The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-03-14
rur AssEMpLY,s WORK.

Wss The laws are MADE anu LIZ ASs' 49,
# tors arc gone. a few of the MEMBER
viii linger idly around the Champer
Tor a day or two to sive the sanctio
of law to the Speakers signature, pu
the others have already deserted tn
Capitol and abandoned the corridors
The enrolled bills are completed; I'M
journal is written up; accounts a lr
.ettled compliments have been passed;
c,fts have been exchanged; for good
ar for bad. the Assembly OF 1910 be-
longs to history.
The Assembly had much to do. For
n,onth. before 1t met the papers had
been advocating reforms. ana tof
months the impatient Solons had @been
framing bills for the admiration anu
approval OF their fellow members. me
scnate Finance Committee had been IN
session and had learned. before the
session began. that every state insti-
tuition wanted money and much money.
About 1000 bills were the fruit OF
+hie agitation. and about 900 acts were
the choice OF tile Assembly.
Much that the Assembly had to do
~ aid we'll All that the State had
undertaken to do for Its citizens IN
previous years has been continued
Ererv good cause was given hearing.
Good roads received $4,000 for 1910
and 100000 for 1911, with allowances
for the state Highway commissioners
off,cc. The colleges We're authorized
~ great cause.
OF primary education was advanced
the asylums were provided for, and
the state health work was given gem
erous support.
The Assembly did more than spend
money. It passed number OF import
ant financial measures and a splendid
line Of charity bills Chief among the
good works of the Assembly is the
banking bill. This Is not all that
# might be desired. 1t has It's weak
ii nesses and its decided Weaknesses, but
I'd 1t is at least a guarantee OF the States
purpose to regulate our banks and to
d protect the funds Of our citizens who
deposit in them. The tax commits
a sion bill also passed. thus opening tho
81 way for survey OF our tangled law:
| and for their reform in the future
This bill however, lacked any. clause
that will reduce the numberless in
equalities of assessments under exist
s. ing laws. The Senate spent too much
time over the theory OF equalization.
The House. unable to draft suitable
amendments. killed the equalization.
feature and the reform it aimed to ac-
81 colnplish. The makeshift measure
adopted, in the last gasp OF the As
q sembly. authorizing judicial hearing
for underassessments. will hardly be
worth the paper it is to be printed on.
Dbl The State also. authorized the appoint
mont Of an accountant or a number OF
accountants, to supervise the books of
So the local officers and to systematic
81 the States bookkeeping. This was a
good measure. and deserved the hearty
ri approval it received
The charity bills passed by the AS
88 senhly were many and admirable Our
State Board of Charities and Corrcc-
tim, which has most assuredly iusti-
s fled its existence. is given power to d 0
83 more than compile statistics. The
@ criminal insane arc to be properly in
8 generated and cared for. Maynard
s girls are to be placed in suitable
ss home. The health Of tho people Il to
M be fostered by a number OF admirable
~ measures. In these measures perhaps
IS more than in anysothers the Assembly
Isl showed a liberal and benevolent spirit
FL that promises we'll for the future.
The Assembly would not have been
"a human had it done all the things that
# It ought to have done, and 1t would
EE not have been composed OF men like
Es the rest of us, had it not left undonc
rs many things that it ought to have
s# done. 1t left behind 1t a trail of aban-
ss doned measures and several wrecks
s that should have been saved. The pri-
r mary bill was not passed. All the agita-
b ton in its behalf and all that the
s members promised, in one way o.. an
58s other came to naught. We stand
h where we have stood since the Nor
folk convention in this respect. Nor
h 4 was the promised oyster bin made law.
u
Il Though most imperatiVcly needed. and
H @thoush we'll calculated to save Mir
ssn'a's depleted wealth in her rivers
\ and bay, This bill was killed by the
4 5sbitter. attacks OF the Tidewater dele
\ gates who regard, the Baylor Survey
II as little less than an act OF God. With
II these two. failed Mr.. Vests admirable
II yIIneasure to limit the fee CIVIL and MIR,
sressard's excellent bin TO abolish the
II aspfices OF commissioners OF accounts,
1.-THE State VIII snffer BY these omls-
li3sions
ssgS Balancing the good against the evil
lE---what the Assembly did against what
I'll did not do---the result IS satistac-
astory, The Assembly was conserva-
tive body, mindful Of The States
finances and unwilling TO venture into
ssSneY and nntried fields OF legislation.