The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1914-01-28
Legislative Re
view.

Cox, of Richmond, as Speaker
and the appointment OF the
, committees the House went
promptly To work Lieutenant
Governor EIlyson has grasped
the reins again on the Senate
side and the Legislative team
is off.
The present session of the
Legislature will prove the bust
est yet. As the State and it's
demands grow the business of
the General Assembly will do
likewise until tn g sixty day
session will be too short for
the accomplishment of even a
tenth of il.
Naturally, the enabling act
attracts primary attention be-
cause:of the ardor of both its
friends and foes Having been
disposed of by the House of
Delegates at tn e beginning.
public attention will be center
ed upon the attitude of the SEN
ate, which is not definitely
known The wet forces, how
ever, are jubilant and claim
there,will be no material change
in the Senate iine up of 1912.
This Legislature will find the
question Of taxation the big
gest one on the boards-too big,
in fact, to be dealt with in one
short session. There bids fair
ia be a strife between segrega
ton and equalization with the
probable results of compro-
mize containing both features.
Certainly the ground can be
cleared and much confusion
eliminated at the present sos
sion, but the really construc-
tive work must be done be-
tween sessions and the finish
ing touches bestowed at a spec
ial session.
The general subject of taxa
ton touches the Legislature at
almost every point. Already
the question of taxing bank de.
posits has caused an apparent
difference between the coming
and the going governors. The
upshot will be n reduction of
the tax. There is strong senti
ment for this reduction and the
abolition Of the tax may be
looked for when the treasury
becomes able to stand the strain
The primary will demand
more than ordinary attention
this session since the defects of
the present law have become
I obvious to all. The bill already
offered by Delegate White, of
Rockbride, is n comprehensive
t measure similar to that now in
force in Winconsin, and would
supercede the existing statute.
. SenatorPaul too has q thorough.
going plan for a preferential
primary and also one for gener-
al nominating purposes. Other
gentlemen will doubtless aeek
20 engraft some amendments
upon the present law.
Other election reforms will be
undertaken but such efforts are
in danger of meeting their Wat
erloo in the Senate, which has
temasculated the primary and
buried measures intended o
prevent the corrupt payment of
poll taxes and to remove the
names of deceased persons from
the ting lists. Delegate
Chalkley has bill to prevent
Judges and clerks of election
from trying to influence voters.
IL has been estimated that the
active interest of election off
ciais is worth one-fourth of the
vote, even assuming there is n
fair count! Delegate Buchan.
an has presented a number of
cognate measures. Senators
Cannon and Featherston have
introduced a bill which has the
backing of the State and Ma.
Btional Travellers Protective Az.
ISOLATION and the United Com
mercial Travellers to n 10 "
voters necessarily absent from
their polling places to send their
hollAt, IA