Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-01-06
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
MEETS WEDNESDAY
Important Session of Virginia
Legislature Attracting
Much Attention.
PLANS FOR ORGANIZATION
Senate Committees Hold Over.
Shake-Up Expected in House,
Due to New Members.

Among tho many important meas
he General Assembly Of Virginia. which
convcncs al tho Capitol here on Wed
ncsday FOR its biennial sixty days scs-
sion. Will he the report of the Viz
Sinia Code reviscrs-Martin T. Burks
Francis Il. Hutton and Samuel \. An
de-son-which is said TO have made a
great number Of radical. but badly
needed. change: from the Code now
IN effect; tho requests for enlarged ap-
rropriations for the conduct OF almost
every department OF the State; the sug
Ecsted abolition OF certain taxes and
the reduction OF others according to
the annual report OF Auditor OF Public
Accounts c. Lee Moore; especially the
request OF Commissioners OF Prohibi-
ton j. Sidney Peters for 100000 in
place of the present $4,000 with which
to enforce the liquor laws; the ratihca-
tion OF the prohibition amendment to
the Federal Constitution. and bill by
Senator @. Walter Mapp to register all
men between eighteen and fifty years
OF age to see that there are no indus
trial slackers In Virginia for at least
six months of the year.
SENATE COMMITTEE
ALREADY IN SESSION
The Senate virtually opened on last
Monday, when the members of the SEN
ate Finance Committee convened to
hear the reports and requests for ap-
propriations for the two ensuing fiscal
years by the heads OF the different de-
partments OF the State.
The hundred members OF the House
of Delegates, of which forty-one of
them are new TO the body that met
here two years ago, will be arriving
in the city tomorrow. while the re-
manning members Of the Senate will
be collecting here to resume their
duties at the same time. Among the
new members OF the house are John
White Stuart. a nephew of Governor
Henry c. Stuart, and Major James y.
Stubbs, who, with the exception OF one
or two terms. has been in the General
Assembly since 1859. In Tho Senate
Chamber will be First Lieutenant
Willis Robertson, the only member In
attendance in uniform. He received
his commission at the second officers
training camp at Fort Myer. but has
obtained a furlough in order to appear
on Tuesday night there will be
separate Democratic caucuses to nom
inate the officers OF the respective
branches. In the Senate all the officers
were elected at the last session 10 hold
office during this meeting. Assistant
Doorkeepcr Major Moses NJ. Greene. OF
FauQuier County is reported TO be too
i'll to attend; therefore, it is certain
I
be nominated at the Senate Democratic
caucus on Tuesday night. c. Harding
Walker is president pro tenn.
HARRY II. HOUSTON WITHOUT
OPPOSITION AS SPEAKER
In the House. Clerk John W. Will
iams is the only officer whose tenure
holds over from last session. But In
the Democratic caucus on Tuesday
night the officers for the House will
be nominated. For Speaker. Harry r.
Houston, OF Elizabeth City; for clerk.
John w. Williams. of Giles, and for
sergeant arms. John NJ. Johnson. of
Rockbridge. have no opposition. First
Doorkeeper s. NJ. Newhouse, OF Cul-
perer. has no opposition: but C. A.
Truslow, candidate for reelection as
second doorkeepcr Will have some
opposition. II is said. though who the
opponent will be is not known. Clerk
Williams will act in his official ca
pacity until a Speaker has been elect
ed. after which his tenure OF ONCE
ceases. There is no doubt that MIR.
| Williams will be elected Immediately
after the election OF the Speaker TO
succeed himself. After tho election of
officers in the House the communica-
ton from Secretary Of the State B. o.
James as to the personnel or the new
members Will be read. Rev j. Y. Fair
ID. D.. of Westminster Presbyterian
Church. will then open the meeting
with tho customary Invocation
The Senate being already organized.
as soon as the House organizes. a com
mittec will be appointed to wait on
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