Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1906-03-23
LEGISLATIVE AFTERMATH.

There have been few sessions of the
legislature in many years in which
more hard and painstaking work was
done, especially in committee. Con-
sidering the limited time and the fact
that the legislature was under a new
constitution, the wonder is that so
much was accomplished and accom-
plished so satisfactorily. News Leader.
The recent Legislature passed 3O2
bills, though something like 1900 in
all were introduced. Governor Swan
son is now engaged in the delectable
task of reading this fascinating litera-
ture, and is truly earning his salary.
Although he is making good progress,
it will be some days yet before he can
turn to more interesting things. The
bills passed make total of Zoo en-
rolled pages. AS soon as the Executive
gets through with this work he will
take up the consideration of other bust
ness which awaits his attention. He
has yet to name the members of
his staff and several boards. Then,
too, he has a never-diminishing bundle
of pardon petitions awaiting him, so
his hands will be full for weeks to
come. Evening Journal.
A delegation of colored men called
on Governor Swanson and made an
|oRer to the choice Of two sites for the
colcred deaf and dumb and blind asy-
lum to be established by the State.
The General Assembly made an appro-
priation Of $1,000 for the beginning of
the work. The colored men, to show
their appreciation of the step taken
for the relief of the colored unfor-
tunates of the State, voluntarily of
fered to give the site to the State free
of cost. One of the sites offered is at
the True Reformers' Home, near West
hampton, and the second is near Jones'
boro, the colored settlement below
Richmond. The delegation was COM
posed of Giles B. jackson, the Rev. DIR.
A. Brnga, jr., the Rev. Thomas john
son.. Editor w. w. Brown, w. l.. John
son and Alexander W. Holmes. Index
Appeal.
The impression that deficit in the
estimated revenues of the State has
been created by the appropriations
made is erroneous, according to the
best informed officials and members of
the General Assembly. Auditor Marye.
discussing the report, said that it does
not seem at all probable that the ap-
preparations have wiped out the surplus
IN the treasury and created deficit, as
one newspaper report has it. Speaker
Cardwell and the men on the finance
committees of House and Senate are all
good business men and too cautious to
make such a contingency possible.
True, the State gave away far more
than she has ever before done. But
there is no reason to believe that there
Will be any scaling of appropriations
because of the lack of money. The fin
ance committees of the Senate and
House (the former headed by Senator
Wickham and the latter by Col. Bow
mani do not do business in a loose
manner They are careful Every
move taken by those bodies was after
consultation with the auditor, and he is
one of the most careful men in the
State. When accounts are balanced it
wilt be seen that the officers have made
exceedingly liberal appropriations and
that there will be a safe balance in
hand at the end Of the year. The in
crease In the pay Of members OF the
Legislature, in the salaries of the Su-
preme Court judges and in other sala-
ries will not become effective while the
present General Assembly, which was
elected for two years. is in existence.