The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-03-17


There is. OF course, difference Of opinion as
10 The relatye Importance Of measures which
eocapsed tie attention OF the general assembly
Purely local bills were apparently Of much
groater importance Than a general law affect
Ing the people a ;te entire state Changes Ia /
town charters. ia county read laws were given
right og way. aaa could GET hearing on the
ground Of legislative courtesy and could push
aside matter Of vital Importance to the entire
STATE The average legislator seems to be more
greatly concerned to pass a Law which is de
manaea by the people Of his own district than
be Is TO pass a Law which is demanded by the
people os the entire state. And SO ii has come
10 pass that the greater part of the time OF the
general assembly is given up to the considera
ton OF matters which should not be considered
BY the general assembly at all
The corporation commission is object
lesson OF what relief can be afforded TO the gen
eral assembly by placing in the hands of COM
mission work which can be done much more
satisfactory by d commission than by the
general assembly
Mr. Land. OF Nottoway introduced bill and
carried il safely to its third reading IN the
house Of delegates. which bill embodied the
principle which must inevitably be adopted by
the general assembly: namely, that local legis-
iation must by general statute be placed in the
hands 81 local county and city boards. Mr..
!. Lands bill provided that this authority should
u be placed Ia the hands Of boards OF supervisors
And while it is possible that some of the details
cf this bill may not have been entirely perfect.
yet the principle is SO sound and the results
would have been so helpful in relieving the
general assembly Of the great mass of local bills
that the assembly could well have run the risk
Of passing tbe ban and giving it a trial for two
years, and at Inc expiration Of that time could
remedy any defects which might become evident
such a bill. however, is not likely to be passed
until the people themselves demand that the
affairs Of the local neighborhood which affect
i only the local neighborhood shall be left in
the hands ot the local authorities. The town
and city councils now have authority To pass
upon matters of far greater moment than the
multitude OF the local measures introduced into
the general assembly for Its consideration. The
greatest obstacle to the passage Of the Land bill
was the jealousy Of the members themselves lest
any portion OF their personal prerogatiyes
should he diminished Mr.. Land very forcibly
stated that it was very much more democratic
TO delegate to boards Of supervisors the author
ity 10 pass local legislation rather than to give
to the members of the general assembly the
authority to inltiafe and 10 carry through such
local legislation asAfhe individual member might
stamp with his approval
The objection was raised to the Land bill that
Ii was calculated to create county olgarchy,
and would enable the boards of supervisors to
buiid mp Il machine in every county in the State
n 3at would 1t not be better to that risk.
rather 10 retain the present system which makes
She representative Of the county In the general
assembly a xoritaale= autoerat, and when that
Representative s a small. narrow man or a man
\ who can be- controlled by vicious elements. he
has the power TO fasten upon the county or the
-eS1ae1-nGly- pcrncious Legislation The
Green l.5H relating TO the city of DanviiIe. the
Leody niil providing for dtspensary election at
Shenandoah the Clement bill providing for a
dspeusary election at Gretna; these are all ex-
& an1ples Of l.arnigsoUs personal legislation. And
there Was doubtless more Of similar nature.
The present system not only chokes up the
proper flow Of legislation Of Statewide import
aHce, hut it gives undue weight to the views OF
aha individual members Of the general assembly
Iii ii not likely for this reason that the general
assesgably VIII curtaH the preroeativos Of in
aivldual members until the people realize the
need Of RELIEF from such personal legislation. and
n Remand that it be placed in the hands OF their
own local boards.