The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-11-29
EXTRA SESSION uNcAIl.Ep FOR.

ExTRA SESSION UNCALLED FOR
10 people of Virginia by 3 decisive vote
recentl, declared tic opinion thar sixty
n biennial session eff tie Legislature is
oaent 10 the law making needs OF the Com
s~eaita.
ul-stioa II ta'rty additional dag O:
61AxIoL every two years, the popular voice
Ssemphaticaily u tBe negative
d ~ Eow urged that tie Governor. la the es
~ Of AZ execute discretion based upon
necossi., OF meeting state, Dc es>scseeaeg,
I'm extra session OF tue Legislature 10 PISS
7tAtute designed to remsQs an alleged fail
kln the criminal laws OF the state TO sail-
FRAUDS In primary elections.
that In the Second District two infesior
n judges have qnashed indictments against
Eion officials. charging them with fraud IN
conduct of the primary In the contest for
democratic Congressional nomination
' this fact OF first impression intimately
1efsing conditions In one district. snf-
ptly urgent cause to prompt executive
lin the exercise OF so extraordinary dis
"a as the calling together of the Legisla-
yA ! manner supplementary to the orderly
AZ its assembly, as marked out by the
ntion.
INK not and for several reasons
There can not BIC a shadow of Il doubt
911latures are. in the popular mind,
In the nature of necessary evils The
4of law making is one of the strong
aations of the average American. We
4( ~, III every State. swamped with
vsry two years there is the scramble of
19ment to new statutes, The benefit
people is obtained at the penalty -
lns and confusing statutes for which
M no real demand. The spirit Of law
frequently COMPOUNDED by irresponsible
eon- II II were not a greater calamity
4aa people should not. at the biennial
I'VE the opportunity OF expressing their
xongh popular representation. it could
With entire truth that the Legislature
Mry two years is calamity. Except for
aement 81 the gravest and most i'm
matters. a Legislature more frequently
nt n a disaster unrelieved
II is not TO be expected that special
INK the Legislature would be entirely
eve 70 its call The Governor may in
for one reason. but he cannot confine
f04tlpN n tha rkarfirular u.rpasp Tho
tMfe that can meet only at stated periods
Say executive invitation is. once assem-
INV and the judge OF its own activities
IND together for one purpose, ii can fol
purposes as. 1t sees fit. To Justify the
~ such a legislative engine requires a
~ch as does not appear to be raised by
m Of fraud in one State Congressional
Even II the cause were In itself snf-
III seems that the existence of the cause
M "A assumption. The two judges who
the indictments drought under what
oeed TO be an effective statute max be
N4 they may not be right The ques-
4Aeil error Is for the decision of the
Court. The Supreme Court Itself is
800 in a former case to have deciaeo
1pinion exactly the reverse Ct the con
ARRIVED al by the two judges in aues-
N IN review. it should be found that
od d auashing the indictments. the bill
IN II they should find that the orense
~ sndictable but the indictments were
other bills could be sent The decision
1ense final or conclusive as TO the law.
1nk true, tho matter OF the facts is
eopen one Even as anticipating the
adjudication through the courts % a
0uestion. the extra session % The Leg
aoald. II car opinion. fail OF JUST
Wing 10 lend ear 10 d suggestion so
Re possibilities Of Generalization. OK
II showing Of state OF affairs not
susceptible Of remedy. Governor
0Ra that he appreciates and accepts.
the responsibilities. but the spirit Of
" his ofilce
#KAfERlcAN nftIyARS