The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-02-26
THE TIMES RICHMOND Va MONDAY rEBRARy g 1919
LEGISLATIVE COMMENT
By LEWIS H. MACHEN
REVIEW AND PROSPECT

thorlty of the General Assembly. The
light which has been made TO abolish
the convict contract system has. to tho
extent stated, failed, though it is now
recognized more plainly than ever
that the system IS doomed, and Is even
now in the process Of ultimate eA-
tmction
The Appropriation BilIs.
The duplicate appropriation bills.
the most volunnous aud BY many en-
tcemed the most important measures
to DO considered by the General AS
Bembly, having been prepared by the
subcommittee OF the Joint Finance
Committees of the TWO houaes and ap-
proved by the fun committees, were
reported TO the Senate and House on
saturday ana set as special orders for
wednesday. They appropriate about
Sl3,poo,ooo Tor tre Two fiscal years
with which they deal.
1t Is supposed they will cause two
or three days debate IN each house
On one occasion the appropriation hill
went through the House in one day.
under the able generalsiIip OF Colonel
y. NJ. bowman, but this example il not
expected to DE duplicated at this sas-
sion some members with a passion
FOR economy wili try 10 cut down Ger
tain appropriations. ana those having
institutions located in their districts
Viii endcavor 10 have appropriations
Cor tic same materially Increased
some Of these movements Will succeed.
but, IN inc main, the recommends ions
bills coming from the two bodies VIII,
OF course. vary IN some important par
ticulhrs. and these differences will be
fought our IN eonference. Tho final
last acts OF the Legislature.
InvcstiEntIons.
= couple Of weeks ago the House of
Delegates ADOPTED a Joint resolution
looking to the investigation OF the De-
rartrnent Of Public Instruction. which
went 10 the Senate Committee on Pub
nc Institutions and Education. This
COMMITTEE" invited those who had com
plants 10 offer asains; the DEPART
m"nt 70 present their evidence which.
the committee decided did not make
oNt a prima fac!e case. IN this view.
the Senate concurred. 1hcrcupon an
effort was made TO have the House
hnii an investigation OF this depart
ncnt on Its own account. but the
!Iouse voted the resolution down. II
Is regarded on all sides that the Legis-
lature has In this manner vindicated
me department % Pubic Instruction
from tho charges which have c!rcu-
lated aeains; him
Tie House has adopted a resolution
looking to the appointment OF House
cations OF various institutions OF the
state
Understanding Bin.
The bill To provide for two State
nine grinding plants TO supply the
iatincrs with ground raw lime has
peen special order tn the House for
some days, but was pushed aside tenn
porhriiy By the prolonged discussion
provoked py the Jordan bill The at
tack upon the measure has been un-
"%2SNAsply vigorous, and has post
poncd action upon IL until to-day The
chances are that it will pass the House
out us prospects in the Senate arc no;
especially bright The Governor has
taken strong ground in Its favor. ana
the agricultural interests generally
are supporting st, but the fact that il
marks departure for the state to
engage IN work which has heretofore
been left TO private enterprise Is max
inE a number OF Senators hesitate ia
ascihre Tor II. This late in the scs-
sion II will 10 extremely dinicmlt for
any controversial matter coming from
'ns rouse 10 get the requisite consid-
Grafton in the senate
Tax Commission Dill.
The bill providing for state Tax
commission. OF which Speaker Byrd
Is the main advocate. is the spcciai
order Immediately following the lime
ss,rindinS Din In the House. The House
fIhhnce Committee has reported a
substitute measure. which has aIready
bceh discussed at some length in this
column: II Is certain 10 cause d great
i-Nl OF discussion. which will be in
tcfrupted by the appropriation Bill on
Wednesday, that measure having pro
ctdence Of all others 1t is possibIe
that toward the close OF the week i,
VIII be known whether the House viii
approve any Tax Commission meas
urc II is not Improbable that the
Rouse VIII pass 1t in something like
me form of the substitute, but tho
senate Is not likely 10 reach II this
session. Counting out three days for
the appropriation bill, there will he
only nine working days Of tho session
lett. and many other matters are press
ing for action. Il Is a great pity that
both houses could not have arreed
M this session upon some plan 10
remedy the known ard admitted in
QUALITIES now existing in the matter
OF assessments
The Gnme Bill
IN the Senate the Moncure- Ruthsr-
ioord game bill is set for a special
order Tuesday. but the primary bill
and the appropriation bill will have
me effect OF putting off Its considera
Ion TIL Friday. The Committee on
Fish and Came OF the Senate and thai
OF General Laws OF the House have
proposed amendments which are con
sidered as impairing the efficiency or
me measure. However, IL is hoped
mat these VIII be voted down and tha
bill enacted in its original form 7, Is
nnpossible to tell what opposition may
ueVeioP on the floors. and at this stage
OF me proceedings any considerable
opposition IS likely to prove fatal
There is strong support of the meas
nre among the sportsmfn of the state
and some OF the farming interests
ana the conservation societies have
eNerted themselves in its behalf.
miscellaneous.
The Senate on Friday passed the
t s OH forbidding the killing OF
robins. The amendment making i,
optional in counties on the vote OF
the supervisors was lost. The school
children OF the State and the Audubon
society, us well as the Farmers In
sutute, are largely responsible for the
passage OF the bill.
me House Committee on Roads
MONDAY definitely passed by Senator
VESTS bill requiring railroads to issue
t .i't mileage books. This
means the death of the measure
The House ON Saturday passed :,
Joint resolution looking to the reyi-
sion OF the Code. This is matter.
winch the present Legislature ought
certainly to attend to- hut hitherto