Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1912-01-10
BUSY DAYS FOR OUR
VIRGINIA LAWMAKERS
General Assembly Convenes To-
day In Biennial Session
MANY QUESTIONS TO COME UP
To Equalize Taxes and Redistr1ct
the STATE


sion of the General Assembly OF l9lz
which convenes today at noon in
Richmond, the members will work
nnder high pressure. For variety
Of important subjects which must be
aud decided. for volume
of analytic and debative work to be
for intensity OF public
interest. this session has not been
since that which immedi-
ateIy followed and was coexistent
with the Constitutional Convention
of 1912. For amount OF public
business compressed into the snort
space of sixty days. it has not been
surpassed in a generation. Night
sessions without number, committee
hearings intermipable, oratory IN
restrained save for lack OF time,
visits of sovereign citizens and del
egations from the home counties
and cities await the members.
Following are some OF the most
important problems to be disposed
Of:
Equitible distribution of the bur-
dens OF taxation.
Encouragement OF the congress
,ional. State senatorial and House
Of Delegates districts, in accordance
with the United States census OF
1910.
Renewal OF the contract for con-
Wet labor at the pepitentiary or
abolition of the system.
Employment OF convicts in lime
quaries, on the public roads or on
rock piles.
Consideration Of proposition Tor
a referendum Of the liquor question
by petition.
Z Proposals OF On amendment to the
q Constitution conferring suffrage
i on women.
e Bills looking to the legelization o
primary elections.
It Ratification or rejection OF thu
e Federal income tax.
D. Establishment OF an institution 10
l. the feeble minded and extension
of the probation system for ineorlates
al Amendments to the State banking
u laws.
D. Perhaps the issue which will tax
re the most people to Richmond, an
lie which will arouse the keenest tgh
is ing. will be the redistribution. \
he Encouragement of the COMPRESSION
et districts so far proposed has met tt
re approval OF more than a minorit
Naturally. every congressman, ev
RS nv candidate and every prospecti'
We lawtnaker has an interest in tn
Ill matter, and local feeling can
lat easily aroused by the mere menti'
is of new lines to be drawn about d
rts tricts, and the breaking up OF
Dry associations. Hardly less in t
OF public mind will be the redictri
at ing for seats in the Legislature,
nd. which great deal is to be done.
lis The Anti-Saloon League will, 1t
nix, presumed, ask for law permitti
or the people. by petition, to call
to election on the subject of State-w
her prohibition. The fight will be
be the Senate. 1t is expected that
nay State license taxes on the liq'
our business will again be increas
\ GU although not in so large a prop
gate ton as at the last session.
for The suffrage bill will furnish m
Iica or less interest.
the Ratification OF the proposed +
w. eral income tax, which was apr
t OF ed by the last Senate and rejec
bell; by the last House, will again
Mrs. sought. It's fate is exceedir
4 as doubtful.
goes But the real work OF the ses'
wo- will revolve about the question
'ther taxation. Agitated more and q
the OF recent years, it is thought
work work of the State Tax Commits
ID at will Indicate to the representa-
Ie In that some change is necessary.
that a new deal is due. Utter
your eoua.ities in what is called
no tenn" existing in this State, al
II the is believed, shown to such an