Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-01-05
LEGISLATURE WILL
CONVENE WEDNESDAY,
Both Branches 10 Hold Caususss
tuesday Evening for sslse.
lion Of OFFICERS.
GOVERNORS nEssAGS IS READY
Many Matters of Moment to be Dis
cussed in General Assembly-Tem-
perance Element to be in Richmond
in Force-eood Roads and Schools
in Force
Especial to The Daily press)

Especial to The Daily Press)
RICHMOND, VA, Jan. 4--The gem
eral assembly of Virginia will con-
vene in this city ut noon Wednesday,.
The sessions are held biennially, and
this will be the second time that all
she members of both branches come
as new members. Many of the old
characters in the two branches are
missing this year, several having
gone down for reasons satisfactory
TO their constituents. There are many
officers to be chosen by the joint
caucus. The presiding officer OF the
house will have to be chosen. That
body will elect Richard e. Byrd OF
Winchester, to the speakershlp. and
John w. Williams, the present clerk.
will be retained. Then there are
the doorkeepers, the sergeant at arms.
the committee clerks and the like. In
the senate the election of clerk
TO that body Is the one engrossing
contest. There arc two candidates
Thomas A. Lynch and Marshall b.
hooker. MIR. Lynch is THE present
clerk. Mr.. Booker is n former mem-
Der OF the house.
Governors Message.
The reading of the governors mes
sage will be the first real business
after the two bodies have organized.
The message is printed and is ready
FOR distribution the moment the clerks
shall begin reading. The message
is one OF the briefest any executive
has yet sent to the legislature on
Its conyening. 1t contains only about
5000 words, though the governor has
omitted nothing that demands the
attention of the body. 1t is said TO-
contain many striking recommends
lions. especially as regards the en-
pioymet of convicts on the public
roads, the Improvement of the pub
lie schools, the care OF the insane
and the payment Of the public debt
IT, Is not known II the governor will
follow the precedent set by Govern
or Montague and appear in person
and read his message.
The general assembly will mo be-
sieged by applications for money for
All the state institutions There is a
surplus of s1,250.OOO in the treasury.
ana there are demands already on
file for about twice that sum in addi-
ton to the appropriations hlready
made to these institutions. All the
educational institutions are asked
for an increase. the colored asvlum
or the state presenting a request for
SS5O,O00 for new buildings for the
care of the negro insane of the state
disease among that class of the popu-
lation OF the state increasing at en-
ormous rates and being due, accord
ing to the belief of officers. to the
use of drugs of all sorts as well as
of liquor.
The lncom9 Tax.
Another question that will demand
attention will be n proposition that
IS TO icrease the exemption from the
income tax from 5000 to either $1,000
or $1,000. The law is not observed
to any considerable extent. few of
tne taxpayers seeing that clause IN
the lists submitted to them for re-
turn TO the commissioner of she
revenue 1t is said that the law
works a hardship on a great many
people especially since the recent
enormous increase in the price of
necessities of life. 1t is believed that
more people would comply with the
law and that the state will receive
laEer revenue IL the amendment
suggested is enacted, as those who
pay the tax will not balk at the fig
ures. while many who receive from
$3.50 to $1,000 make returns as though
there was no such thing as an income
tax embraced in the lists.
More Pension Morsy.
The attention of the general as
sembly will be directed 10 the enor-
nous death rate among the Confed-
crate veterans of the state, as we'll
as the widows of the old soldiers.
The state appropriates the sum of
100000 annually for the pay of pen-
sioners. and this amout has not been
entirely consumed for several years.
though at one time the sum was in
adequate to meet the payments and
the pensions had to be scaled down