The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-01-29

Richard Lewis Brewer. Jr. is axaiy,
representing the city of Suffolk and
Nansemond county, the great tide
water section OF Virginia. as a membef
of the house OF delegates. Mr.. Brewer
at present enjoys the distinguished
honor of being chairman of the APP
preparations committee, regarded by
many as the ranking committee In the
lower branch of the legislature. He
Is also a member of the house finance
committee. and member of the COM
mittee on the Chesapeake and Its trib-
utarles.
Mr.. Brewer entered the house the
session OF 1919, and was assigned to
the committee on finance and to two
minor committees AS member 81
the finance committee last session
his record and achievements led UP to
the splendid committee assignments
he now holds The life work Of Mr..
finance. He has been a remarkably
successful business man in the city Of
Suffolk. his native home. Here he
started In life az a poor boy, and
worked his way to his present posi-
ton. beth in the business and poiftf-7
cal life Of his community and state.
He has been active In political az
fairs since early manhood was for
twelve consecutive years mayor OF
his home town, and has never been de-
feated for a political office In his
whole career.
At the last session OF the general
assembly Mr.. Brewer was patron OF
bill which marked the original and
| first effort on the floor OF the house
to pass anti-fec legislation in Viz
ginia. The provisions OF that meas
lure required the county Officers TO
report fees collected by them to the
auditor OF public accounts. from
which information It was his purpose
to try and draw an intelligent and
equitable anti-fee bill to be presented
to the present house of delegates. He.
was eminently successful on the floor
OF the house with this bill, gaining
every point where q majority vote
only was required, and finally lost ON
motion to take the bill up ont OF.
| it's order, which required three
fourths vote OF the house.
A regular anti-fee bill has just been
presented by Mr.. Brewer at the pres
emit session. which provides that all
county and city officers collecting
fees shall be placed on a flat salary
basis He has also introduced bill
creating a State board of pardons.
which body may cit on only such
cases az are punishable with death.
This board Ii { oact In an advisory
capacity to the governor. and would
doubtless be OF great assistance to the
executive in dividing the responsibil,
| ity now imposed wholly upon tho
chief magistrate OF the Common
wealth. Mr.. Brewer IL patron OF many.
other minor measures presented be-
fore the present house, and has also
been active in committee work and In
debate. He ID regarded as among the
strong men In the lower branch 0fs
she present general assembly, anA
as one who has already made hiSs
mark.
1t Ia the conviction Of the delegAt6
from Nansemond that the .redrAwtn8
OF q proper and binding primary cleo
ton law, q readjustment or aboiiti0n
OF the present Zee system, and radical
remedial, legislation In the tax lAwSs
OF the States are matters OF parAmont
Importance at this time, and should
claim grave and serious consddsrA-
ton 1T the haHds Of the genern ~
sempiy. Mr.. Brewer ID an advocate
Of advanced ana progressive lS8ialars
| ton, but n conservative enough t6
| be- regarded al eminently nAfe M
3udSnent, and sound ana rati0nal tas