The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-03-13


end. Both houses were In con-
structive session yesterday for
the purpose of having enrolled
bills signed by the presiding officers
In the presence Of the members during
the sittings of the bodies, as the Con-
stitution requires
Just why such requirement should
have been made Is a mystery Presum-
ably. 1t was intended to prevent mis-
takes. Ir practice 1t has a tendency
to make mistakes more probable The
Lieutenant Governor and the Speaker
OF the House might, in their own
rooms examine the enrolled bills care
fully before signing them. but In the
chair, while other business Is pressing.
there Is no time nor opportunity for
such examination and the members
themselves have no means of knowing
whether the bills are in proper form
or not. In the last analysis the accu-
racy of the enrolment depends upon the
efficiency OF the clerks and of the Com
mittee on Enrolled Bills. If they have
been derelict, the signing of the bills
in the presence of the two houses Will
not avail to correct errors. The clerks
sof the House and Senate and their as
sistants have been faithful and indus.
trious. and It Is hoped that all records
have been accurately kept. Yet, in the
variations and omissions have occurred.
and there should be careful scrutiny
Of the whole record of the Assembly's
work. so that II any inadvertencies
have occurred they may be remedied
when the Legislature reassembles on
the 25th.
Record of the Assembly.
BY this record the General Assembly
OF 1908 Is to be Judged. To give a
detailed account OF its strictly leglsla-
tive work would be to write a table
or contents OF the next volume OF the
Acts of the Assembly, which will bs
fairly large book.
Speaking generally. the Legislature
was conservativeiy progressive. It
made marked advances along many
lines. but II made no really radical
departures along any.
Some of these advances were strenl-
ously opposed and the consummation
was reached only after weeks of pa
tient labor and struggle The repeal
of the prohibition against paralleliag
the Richmond, fredericksburg and Po-
tomac Railway. with the acts allowing
that company to renew It's charter by
giving up its special privileges, was an
event OF great Significance in railroad
circles. The heavy appropriations for
PUBLIC road purposes and the increase
douhtedly givefa great impetus to tho
good roads movement in the State,
which has been going forward so brisk
~ in recent years. Upon the success
of this movement, more than upon any
other thing. perhaps. depends the tu-
ture material welfare of the COM
monwealth.
No other Legislature has ever been
so liberal to the cause of public edu
cation. Not only were the higher in
stitutions OF learning well cared for,
but the primary schools were put on
a stronger basis, and normal schools,
normal high schools and agricultural
training schools were established
With these broadened opportunities,
it is hoped that the white illiteracy OF
the Stave which is distressingly eX-
tensive. may be greatly reduced. The
local optional compulsory education la "
Is, no doubt, but the beginning of
thoroughgcing system of compulsory
education, which will eventuallytmake
ignorance the exception among even
the poorest citizens The extension of
the restriction upon child labor Will
produce like effect. and will have a
tendency to further the physical de-
velopment of youth.
Sociological Matters.
The Legislature also took long steps
in sociological matters. The Board of
Charities and Corrections Is expected
to work valuable reform of the corr
rective Institutions of the State The
Aprison system 80 long in vogue has
proven to be a breeder of crime and
OF criminals, and there should be
substitution of some intelligent treat
ment of derelicts, for the old method of
herding the young and slight Offend
ers with old and hardened criminals,
and the treating of all as brutes in
stead of as human beings, only less
fortunate than others-a system which,
though by no means universal in the
state. has prevailed In many sections.
The abolition Of the ghastly and
barbaric method of executing felons
by local hanglngs by the establishment
of an electric chair at the penitentlary,
is one of the best deeds ever wrought
by a Virginia Legislature.
The codifcation of the liquor laws
of the State the increase of licenses.
the destruction of fake clubs. the re-
strictions upon distiileries. and the en-
forcemenr of prohibition in rural COM
munities and small towns are the
furthest advances ever made In this
State in the direction of the complete
suppression of the liquor traffic
rhat Its utter determination will be
Statewide issue at no distant day
would seem to be reasonable pre-
diction.
New Health Laws.
The State Board of Health will now
have more power and more money
than ever before, and the checking OF
the ravages OF tuberculosis has been
made Its especial province. The state
Board of Pharmacy also gets greater
Importance; the sale of drugs has been
further regulated, and the illegal traf-
iic In cocaine has been made a feloay,
Many other matters have received
legislative attention. Coastwise pilot
age has been abolished changes have
been made in the congressional dis
tricts of the State, commissioners OF