Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-01-08
VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE
Sixtv.Days Session to Begin We'd
nesday Important Measures to
be Considered.

Richmond. Jan. "wednesday
next, at noon, the Senate of Virginia
will be called to order by Lieutenant
Governor ]. Taylor Ellyson, and after
PRAYER the members will be sworn in
for a term OF four years. Officers
named at this session will also hold
their positions for the full term OF four
years.
No opposition has developed 80 far
against Clerk Marshall B. Booker,
Sareeant-at-arlns Frank 3. Watkins,
Doorkeeper, S. NJ. Donald and Assis-
tant Doorkeeper James Walsh and
they will be reelected, Clerk John W.
p!9iliisnn1s will call the House OF Dele
gates to order, no being the only hold
over official. After new members are
sworr in the election Of officers will
take place. Richard Evelyn Byrd, for
speaker has no opposition, and will be
reelected. All employees Of both
lo1ses will be chosen at separate eau
cusss to be held on Tuesday night.
Clerk Williams, of the House OF
Delegates, will be reelected without
opposition, as will ]. NJ. Johnson, SER
geant-at-arms. S. III. Newhonse, first
doorkeeper, and HI. B. Truslow, Sc
cond doorkeeper, will probably have
to make s fight for their positions.
as there are several rumored candi-
dates.
This biennial session is for space
OF co days. In the event business is
not finished within that period an extra
session will have to be called, or the
members serve the extra days without
paw. There are several measures to be
considered any OF which could be
Iclassed as the most important, chief
among which are:
A measure to abolish the contract
by which state prison convicts are let
out to shoe manufactured rs. Public
sentiment is against the continuance OF
this contract despite the fact tnat it
brings the commonwealth 1924, 600
annually. This contract expires in
May 1913.
One OF the most difficult questions to
be decided is the redistricting OF the
congressional and the state senatorial
and House districts in accordance with
the recent census. The future political
life OF several congressman will rest
upon the redistrictins.
Another measure. which is attract
ing attention from every quarter OF the
state is the Enabling Act, which it is
thought will 90 through the house with
a good majority, but its fate i'll the
Senate is a question OF doubt. This
measure will refer TO the people the
question OF statewide prohibition. 1t
will BIO first introduced in tue House.
Other problems to face the lawmak-
ers are the equitable distribution Of the
burdens OF taxation; providing for the
improvement and extension OF state
institutions without visible money to
do so: the question of the state creating
lime quarries throughout the state and
working the convicts therein, that
lime for fertilizer purposes can be sold
to the farmers as near cost as possible;
an amendment to the state constitution
comforting the suffrage on woman; the
legislation Of primary elections; the
ratification or rejection OF the federal
income tax; amendments to the state
banking laws making more stringment
the rules against allowing overdrafts, and
the establishments of an institution for
the predetermined and extension OF the
probation system for inebriatesr
The message OF Governor Mann will
be submitted to both houses as soon as
they are organized. The message will
cover the governors views on all OF
the questions enumerated above and on
questions of lesser interest than those
noted.