Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-02
ASSEMBLY TO OPEN
Virginia Legislature Begins
Labors in Eleven Days.
SIXTY DAYS IN SESSION
Gov. Swanson's Last Message Ready
for Delivery.
MANN TO REMEMBER FRIENDS
Expected to Outline Policies in In
augural Address-Byrd Revising
Primary Bill.
SIXTY DAYS IN SESSION
MANN TO REMEMBER FRIENDS
Special Correspondence Of The Star

Special Correspondence Of The Star.
RICHMOND, Va, January l, 1910.
Eleven days more and the general as
sembly will be called to order in its reg
ular biennial session.
The session is limited to sixty days. In
that time all questions to be raised. all
judges to be elected, all appropriations
to be made, reports OF state officers and
departments and the amendments to
many measures will have to be, consid
cred and disposed of.
Else the members will have to stay
here at their own expense-never a pop
ular proposition. When the sixty days
have expired the members lose little time
In getting back to their homes. They
receive pay for sixty days only
Gov. Swanson has already completed
his last message. In that document he
is expected to make recommendations for
Improvement of public schools for APP
pointment of bank examiners to investi-
gate the condition of the state banks, to
urge the naming of board of equaliza-
ton to adjust the tax rate, and for pro-
motion of agricultural interests
All classes of citizens look forward to
the inaugural address of Governor-elect
Mann. That he will outline much Of the
ances of that day is conceded.
one thing is certain: Judge Mann pro-
poses to remember his supporters and
friends. They will have refusal of places
Of honor
Byrd's Primary Bill Popular.
Richard E. Byrd, speaker of the house
of delegates. has prepared primary cleo
ton bill designed to cure many defects
god vet
proposes to make his election law obli-
gatory on all PARTIES, the primaries to be
held at the same time.
The state is to pay costs of election.
Candidates are forbidden to pay more
than a fixed amount for campaign pur-
poses.
The bill is also aimed at newspapers
II 1t becomes a law many papers noted
for zeal in behalf of candidates will have
to say If the matter which they publish
is paid for or not. If paid for the name
of the party paying the bills will have to
be made public along with the article.
Three per cent of the salary of the
offering. the desire being to prevent the
entrance Of other than legitimate and
bona fide candidates for office. The can
didates are required to file true state
ment of their expenses, giving the name
of all persons to whom money is paid
and for what purpose.
The measure is to be presented to a
meeting of the state democratic COM
mittee in this city prior to the meeting
of the general assembly. If it meets the
favor Of that body 1t will go to the legis-
lature.
The republicans are expected to oppose
the proposition. Under the provisions of
the Byrd bill ii is possible for parties to
elect delegates in primories to a state con-
vention, the latter body to make nominal
tions.
Alum in City Water.
Richmond has clear water all right. 1t
also is more or less impregnated with
alum. The settling basin does the work
expected of it, but the city will have to
use about ton Of rock alum daily in
clarifying the water.
The mud in the water. as well as all
impurities, will coagulate and be pre-
cipitated by the use of the alum. 1t is
contended that practically all the alum
will remain with the sediment that will
be left in the basins when the water is
drawn off.
Chemists declare the amount of the
alum diffused by the process will be
detrimental to the health of persons
drinking the water.
The alum will cost about $25 a ton.
Under ordinary conditions a ton a day
will suffice. Twice that quantity will be
needed when the James Is most muddy.
1t is already commended that the use OF
alum has produced several cases of
stomach disorders. The health depart
ment of the city denies the accuracy OF
this allegation.
Richmond in Billiards. Grasp.
Richmond and Virginia have not been
exempt from the grasp of the blizzard
which struck the country about a week
ago. The city has been shivering and
shaking.
Reports from the state at large are that
the cold has been general. For the first
time in many years the farmers have
been able to get a quantity of ice this
winter, the thickness ranging to as much
as eight inches.
The river has been frozen over at this
point for several days. With few excep-
tons all state streams have been coated
with ice.
The cold has caused a vast amount of
suffering here. For several nights all
charitable institutions and police stations
and amshouses have been filled to over
flowing with men, white and black, old
and young, who have no homes.
More calls for help have been received
by the associated charities recently than
for a long time. The cry on all sides is
for food and clothing.
Parson Tucker Goes Wrong.
The Rev w & Tucker ia sought by the