The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-03-16
BYRD DECLARES
ATTACK UNF AIR
Defends Legislature From Charge
That Members Are Hot
Air Artists.
MUCH WORK ACCOMPLISHED
Former Speaker Says Session
Just Ended Was Most I'm
portant in Years.

Richard Evelyn Byrd former Speak
CT of the House OF Delegates. came to
the front yesterday as the strong
champion of the General Assembly. In
an interview with a reporter for The
session just closed was IN the number
Of big measures adopted. the most i'm
portant in years. He takes the ground
that the public should not condemn
mem bers for not working when they
have worked hard and enacted laws Of
far-reaching value
Il think there has been Il great deal
of unjust and utterly uncalled- for crit
icism of this General Assembly" said
Mr.. Byrd.
This is unfortunate for two reasons
First. 1t dissatishcs the people of Vir-
GINA with their governmental system;
second, IL is unfair TO the individual
mem bers. because 1t tends to destroy
the confidence OF the constituencies in
the representatives. and encourages too
frequent changes.
1T is unjust to charge the members
of the General Assembly with the de-
fects OF an institution for which they
are not responsible. and which was i'm
posed upon them by tho Constitution.
The session Is limited to sixty days
and the mere grinding of the machin-
cry OF legislation takes up a large part
OF that time leaving very little time
for discussion. The charge that the
General Assembly did not work is un-
founded. The average man does not
know that every bill must be consider
cd by the committees of both houses
before II can get on the calendar Of
either. SO that for the first forty days
of the session the Assembly is busy
9Th lie
committees. 1t is tremendous task
to consider and sift out l.4O0 bills.
Not Hot-Afr Artists.
After this task has been performed.
the reported bills go on the calendar.
and discussion and action are trans
fcrred to the full bodies Why should
members of the House he abused for
discussing these bills? a Legislature
is essentially n dclihcrativc body, and
tho right of discussion is vital. If the
mem bcrs discussed n bill they are ac-
cuscd of being hot-air artists. and II
they passed a bill without discussion
they are accused of hasty and ill-con-
sidcred legislation. The fact is that
the average personnel of both House
and Senate is of a very high order.
In the House there were about sixty
FIVE new men, and they had to learn.
While they were learning the very force
and individuality of the members in
ctncd them TO assertion and discussion.
There Is much valuable material among
those new men which should not he
lost 10 the State by the Injurious effect
OF unwarrantcd criticism.
Speaker Cox presided with dignity
and force, and his management during
the last week is worthy of the highest
praise. 1t gives me pleasure to say
that this General Assembly has done
more important work than any Assem-
bly, which has come under my personal
observation. | can cite twelve acts
which. whether we agree with their
purpose or not. we must conccdc TO he
OF the highest importance % the en-
ablinG act; go the tax commission: 90
the codifcation act: % the rolling
stock apportionment: (5) the fee bill:
60 an improved primary law; 90 an
improved child labor law; go an op-
tional death life imprisonment sem
tcnce: CD the Legislative reference bu-
reau; Q0) the general normal college
board: Il) the factory inspection act;
l2) the judges compensation act
Il think this General Assembly
should have the thanks. not the CON
dcmnation. OF the State"