The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-01-17
move TO CHECK
FLOOD OF BILLS |.
Necessity Of Action APP
parent, but Adherence
to Plan is Doubtful.
CAUCUS NOMINEES
ARE ALL ELECTED
Sessions Long Yesterday, but
Business Was OF Formal Ma
ture-Mr. Glenn Would
Extend Term Of
Governor to Six
Years.
NY LEWIS II. ,1AcHEN.

! -4s
DY LEWIS II. ,1ACHEN.
Besides the election OF the Judges
nominated by the Democratic caucus
on Wednesday night. the only thing
really decided In either branch OF the
Legislature yesterday was the opinion
OF the House OF Delegates that the
Judges of the Supreme Court OF APP
peals should wear official gowns. This
opinion. expressed in the adoption OF a
resolution offered by a Richmond mem
ber. was based upon the practice in
the United States Supreme Court and
in the highest courts Of majority OF
the other States. 1t Is not known that
our Supreme Court Judges have been
consulted in regard to the Innovation.
and 1t IL possible that some one may
present their side of the case to-mor-l
row. for the resolution stands on a
motion to reconsider. After all. they
might decline to accept the suggestion,
and thus thwart the proposed reform.
Even though the resolution should
eventually fall there Is authority :or
saying that the Judges might adopt
The new dress OF their own motion. and
80 bring about the consummation
wished for in another way. The
amendment OF the Delegate from Gull
peper providing that the Judges be
also requested TO wear wigs was not
taken seriously.
Tedious Performance.
The election OF the Judges, though
most necessary and proper. was q tedl-
GUS performance. Twelve roll calls
were necessary, and they occup. ed
nearly an hour in the House and about
half that time in the Senate. In both
houses the Republicans Joined with Tie
Democrats in nominating and voting
for the candidates. who were elected
without opposition. No nominating
speeches were made ir. the Senate. and
those In the House were BRET.
A number OF bills in both houses
were advanced to their engrossm.nt
and third reading 30 that to-day there
may be some discussion OF them
Senator's Strobe and Lassiter intro
duced joint resolution to prohibit the
introduction OF bills after the goth day
of February, SO as TO allow time to
clear up the calendars and thoroughly
consider the oills which shall have
been offered by that time. Similar
efforts have been made in pas, ses-
sions. and great difficulty has always
been experienced in persuadine the
members to restrict themselves IN the
matter of offering bills. Indeed, bills
have been known to be introduced on
the last day of the session. and passed,
TOO under a suspension OF the rules.
Greatly to Be Desired.
Undoubtedly, 1t is greatly to be de-;
sired that a portion Of the session
should be devoted to clearing up the
accumulation OF business, without the
Interference OF new matters. but the
self-restraint of members does not seem
equal to providing this last clear
chance, and the only eftectual remedy
would seem to be q constitutional
amendment. Indeed, such an amend
1nsnt was proposed by the Legislature
at the last session, providing for a
session OF ninety days. with prohi.
bltion against the introduction of bills
after sixty days: but the amendment
perished because the clerk OF the
House, acting under the advice OF the
Attorney-General and the then Speaker
OF the House, declined to publish It.,
as required by the Con stitution. because
IT, had not. been entered at length on
the journal of the Senate.
Another amendment suffered the
same fate. Three judges in the city
OF Richmond were asked to grant a
but the writ was refused by all.
The practice In the Legislature as to
entering proposed amendments on the
journal has not been uniform, they
being sometimes entered by title and
at other times entered at length. At
least one amendment, and perhaps
Others were entered only by their
titles. we're published, passed a second
time, ratified by the people. and became
part Of the Constitution. without any
question being raised as to their
validity.
Another Bill Prepared.
1t was contended that since the
Legislature had, In some cases. at lea St
construed the Constitution to mean
that an entry by title was sufficient,
that construction should prevail, espe-
cially in view of the fact that recent
Constitutional Convention adopted the
Identical words Of the old Constitution
End was presumed to have known the
legislative construction Of the Ian
guage.
But there were authorities to the
effect that all proposed amendments
should be entered at length on the
Journals OF both houses, and the at.
torpeyI General and the judges men;
toned SO held.
A bill has been prepared directing
In What manner such amendments
should be entered on the journals anc
published. and 1t is hoped that nj
others may meet such an untlmely end
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