The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1912-03-14
RIG MoND. VA snecia,

r c H NJ o N d, v A, Special
one hundred and thirty-nine legis-
lators return to their constituents this
afternoon, after having been in ses-
sion sixty days, after having partici-
pated in the spending of perhaps
$4,000 of the peoples money, to ex
plain why they have done practically
nothing.
Sixty days ago the General Assem-
Oily OF virginia convened. There was
new blood in both branches, parti-
quarry IN the House. The members
were full of promises; their constitu
ents were full of hope, and the State
at large looked forward to a session
or active legislation, q session of prog
gress, of reform where necessary, of
construction.
1t is not literally true that the Leg
islature has done nothing. 1t is not
literally true that the legislature has
not kept its promises. Among - few
other things it has passed the robin
Oil. 1t may not have kent all its
promises to the people, but it has kent
TO the letter-and good measure-all
or the promises it made to the State
officeholders, and the treasurers and
sheriffs and deputies and clerks and
commissioners of the revenue have
reason to be proud of their represen-
tatives.
The people-well. the people didn't
seem to count very much-that is. at
tcA tie SeSSlOn began. O1 course. dur
ing the campaigns and elections the
people were everything-the prospec-
tive senators and delegates said so
from every stump in the Common
wealth-but speaking from a stump
and comforting behind closed doors in
committee room are different propo-
sitions altogether.
Draw Own Conclusions.
1t has been Indignantly denied that
TINS is not Legislature Of the office
would not admit 1t, so their denial in
the minds OF many, throws no Tight
upon the situation. The only avail
able facts are that the Legislature has
not carried out all the wishes OF the
people, while il has carried out Ali the
wishes of the office-hoIders. From
these facts the public must draw its
own conclusion.
In many respects, however. this
Legislature. since its very beginning,
has been different from most others
There have been fewer real leaders
In the House particularly every other
seat has been occupied by a new
man-fresh from the people, or his
county treasurer@and many Of these
men knew nothing OF parliamentary
Jurisprudence; knew nothing of the
procedure. and some have not vet
learned enough to engineer their bills
through the necessary channels with
out the assistance of one of the older
members.
Again. there has been the underlv-
ing liquor question since the opening
day. Hardly was a vote taken-even
on the most trivial local bilI-that in
some Interior way the liquor question
was not present and no sooner was
the liquor fight ended than the redis-
tricting storm broke and again the
House was plunged. first. into ano-
other whiskey fight, then into a bit
ter. partisan controversy.
4
that the members were more intent
upon so manipulating legisla ton that
they would be returned TO the next
General Assembly than upon doing
any real work at this session. and be-
cause OF that many OF the most i'm
portant measures, except those that
affected officeholders. were shuff1ed
from one house to the other; batted
around like ping-pong balls, and now
that the last day is at hand. the sena-
tors and delegates declare franticany
that they have been so crowded that
they have been unable to pass one
tenth Of the intended bills: that they
want more time. The question. how
ever, resolves itself into a simple
mathematical proposition:
II the Legislature did nothing in
sixty days. how much would il do in
ninety days?
Matters Before 1t.
some or the important matters be-
fore the General Assembly, matters
upon which the State expected legis-
latiOn. were:
Railway bills.
Insurance. bills
Tax bills.
Game bills
Primary bills
Liquor bills
The appropriation bill.
The woman's college bill.
Labor bills.
The fee bill
The treasurers' and commissioners
bills.
The redistricting bill
Only two railway bills of any i'm
portance have been passed-the VIII