The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-10
TEMPERANCE FIGHT
COMING THIS WEEK
Investigation Of Work OF BOARD
of Fisheries Will Be Proposed
Soon-Rhea Report to Be
Submitted in Few Days.
The Blackstone
Inquiry.
ny LEWIS II. MAcIIEx.

With the session of tho Legislature
more than half over. much has been
accomplished, but much more remains
to be done.
Tho committees got down to business
carly, and have worked diligently. The
calendars Of both houses arc full and
are being added to day by day. The
Rhca Investigation and the two or
three large matters which have been
before the General Assembly have oc-
cupied the major portion Of tho time
of the session UP TO this point.
The bill repealing the pronipiton
against the paralci.ng of the Rich
mond. Fredericksburg and Potomac
Railway has been threshcd ou. by the
committees of the two houses, and has
passed the Senate.
Other Matters.
The question whether there shall be
popular election OF the members OF The
state Corporation Commission mas been
determined. though there is move.
nient to bring the matter up again in a
slightly different form. The House
has decided th.t the Constitution should
be amended so as to provide for the
popular election OF commissioners of
the revenue, with the right Ia succeed
themselves.
The bill for the increase OF the con.
Nict road force bv the addition of mon
sent to the pententiary for not over
five years has passed both houscs
The bill for the compulsory sentencing
OF most OF the jaiibirds in the several
counties and cities has passed the
House. Six letters of advice have been
ginia delegation in the national Con-
greSs telling them how to vote upon
a number of pending measures. lest
they should forget the interests of the
State in the aforesaid measures.
VIII Report Soon.
The Rhea Investigation itself has
been concluded, and tho committee
will be ready to report in a few days
Very many committee meetings have
been held upon questions OF State
wide importance, such as the regula-
tion of the sale of Intoxicating liquors
by saloons and in social clubs The
several banking bills have been con-
sldered. and the measures proposing
appropriations to the various educa-
tonal and charitable institutions have
been fully discussed in the committees.
The bill to distribute the assessment
OF rolling stock of railroads among
the cities and magisterial districts has
been heard by the House committee
on roads. Many important bills re-
Iating to the strengthening and sim
plfying of legal procedure have been
reported. especially one relating to the
class OF cases which arise under the
application of the so-called unwritten
law. This measure has passed the
House. All this has required time,
patience and careful work upon the
part OF committees.
Extension Not Likely.
The few bills which have been passed
by the Legislature furnish but poor
index OF the vast amount of work
which has been done. Many measures
of far-reaching Importance have been
worked over, fought over and reported.
Not less than 500 bills are on the
calendars OF the two houses.
number OF them are of great in
terest and Importance. VIII the Legis-
1ature have time to consider them all
In any satisfactory fashion? Not in
the present restricted session.
VIII the Governor call an extra ses-
sion? Not likely. Will the Legisla
turer extend the session of its own
motion? Not by large majority.
The Constitution, in providing that
the Legislature may extend the session
Tor thirty days, without conipensa-
fion, simply adopted a humorous mode
of saying that the session should not
be extended. For the last two sessions
there has seemed to be an urgent
necessity FOR extending the session, for
tho purpose OF finishing important
work, but the members have been I'M
willing to serve beyond the allotted
period during which they might get
their salaries.
Some InconErmities.
Patriotism and pay have been in
separable companions in the matter
of sessions. And it does not seem
that the State should expect members
of the Legislature to expend their own
time and services for the sake of the
Commonwealth, which is well able to
compensate them, or at least to pay
their expenses. The Constitutional
Convention might more definitely have
eaid the session should last so long,
and not longer 1t might alsay have
said definitely that the members of
the Corporation Commission should be
elected by the people or they should
not, and that the commissioners OF
tho revenue should be elected by the
people or they should not,
This shifting of constitutional mat
ters to the Legislature was scarcely
less remarkable than the restriction
of the power of the Legislature In
matters merely Legislative.
big Fights Coming.
This week will witness many mat
ters OF large proportion In the Legis-
lature. The repeal bill will be fought
out In the House. The time and man
ner Of the Blackstone Investigation, If
any, Will be decided, Many bills in
both houses Will be passed upon. Most
or the temperance measure, so-called
will come up for action, and there Will
he q great wrangle over them. The
extremes on both sides Will be re-