush pet measures
during the closing days. the one main
effort was to block legislation, not to
pass it. Many Delegate and Senator
viii spend the next two years explain
ing TO his constituents the reason why
his local bill did not become law. A
number Of good measures were enacted.
II the Legislature had done nothing
else it was worth while that they
helped immensely the public schools,
established a State highway COM
mission and adopted a system under
which jail-birds can be made to
work on the public roads. Liberal
appropriations were made for the public
schools, and all the public institutions
of learning well provided for. Sena-
tor Mann succeeded in having the law
which bears his name somewhat strength
ened, notwithstanding that he did not
get all the amendments he asked for.
In his inaugural address Governor
Swanson spoke of the close relations
that should exist between the executive
and the Legislative departments of the
State government, and His Excellency
invoked the cooperation of the law
makers in bringing success to the ad-
ministration. AS result, out of the
bills already presented to the Governor,
he has not returned single one without
his approval. Out of the approximately
100 bills offered in the two houses, it
is estimated that about two hundred
passed. These latter he read thoroughly
when submitted, but having kept track
of legislation so well during the session
he knew the status and purport of every
measure.
The Senate confirmed the following
nominations made by Governor Swan
son as members of the board of visitors
of William and Mary College: James N.
Stubs, of Gloucester; Thomas H.
Barnes, Suffolk; Robert M. Hughes,
Norfolk; d. Gardiner Tyler, Charles
City; Beverly d. Tucker, Norfolk, all
for the term of two years, and B. B.
Munford, Richmond; w. C. l.. Talia-
ferro, Hampton; ID. Smith, Gate City;
S. w. Somerville, fredericksburg;
RichardP. Barham, Petersburg, for the
term of four years.
The three men elected for member
ship on the State Board of Education
are j. l.. Jarman, principal of State
Farmville Normal; N. B. Tucker, of
Virginia Military Institute, and C. w.
Kent, of University of Virginia. The
votes stood: Jarman 33, Tucker &c,
Kent "a, DR.. Lyon G. Tyler 10, DIR. j.
M. McBryde g.:
All the real and personal property of
William & Mary College, at Williams
burg, has been conveyed to trustees and
it becomes the property of the. State, to
be cared for by the legislature
trustees.
The majority report, signed by four
of the Corporation investigating COM
mittee, suggested that Judge Crump
resign. The minority report, signed by
Senator Sears, was much milder and
was adopted by both Houses Of the
Legislature. On the strength of this
the next day the Commission, Judge
Crump chairman, discharged John A.
| Upshur, chief clerk to the commission,
at whose instance the investigation haG
been made.
A message received by the House il
the closing hours from the Senate, asked
that the rules be suspended and that {
bill be passed making it penal offens,
to tamper with or alter bills. In 4
moment the House was in an uproar. i
was rumored that several bills had beer
changed after leaving the committee
Mr.. Bland stated that some party O,
parties unknown, had added an amend
ment to his bill which, if it had not beer
detected, would have cost the CITY O.
Portsmouth half million dollars. TIL,
Senate bill to make the tampering witt
bills a penal offense was passed. A
resolution was introduced from tn,
Senate to appoint an investigating com
mittee, composed of three members o
| the House and two from the Senate
who should investigate and report OF
the alleged tampering with bills.
SOME BILLS PASSED.
| The Mann pure cider bill.
Bill restoring Jail penalty for viola
| ton of Sunday liquor laws.
To make the possession of a Unite,
States internal revenue fay rece;nt fo