Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-03-11
rh. Legislature Adjourns

WoRklNGt under high pressure sS ,s until the
| scenes of hurry and confusion incident to
legislative closing, the General Assembly
| adjourned sine die in the early hours of yes
terday morning, with the hands of the clock
| properly turned back to midnight, in keeping
| with the legal and Sabbath proprieties. While
| the Assembly has left undone many of those
things it was expected TO do, it, in fact, has
been business session, and those things
which it has done will find few in Virginiu to
say that they are not good Having no great
stirring issues before it, such as have charac-
terized former sessions, the Assembly has
transacted no inconsiderable amount Of public
business and has measured we'll up to the
accepted standard in lawmaking accomplish
ments. Naturally all will not approve all it
has done, yet none will say that it's members
have not been actuated by the highest patri-
otto motives toward both the State and
nation.
Faced at the outset by abnormal conditions
In national affairs which were bound to inf1u-
ence State activities and demanded rigid
economies, the Assembly was further urged
to conservatism in its expenditures by Gov
ernor Davis in his inaugural address. This,
taken in connection with treasury surplus
of more than $1,000,O00. easily made the
matter of finance and appropriations para
mount throughout the session Appropria-
lions which seemed excessive proved
mblingblock to final agreement and even
now it is uncertain whether or not the COM
promise drafted in the closing hours will
meet the Governors approval. If it does
not, it means that an extra session will be
necessary Another stumblingbock was
the redrafted prohibition BILL with its ap-
preparation of 100000 yearly to the Pro-
hibition Commissioner. To the bill itself
there was little opposition but the appro-
priation was believed by many TO be out of
nj fn fhn I,,ti
too. was compromised in effort to meet
gubernatorial and popular approval.
Among constructive measures placed on
the statute books were the road bills, which
guarantee to Virginia a system Of highways
comparable in mileage and quality to those
of other States. The Assembly also adopted
the revised Code. J. work monumental in
character, which was urgently needed. It
passed the Baker dog bill, which means the
saving of millions of dollars annually to the
farmers of Virginia and the revival of it's
sheep industry. 1t also enacted laws pro-
yiding for compulsory education. 1t adopted
an executive budget, which was earnestly
recommended by the new Governor, although
it defeated its companion measure providing
for State purchasing agent commission. 1t
also granted coeducation at William and
Mary College, and provided funds for the
fight against tuberculosis. The Assembly
defeated the bill for coeducaton at the
University of Virginia and the bill to elect
judges of the Supreme Court Of Appeals by
popular vote, although it granted the people
the right to elect members Of the Corpora
ton Commission.
These are only few of the more import
ant measures which have occupied the atten-
ton OF the Assembly. Taken by and large
it is record of constructive legislation of
which the Assembly need not be ashamed
and its members may return to their various
constituencies with the confident feeling that
their legislative duties have been we'll per-
formed in the brief sixty days at their dis
poSal