The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-01-07
ExrnA SESSION ron TAX LEGISLATION.

Though the cynical may take advantage Of the
opportunity to say that the less time the gen
erai assembly has in which 10 act the less likely
she general assembly is 20 at in a foolish man
ner and that the shorter the session the less
time Ii will have to DO things which should be
ierf undone. the cynical fortunately only amuse
sometime and bore NEST of the time and have
no OTHER duty In the world but 10 talk. The
cynic TALKS. is heard. if others have nothing
better to do than To listen To him. enjoyed-on
infreauenf occasions and forgot The worth
while ones discuss this question of sixty or
ninety day session witt seriousness and with a
frank desire To discover what is best for tho
State, They have 10 time for snarling-
Again taking issue with the cynic-a very safe
t4fng 10 do--Dost healthy minded people will
agree that the worth while ones are in the ma,
sorasy and they are, therefore not surprised that
widespread discussion should have been oc-
rasinnea by The revival Of tbs suggestion that
the length of the session Of the general assembly
bo Increased from sixty 10 ninety days. Sixty
days every tlyo years. 81 ia maintained, do not
provide sufficient opportunity for meeting the
legislative needs of Virginia, with her growing
population. wealth and interests. Moreover. it
Il pointed ont sixty-4las session provides really
hut forty-tvo working days. Sundays must be
eliminated and about ten days are consumed In
! tho work Of organization.
Fsrty-tyeo days every seven hundred and thirty
as very small proportion 70 devote legislative
wUrl. and # IL very probable that more unwise
legislation &c enacted in forty-two days than
would he enacted In ninety, because the rush
la greater and many bills slip through which
and no ehanae whatever If subjected to
M N and personal consideration by the
q other hand some Of the rush of our
~ session now is due probably to the
~ drift along amid sea of oratory
be esrIy days aud attempting to make
lost time st tho close This tendency
found. in all its glory were the session
naty a hundred and twenty days, but
paid be more time for talk and idleness
there would
patte 50 mue1 postponed work to be
aeaned up IN rush,
@H DsscnssioB Of This question lis timely and in
diseassicn II The rigat kind rests tie solution,
sIosever whether one favors or opposes longer
sessson. ail masl aam3t that more should be done
she dlyision coming on the question OF means
i'e oar mind abere u one means by which
ran BIZ done a. the coming session Of the gen
sraI aa.sernbg In si6ty days than has been usually
\ .ocompiished by previous lcgtslaturea--a means
.hieh should appeal 70 al. whether favoring or
\ upposing ninetyday term. The general as
" 1atssEar Which meets next week has before II
& more and greater questions than legislatures of
N recent years haye had TO deal with OF the two
Esf three questions the greatest importance
4 sherA r ofle whinh VIII and should take much
sfnne for its disposal. There arc one or two Of
aassaal importance, AMONG Them being The enabling
afs bat the question Of tax reform viii require
sEAinleg aud aiqse ieagthy consideration, chiefly