The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-01-10
WEDNESDAY. JANUARY ie. 1919.
THE GENERA ASSEMBLY. IN PROSPECT

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. IN PROSPECT.
The favored heir of several OF its Immediate
predecessors which set in motion forces OF new
thought and progress which have done honor
to the State. Upon broader lines. its chiet
duty will be to correct mistakes and oversights
inse parable from the passage of any great wave
of awakening This duty OF detail Is only de-
establishment OF fundamental needs. the con-
sesvation of initiative to It's legitimate ends. 1t
can perform this duty better and more con
sIstently by OF the fact that 1t numbers
assstets its personnel many of the pioneers Of
shs, has been truly era of foresight and
iiberahty. 1t be aided In such a performance
BY the fresh blood of the members. who
come with the enthusiasm and understand
Ing of those sprung directly from the people
To body thus composed meeting a, time
-saanen. and affective a first lnapuise=the=Ftr
einam extends welcome that is all the warm
er for the faith it feels both in their ability
and their patriotism.
The legislative task in the crowded sixty
DAYS OF it's session Is TO be both commercial
both material and moral It is TO fuse it's
tion into the perfect composition of business
and sentiment. A hard task but one for which
the time is ripe.
Economically the prime purpose win be the
Standardization and systematic development or
old undertakings planned on new lines. or such
will be consideration of a bill for the eauaiza-
f'on Of taxes among the counties. to the end
of both increasing the funds applicable for
Stale development and preventing discrmina-
ton of an unjust character between different
counties. OF such will be the always delicate
problem of compromising determination Tor
educational advancement with cautious re-
card for expenditures In this duty, too are
Included such minor but important matters
IA the proper use Of convicts. the scientihc
management and administration of road build
ing the settlement of the always difficult ques-
-;ion Of school books and the method of their
adoption. provision for the possibilities in
herent In the passage Of the Federal Income
Tax Amendment. and other things of less gem
eral but none the less permanent Importance
Morally there is in the consideration of the
TAX problem a distinct issue Of civic honesty:
there is also the crying need. exemplihed In
more than one scandal. for the passage OF a
primary lew which shall both guard the right
of suffrage and provide effective method
OF seeing that such right is not rrostituted,
an il has been to the ends of illegal and cor
rupt registration: that there shall also be
simpliication of the laws respecting bribery
and the adoption Of the best provisions OF GER
tain corrupt practices acts looking to the purity
of candidacy and the ballot. Lastly. as the
Vtrgtnlan thinks more important than all
the duty Of needing demand for the suomis
sion of the question of prohibition-a demand
that has existed and grown in intensity WIN
the years despite disappointment and tenn
porary failure, among increasing body oil
The poop now so large as not to Dc longer
nut of without the sacrifice OF the principle
Of representative government
In meeting these Obligations the General As
sembly faces a task that. 10 be honestly per
fl, med within two months time. calls for the
sacrifice of ease and the spur OF continuous
labor. That the members who constitute the
]. h..dv lace The necessity and make benz
10 the common good is not oniy the Wish o.
the rsra,nian. but the result to which 1t looks
with confidence and hope.