The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-22
ANNUAL SESSIONS
OF LEGISLATURE
Delegate White Proposes Amend
ment to State Consti-
tuition.
REGULATE LOCAL BILLS
Leave Second Session for Con-
sideration OF Really lmpor-
tant Business.
REGULATE LOCAL BILLS

Annual sessions OF the General AS,
sembly arc proposed In joint rcsolu-
ton looking to an amendment to the
Constitution. offered yesterday by Dell
cgate Hugh a White. of Rockbrldsc
In lieu OF the proposal for extending
the time OF the biennial session from
sixty to ninety days. Mr. White pro-
poses that the sessions be held annual
~. and DO limited to ffty days each
Nj bills are 10 be introduced ut thu.
FIRST session after the members are
elected. and all matters OF private and
local character must be disposed of a
that session. leaving the second ses-
sion for the consideration OF general
bills which have been introduced and
referred and which members will have
had time TO study and lay before their
constituents In the interim The time
now lost In organization would DO
saved at the sccond session. as the or
ganization would hold over and mere
ily resume where IL left Off
Rushed Through PciI-MelI.
In explaining his amendment to tho
Constitution yesterday. Mr. White said:
1T is conceded by every member of
tho General Assembly. and every one
else familiar with the facts that the
session of the General Assembly un-
der the Constitution now existing is
IN large measure. a farce, because It
Is impossible. with the avalanche OF
biiis-especiaily local measures-to
eifN aNCfOAtSIy IhlT consideration to
any measure. The result now Is that
during tho last three weeks OF tho
session bills are passed pell-mell, and
nobody knows what they are voting
for half the time.
That a ninety day session would be
barely sufficient TO do the work Is adj
mitted. and the Governor has recon-
mended an amendment 10 the Constitu-
ton TO provide for ninety day ses-
sion Few business men are willing
10 leave their Offices and business for
ninety days at time while they
might be willing to come to Lcgisla-
ture for nifty days. The annual scs-
sions of fifty days each provided in the
amendment call for only ten days more
than the ninety days conceded by every
one TO be necessary.
Bills Mt First Session
1T would be Of great ADVANTAGE to
have the bills introduced at the FIRST
session, and those of Importance would
be left over for consideration at the
second session, and the people would
have time TO consider such measures
as were proposed. This would large
~ supply the place OF political plat
forms. which are now far too rare and
general In their nature when made.
The cost would be inconsiderab BILE in
Wow of the great advantages which
would obviously be obtained by the an
nual session. as Indicated In the amend
ment. No bills or a local nature
would be introduced at the second ses-
sion.
The Commonwealth OF Virginia is a
great State. and Its business must be
attended TO with due elaboration and
consideration: otherwise. she will fall
Tar behind her sister States in develop
ment and progress
An amendment such as that above
provided for would largely take the
place OF the initiative and referendum,
since the people could very easilv
either by convention mass-mecting or
otherwise, instruct their delegates and
senator's upon matters of pending legis-
lauon. and at the second session of tho
Assembly such matters could be en-
acted into law az tho people had dis
t!nctly and directly approved. and such
matters as they d!sapproved could be
rejected
The two sessions would be the work
of but one Assem- bly,. and the second
session would simply take up where
the first left on"