The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-01-28
LEGISLATURE is
PUSHED FOR TINE
Looks Now As IL Extension or
Special Session Will BE
Necessary.
srRoDE's IMPORTANT BILL
Women May Be Deputy Clerks
OF Courst-Houston Talks
About Crab Fight.
sTRoDE's IMPORTANT BILL

After more than two full weeks OF
work, the General Assembly has made
hut little Roadway, and with something
like forty more days before 1t, faces Il
prospect of either extending the session
Or neplccting q considerable amount of !
important business.
Bills and resolutions are still crowding |
in at every session. and while several
measures have been taken up out OF their |
order and passed. small progress has
been made with the calendar, which is
daily growing to larger proportions.
Committees are hard at work: members
are serving long hours, and everybody
Is bucklng down in n business-like man
ncr. but II Is practically impossible to
get Legislature thoroughly organized
within less than two or three weeks
Meanwhile, time Is rapidly passing The
House has made better progress than
the Senate but even there the amount
still to be done Is almost appalngvwhcn
IL Is considered that the entire session
Is TO be of but sixty days 1t seems to
be recognized on all sides that the time
is not sufficient. and some dissatisfaction
with the constitutional provision touch-
Ing this point has been expressed. On
practically all sides it seems to be con-
ccded that to give proper attention 10 all
the weighty matters before the body an
extension OF time or a special session
Will b. necessary. and 1t Is being argued
that, in view OF the delay incident to
organization. which would have to be en-
durcd all over again In a special sesslon.
am extension would be the more advisable
plan.
But hero enters another consideration
which Is likely of itself to call for Sc
rious consideration at the hands OF the
Assembly. IL Is claimed now that the
salary OF members OF the Legislature is
much Insufficient to maintain them. and IL
an extension of time were ordered they
would receive absolutely no compensation
for the extra days they served. II
special session were called they would
be given the regular allowances. There
appears to be Il widespread disposition
to increase this allowance. but this in
crease cannot, OF course. benefit the pres
cnt Legislature. a bill has already been
introduced doubling the per diem-raisng
1t from 81 to IS.
Many members feel that this Is too
much, but they are willing to vote for a
more moderate increase and think that
such an increase should be made.
Advocates of the advance to IS per day
argue that this amount would be sufii-
cient TO maintain the members suitably
while in the Capital and would permit
extensions OF time when necessary. which
under the present allowances causes an
expense that is greater than some can
aItDrO.
Will Be Busy Weak.
The week will probably be busy one
IN both houses. Important special hear
ings are scheduled before committees on
several days The State institutions will
all submit, their claims at meeting
OF the Committees on Finance and
Schools Tuesday night. DR.. z. A. Alder
man, president of the University OF Vir-
Einia, Will be among those to appear. On
the same day the Senate Committee on
Public Institutions and Education will
consider the amount OF the appropria-
tIon to be asked for the primary school
system. Wednesday night the same COM
mittee will take up and pass upon the
normal school proposition.
A hearing on the Torrens land system |
bill will be held in the hall of the House |
of Delegates tomorrow night. The Sen
ate committee for courts OF justice has |
been favorably invited to sit with the
House committee. The Senate committee |
on general laws will meet tomorrow |
morning to hear argument on the bill to |
protect the proprietors of hotels from |
dead beats and frauds. committee COM
posed of p. NJ. Fry, of the Jefferson |
Hotel. Richmond; G. II. Cavsoloo and
James Y. Trehey. of the Monticello Nor
folk; ]. H. Callahan, of Gladys Inn,
clifton Forge, and William A. Young,
representing the State Association Of
Hotel Proprietors. will appear to advo-
cate the passage of the bill
New Matters of Note.
Besides these there will be number
of other important committee meetings. |
Bills of widespread interest will be up
in the houses themselves and indications
point to several new matters of note.
Important game laws will fe proposed
tomorrow. On tomorrow or Tuesday |
Senator Patteson will introduce resolu-
tion demanding reasons why the two Sen
ators from Virginia have not followed
the mandate of the General Assembly of
Virginia and introduced and supported
ON amendment to the Federal constitution
looking to the election of United States
Senators by the people. The tax commits
sion proposition made by Senator Thomas
was reported adversely yesterday by the
Finance Committee, but the Lynchburg
Senator announces that he will fight the
matter out on the floor of the Senate.
The Thomas movement marks the first
step in a crusade designed to accomplish
n sweeping investigation Into the tax
methods of Virginia and to determine
whether or not large sums are being
lost by he State through failure to assess
all taxable values, particularly of public
service corporations and more particularly
railways.
To lawyers and litigants as we'll. per-
haps the most important bill before the
General Assembly was offered yesterday
In the Senate by Mr.. Strobe. Of Amherst,
providing that courts of equity, concur
rently with courts of law shall have
jurisdiction In all cases ex contractu,s OK
cent for breach ofscontract of marriage.
Advantages of great moment to the,
people OF the State generally are claimed
for this bill. which Is certain to cause a
stir. The sweeping change 1T effects ia
endorsed by q number of skilled attor-s
neys. and the heavyweight lawyers In
the Legislature are giving the plan much
attention, though they are chary OF COM
hitting themselves In advance of more
serious deliberations. y. #
.srhe passage of this BILL" said Mr..
Strobe last night would III large meas
ure secure the advantages of tho system
of code pleading which prevail in many