The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-01-20
ny LEwIs n. NItCuEN,

In the prompt and business-like
manner with which 1t has inaugurated
th. business OF the session the Legis-
lature OF 1908 has broken all records.
-At its fourth sitting II appointed COM
mittees; at Its seventh 1t began pass
ing bills. During the first ten days Of
life It organized, elected most OF the
officers of whom 1t had the choosing.
and disposed OF nearly all the routine
ter.
Brought Bills With Them.
The members have, to a greater .ex-I
their work in advance. Most of them
arrived in Richmond with well-con-i
sidered bills. which they had drawn In
vacation. So far they have introduced
an average of SIX bills each. The
committees OF tho two houses have been
busy since their appointment, and the
calendars are rapidly filling up.
On the floor OF the Senate and House
there Is an apparent disposition to
waste as few words as possible. and to
act upon measures with as little dis.
cussion as Is sufficient to bring out the
salient points of the matters being
considered.
The Introduction OF bills will be
limited to a time far enough In ad-
vance OF adjournment to enable the
members to dispose OF q goodly portion
of the work now before them.
Con gcstlon an EVIL.
The congestion at the latter part OF
the session has been the most dir
tressing feature of previous sessions.
and has been responsible for much
hasty and needless legislation and for
the failure OF many merttorious meas :
sures
Under the old Constitution. when the
General Assembly met In December. the
Christmas recess broIe the continuity
OF the work and the rcassembling az
ter the holidays was slow and pain
ful. Though the allotted time OF the
session was thirty days longer than it
Is now. the actual working tiIne was
very little more.
Besides. the creation OF the State
Corporation Commission. with its ex-
tensive powers and jurisdiction, has
relieved the Legislature OF much work
that was burdensome. At the same
time, the new Constitution made it
necessary to pass general laws upon
subjects that could formerly be set
tied by local measures. The result Is
q greater difficulty OF adjustment. a
proposition. which, If applicable to only
one county or city, would go through
without opposition, might. II it af-
fected all the counties and cities. raise
great opposition and cause strenuous
contention. Therefore the net saving
of time Is not so great as appears al
first glance. =
Changing Conditions.
But. above all, It must be remen.
bered that the State is growing in the
amount and In the Kinds of its bust.
ness. In population, In the volume o1
its taxation. and in progress along
social, industrial and educational lines
AS consequence, the demand for leg,
islation to meet those changing condl,
&ions Is growing also. and will con,
tinue to grow in geometrical progress
sion
1t is obvious that Legislation Is al
evolution. The statute books of any
State or county are a fairly good inde,
OF the characters and intelligence O
!ts people.
The Massachusetts statute OF. colonla
times. which provided for horins
through the tongue with red hot irol
as q punishment for speaking irrevent
~ OF the canonical Scripture prepares
one admirably for the witch burning
& ct Salem. If the reader compares tn
present statutes Of that ancient Com
Fl monWealLh Win &tnose OF, tnal lofIlle
day, he will see the steps in the marcl
ct q great people from superstition an
i bigotry to enlightenment6and8 freedom
OF thought. szaM M NJ h.
Statutes must change as, the tilno
change, Those wise ones who 90
casionally d arc that wo have enoug
statutes to oSilast us hundred Years
are wise only8in their own conceit.
Ia "a difficult matter to arrange til
laws SO .. they will meet the de
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