The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-10-09
INCREASED, HOME RULE INDIs-
PENSABLE.

f6NSADL6s
One hundred and thirty-seven Of the
$40 acts Of the General Assembly or
Virginia Of 1912 deal with matters Of
local self-government. Perhaps few
of these may involve the general pow
ers Of the State. but the remainder
are concerned only with local matters
which do not concern the people OF
the State. but only the people OF the
specific cities, counties or districts
affected. When more than one-tn1fo
of the measures passed by burdeneo
legislature deal solely with local mat
,ers It is high time to call halt ana
to consider whether 1t would not oei
well for US to demand drastic reform.
The constitutional provision for the
settlement of local legislation by the
General Assembly is out OF line with
advanced principles Of government
The function OF the State Legislature
is to formulate laws which will ahect
all the people OF the State and not
merely the people Of isolated COM
r,unity units. Local self-government
is a priced phrase. but in Virginia II
does not mean as much as 1t should.
In SO far As the people of given
community can govern themselves
without violating the law or trespass-
ing upon the rights of other conmunI-
ties or the welfare OF the State. just
so far that community ought to rule
Itself under the liberal general laws
laid down by the State
Editor Land Of the Blackstone Cou-
rier. a serious minded legislator him
self. shortly after the adjournment OF
the last General Assembly declared
that the constitutional provision as
to local legislation amounts to moth
irg. The local representative asks
for what is wanted and it is given
him. usually without question from
s,vore- he SAYS accurately. In
other words. ALI local legislation is
practically done by the local repre-
sentative The remedy which ne suS-
r.sts is logical: that are powers OF
civ cou.cils and county boards OF
supervisors be- greatly eniarset under
necessary restrictions" What is row
I entrusted TO one man. the local repre-
sentative. NAV safely he Trusted to
the several supervisors ard counties
} Local legislation rot only chOkss of
general legislation. bit takes prece-
acacc Of it avcry member hrs local
bill that &c i anxious - get through,
and there is = sor; of Unwritten com
part that each legislator must help
tho ots~. 20 ct bis leasgfe through.
tn state measures concerning all the
people ere laid on the side table.
e the hroadsst practicable degree Of
Rome rule is &c, vested IN tie cities.
The incv.taTI. resgl; VIII De the ea-
;easior % the present legislative ses-
sic- or -. introduction % annual ses-
= sious Tn. people desire neither Of
rrss~ ~ JarS IS correct WREN Re
Observes iSst SIC stat. IS r-owins.
the ccaa-r gr!tIet pre- growing. and Goa
SegnenilF IhFlT p"'i"'Ss -
= More busiuess mems thai there nus'
. be more time to consider - Wril'
? the LEGISLATURE wastes time now. 81
. cannot Re denied that tire press % -,
, work Is rapidly becoming too 81 n
, 70 handle.
, There is but one re;'or~l serns -
|. - -, A. ,bc -,y.~;frer. OF the yco.
: PIE with broz5 powers % local 81
d sovcrnup.rt. In Other States 'hai &
tss saccsssfai method adopted. and 81
: ). ,s. cne We r7us- s1oo, se-eL III.
: a,xt General ksserao9y mus; -sssidss
8 tAs vVsel>rE seriously sns Blaze tss
Q ~ay Ter Ia owa .e::s:. 80 tsas VIA;