The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-02-10
COMMISSION Plan
] IS BOOSTED AL0n6
SENATE COMMITTEES RECON-
MrNDs RESOLUTION TO AMEND
THE CONSTITUTION
MUST RUSH IN HOUSE
ADVOCATES OF MEASURE TO ASK
THAT IT BE TAKEN UP oU
OF THE REGULAR
ORDER.
MUST RUSH IN HOUSE

Commission form Of government
for virginia cities, although not yet
In sight, advanced a step further
yesterday when the Senate Commit
tee on Courts Of Justice recommend
ed C. U. Gravatt's resolution to
amend the constitution to allow the
Legislature to prescribe any form 1t
secs mt. There was not q dissenting
vote.
The Legislature in passing the res
oiution will only confirm the action
Of the Legislature of 1910. Under
the constitution amendments must
be approved by two general assem-
blfes before put to q vote Of the peo-'
pie of the State. There will he no
opposition to the resolution. A bill
10 be offered following the passage
Of the resolution may be opposed.
Another difficulty arises N under
a joint resolution no bills may be
offered after February Ii. II the
resolution is not through both houses
by that time II will take unantin Gus
consent to get a bill on the floor.
Advocates of the bill, who ove--
looked this, will ask for an early
hearing before the House committee.
They Will request that the resolution
be taken up out OF order and try to
get 1t through before the last day
for offering bills. plan to start the
bill In at once. leaving dates blank.
was rejected. because the bill might
get In ahead Of the resolution and
therefore become annulled.
To Draw the Rill.
Colonel w. II. Sergeant, Of Nor
folk. spoke for tho bill yesterday be-
fore the committee. He had not I'M
derstood. he said, that a bill would
have to follow the resolution. but
would have one drawn at once. Mr.
Walker explained that the bill was
necessary to submit the amendme emit
to the people. a. legislation cannot
be enacted by a resolution. Colonei
Sergeant In an officer la the Virginia
League OF municipalities. wnicn
framed the resolution three years
ago.
There was talk at one time OF sub
shutting an amendment at this term,
leaving off section providing that
city treasurers. commissioners Of the
revenue and clerks be retained. At
forwards II was decided that the res
olution already adopted by one Leg
isiature had better be put through.
Although not supplying ali the de-
mands OF commission form. It Is
half W. measure, and Is a step, Its
advocates say. In the right direc-
ton.
Every effort viii be Made to push
the resolution through in time to Of
fer the bin before February Is.
To Stop Land Grabbing.
Land grabbing in Virginia will be
known no more under q bill offered
in the Senate by sands Gayle, of
yesterday by the Senate Committee
on Courts of Justice. Delinquent tax
commissioners are provided. whose
duty 1t will be to sell land and Collect
the money for taxes.
Commissioners are TO be named.
one in each county, by circuit court
judges. The idea OF the bill Is to
collect for taxes before successive
Years have piled up SO large an
amount that taxes amount to Al much
as the value of the land Mr.. Gayle
claims the law will bring thousands
of dollars into the State treasury.
Under the bill, when land is SOLD.
any surplus reverts back to the own-
err OF the land.
Providing that persons upon mo-
ton OF courts may obtain judgment
In any cases after thirty days' notice,
bill by Mr. Walker bids fair /.
become a law. 1t was reported YES
terday. The present raw gives If
teen days as limit or notice In suits
on contract but makes no provision
for damage suits. The bill by Mr.
Walker adds the words: "Or any
damage suits" The thirty day pro-
vision was made by an amendment
Alexandria county, which will have
the most peculiar government OF any
county In the State when it, board
OF supervisors are under the Thorn
ton bill given legislative powers. now
wants trial justice. It will get 1t.
The bill was reported Yesterday