Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-02-21
Only Two Weeks More for LsgIs.
|atars to Accomplish a Great
Deal Of Work.
EXTRA SESSION move NOT IN FAVOR
Idea Popular to Extend Time TWO
Weeks Without Pay = Another so
Gays Would Cost State About $50
ooo-eill for Virginia Exhibit at
the Seattle Exposition.

RICHMOND, VA, Feb. 20 Two
weeks and two days remain of the
present session of the general as
sembly. and from now on there is to
he rush that will show just what
Virginia lawmakers can do when they
get ready to rush things.
So far there have been few meas
u5es of general Importance which have
received the favorable consideration :
both branches. Others have been pre-
scented ana have been sent to the
committees in one division Or the
Other but they have not gotten any
further than the calendar IF the
House in which the measure origina-
ted.
There is a hill to impose a tax of
one per cent. on the mineral output
at the mouth of the mines. 1t Is OH
the Senate calander. and 1t looks as
though 1t will choke in the maze OF
measures which now appear on the
caianders of the two botSes. And be-
sides, the manner of fixing special
orders VIII serve to keep the propo-
sition to tax the mines in the back
ground till such time as the session
VIII be so near ended that the mem.
bers will not be able 10 consider n
scheme which will make the mineral
properties of the state pay reason
able amount OF taxes for the sup
port of the government All the mines
In the state now pay less than $4,000
a year. and while 1t may be a slight
exaggeratlon to say that th4y last
year did business of $4,000. 600
values At mouth OF the mines-there
to believe that they did enough bus
mess and raised enough for dividends
10 justify the belief that little more
tax would be fair to the state.
The Riclmoad. Frede-icksburg G.
Poomac repeal bill is one OF the meas
nres which has passed that had n
general interest, and the measure to
wrok convicts and jail birds on the
state highways is another which at
tracted attention and which was pass-
cd.
So few general measures have been
passed that the session has come TO
be regarded as remarkable. This Will
lie changed after today, however. for
The Introduction of new bills Will
cease with the closing OF the morning
hour at the session which begins at
noon. Both branches Will shut off
new bills and the committees will
consider what they have on hand -
ant 'here Is not committee which
mas not It's quota OF measures for
consideration. and sufficient to keep
it busy for many, many meetings. But
great majority of the bills intro
duced were presented for no other
purpose than to oie in committee.
AS to Extra Session.
There will be no extra session If the
governor is TO be relied on to recall
the lawmakers. ii the governor con-
vents The general ASSEMBLY in extra
session they Will each receive $3.50
for whatever time they serve whether
il shall be for one day or two days.
There is much opposition to an extra
session There are several members
Of the body who take the position that
inasmnch as they now receive about
double what was paid formerly. they
should not hesitate to remain a few
days on their own account and to
finish up the work
Just let the majority agree to stay
here two weeks. and then let them
vote TO have an extra session. If they
viii do That we VIII have all the fun
we want and will come back here at
the next session with more than dou-
BILE the number of members we have
at this time" said n member of the
minority when discussing TIE matter
eve are willing to stay here ten days
or two weeks. If necessary. and 10
serve without pay, but We are voting
against the extra session with pay.
There is no occasion for 1t. AS a
matter OF course. If the majority in
sists that we shall stay here we will
remain and we will draw the pay for
the time VIC serve, hut we are against
the extra session. The pay of mem
bers would reach bit more than
$4,000 for 80 days. to say nothing OF
the clerks. the employees, the print
ing and the many other items that