The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-12-22
Views Of the
Virginia Editors
.rhr New Legislatures.

with the new year there viii as
semblc in Richmond the representa-
tiVcs from the various counties and
cities of the Commonwealth. to enact
such laws AS they may deem the pco-
pie OF the State need. For the most
part, the House OF Delegates viii be
composed or new men, inexperienced
in Legislation work, but auXiou4 to
serve the wishes OF their constituents
to whom they are directly responsible.
There are many. especially in the
Eastern section OF the state. who
show tendency TO belittle the work
OF the Legislature. and express the
sentiment that II Is unwise that they
meet bicnnially. This IL on the theory
that We have too many laws. and that
the changing nj statutes 80 often
causes unrest End dissatisfaction.
No one can deny that many foolish
acts find thel. way on our statute
books. and these laws arc or both Il
special and general nature. In the
natural course of events. 1t could not
be otherwise. When the short ses-
sion is considered. however rs well a
the diverse interests OF the various
sections OF the State. tho many intr!-
cate and important measures proposed
and which have 10 be considered, IL
should be a source OF wonder that the
number IL so few.
At the last session OF the IIegisia-
ture one measure. state wide prohibit
lion. consumed practically nalt OF the
sixty day session, leaving for consId-
Grafton OF all other measures the rest
OF the time. OF the hundreds OF bills
proposed. II was q matter Of !mpossl-
bility that each should receive due
consideration In the committee room
and during the sessions. As result
The great majority suffered the fate
that was TO have been expected. and
that was to die on the calendar Little
else could have been expected when
discussion Of one question over
shadowed all others in a short sixty
day session.
In This session. which Will convene
questions to DO considered. BY reason
OF the vote two years ago and the
fact that the personnel OF the senate
remains practically Unchanged IL is
believed that the enabling act" ques-
Zion VIII not consume so much time.
though there Is little doubt but that
another vote will be taken
The really great question to be de-
cidcd will be tax reform and many
and various will he the bills offered
for this purpose. Whether II will take
the form OF segregation. tax commits
Sion or an assessment Of tho counties
and cities. remains TO be seen but this
is the real live Issue in the state at
This lime. Any scheme for an assess
'nent OF real estate can be made eff
tective by 1915. as the present assess
ment VIII remain in force until that
time, and unless some remedy is fur
hishcd for the present intolerable CON
hitionS at this session, they will have
10 remain the same, so far as assess
ments on real estate are concerned
nntll 1920. 1t Is almost unthinkablc
mat this will be the case.
IN addition to this, there arc other
questions OF hardly less Importance
to be considered. Take 1T as YOU
please the Legislature has great work
10 do and little time within which TO
30 II. They deserve commentator
Tor their efforts. instead of abuse. and
sympathy Instead Of criticism.-Em
poria Messenger
Save tho birds.
II the farmers of Virginia would
only stop to think OF the many now
Insects that now devastnte their crops.
that were unknown when birds were
plentiful. they would protect the birds
| by posting their lands, in case other
means failed.
Fortunately, however, other means
may soon be available to save tho
| birds. II every one interested Will ask
their members OF the State Legislature
| to support tho Wise bill, which VIII
be introduced In the General Assem-
bly, in 1914. This bill. prepared by
! Captain Jennings c. Wise, OF the Vir-
| ginia Military Institute, is modelled
| along the lines of the Moncurc- Ruther-
f,rd III I,t, FOIL aI 80