The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-01-08
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

The General Assembly of Virginia
which meets to-day will have many
questions of Importance to consider.
in this session. the body may get down
to business at once and proceed with
the work In hand. 1t Is to be hoped
that this course will be pursued.
Under the OLD system, little work was
done before the holiday season. and
sven after the members had returned
sahey were slow to shake off the holi-
day lethargy. AS a consequence, much
;ealuahlo time was lost and important
!. subjects were sometimes STAYED off
4suntil the closing days OF the session,
{ md then either side-tracked or rushed
through without the deliberatlon that
i they demanded.
a question OF prime Importance to
he considered is the equalization Of
sts.te taxes. Lands are assessed in
some OF the counties at SO per acre. In
others. respectively, at an average of
..si. S., IS. 81, So, 50, $40, s1l, $1c, s13,
Sill. SIG. SIS, $50. sa3 and sS4. Yet
B the Constitution requires that taxation
se!shall be uniform and that all taxable
4 property shall be assessed at its
fair market value. There is much
the samct elacke of uniformity in
the ASSESSMENT of personal proper.
ty. and 1t Is due both to the State
-..,nd the taxpayers that the rule Of the
I,
Our primary elections law also
needs revision, and some plan should
80 devised for the payment of the eS-
nenses of State primaries. AS it is, tn,
ocor man is at deplorable disadvant
age In primary contests. If lie is no
s tltogethcr shut out. Some action
should also be taken, if possible, t,
prevent abuses in the payment Of pol
taxes as q prerequisite to voting.
1t Ii not necessary " say that til
q state needs uniform system of &c
!. y counting and a travelling auditor to eX
%s anime accounts Of State officials an
sec that proper returns are made. Sue
system would doubtless result in
.aving to the State far greater tina
ys the cost OF the service. But wheths
i 80 or not, It should be adopted for II
sake OF honest and business-like a,
gsssaainistration Of the public affairs.
M Our prisons and almshouses shou
9tta.s-slso be inspected regularly, under Il
direction Of State board of charlie
e!ss,,r q commissioner. The experience
sss. other States shows that 1t is better
nave BOARD, without ray, with
NJ paid agent TO visit the institutions Al
s ss ,eport to the board. We hope the lie
tslature will thoroughly investiga
this important subject and adopt I
l4 plan that seems best to accomplish I
purpose.
q ss The educational interests OF I
state demand not only larger Apr
ss II ,criations. bug mere pay for teache
,.st -snd bettsr paid and more e!lcie
.8s I .prplai school, which will give spec
5s@ sAttantion To manual training, doues
$$s si science and nature study. Ono OF t
greatest reeda Of our public school s.
BsJss TEN 81 teachers who can teach
Il III sheet Lessons, 80 that the pupils n
4 s.carn with their hands as well as W
ssssa the head,
The state must also Improve
ssSsa9 Il srblic highways. and we are gratil
4 4 20 learn that The Governor has
s s.sss practical plan which will be outli
ana recommended in his message to
Il N Tcad to-day.
n Fortunately, the State Treasury. ,