The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-01-15
STATE PRESS
The Marshall House.

Tho suggestion of the Richmond School
Board that the house in which John Mar
shall lived and died shall give place to a
modern structure Is resented by the local
press vigorously and with justice. and We
hope and believe that public sentiment in
the capital city will interpose an emphatic
veto against a proposition which falls little
short of sacrilegc. The Virginian-Pilo
has INDUCED from time to time In good
humored filings at Richmond's foibles, but
most OF them arc virtues in excess and
among them tho cherishing OF local tradi-
tons and devotion to memories OF the past
have been most conspicuous. That a COM
munitye SO intense in its NirSinianism will
tolerate an act of sheer iconoclasm, and
permit the removal of a landmark around
which cluster associations linked with the
noblcst chapters in the history OF the Com
monwealth, Is 81 supposition not TO bo entcr-
tanned seriously.-Norfolk Nirsinian- Pilot.
Our Banking Laws.
The forthcoming session OF the Legisia-
ture Is CHARGED with no more important
work than the enactment OF carefully
drawn. wcll-considered Legislation rcEulat-
ing the conduct Of State banking institu-
tons. The failure OF the last Legisla ture
to act on this important matter was a sur.
prise to tho public at the time, when sur.
prise turned to anger in many quarters
when thousands OF depositors lost their saw
inss in several bank failures. At present
there is no system OF examination OF banks
operating under State charters, cxcept such
banks as arc designated State depositaries,
the reports made to the State Corporation
Commission five times each year by tho
banks mover being verified by actual fnves.
itigatlon by any State official. ANY lesisla-
ton looking to the protection of the public
increases public confidence in the banking
institutions themselves, and results to tina
mutual of the banks and their
observation-disclosures News Times Herald.
Tho Pcnitentiary Board.
The state Penitentiary Board has elected
on "a E nf,ifS own ycap,hhrsE
the Penitcntiary. Knock on Wood!-Norfolk
Landmark.
Republicans and the Finance Committee.
The Lynchburs News is wholly right in
saying that the State Senate Democratic
caucus made a mistake in voting down the
|Gravatt resolution providing that the Com
mittees on Rules and Finance he so enlarged
that one Republican might bo appointed on
each. Under our representative theory OF
government minorities have lights as sa-
cred as those Of majoritios. A Legislature
should represent the people and not tho par
ties. Indeed. 1t puts the whole thedry OF
representative government to a severe strain
for a Legislature to concern itself with
parties at all. But since legislative custom
recognizes parties. each party should be
fairly dealt with according to its 3represen-
t ative value and MISUNDERSTANDING
In~dcN-Appeal.
Another for Tax Equalization.
Probably the most important question that
can engage the attention OF the General
Assembly, now In session, is that OF the
equalization of assessments throughout the
Commonwealth, which would result in max
ing certain sections pay their due proper
ton of taxes. IT Is a lamentablo fact that,
valuation of real and personal property.
have escaped their just obligations to the
state. while at tho same time they have
drawn a disproportionatc sum from the
state Treasury to meet their criminal ex-
penses, and yet all the criminals have not
been punished. for the men who violate
arc as Justly deserving Of punish
mcnt as any other la~wbreakers. This aucs-
ton as to the equalization OF assess1nents.
like the question of changing Inauguration
day, hobs up every now aud then, only to be
lost sight OF in the general whirl Of events,
Let II not be tho case this time. Let tile
remedy be applied in Il practical way, with
out further ~dclaN.-FRirfaN uelald ~