The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-03-14
THIRTY BILLS SIGNED
IN VIRGINIA SENATE
Much Speculation Continues Re9ard
ing Attitude of Governor Toward
Extra Session aud Various
Measures.
SALARY INCREASES IN DOUBT
Veto OF Appropriations for Depart
nent Heads Would Tend tn Make
Further work ny General AssemhIy
Imperative.

The senate was in session for few
minutes yesterday, Lieutenant Cover
nor Buchanan presiding. with Sena~
tors Cannon, Gum and Matthews Ia
attendance Some thirty bills were
signed and sent to the governor
Speculation continues as to what the
governor will do as TO the compen
satIon bill and other measures There
is persistent report that he will
veto the compensation bin because of
the provision for a Salaried com ms
sion Nevertheless, II is held in some
quarters that the governor, having de
clared his position against the crea-
zion of new OFFICES when the bill was
hefoSe the senate. may allow the bin
to become a law without his signature,
whus meeting his prediction promises
mot to sign any bills creating new Of
fees, and placing the responsibility
with the legislature which proceeded
contrary to his expressed views. II
ia held that the compensation bill! il
altogether too important to be held
IN for TWO wears because OF the COM
paratvel portant matter Of an
appropriation of $4,000 a year for
administering the law,
Specializing on Extra Session
( As to what the governor viii do
with reference to the salary increases
provided for in the appropriation bill
lit is not thought that the governor
viii have any objection 10 the IN
|craaeed compensation provided for
the clerks which is considered neces-
sarv in view of the high cost Of Nv
ling. In reference to the salaries ~
It8e heads Of dcpsrtlu ents. II is held
THAT inasmuch as these items are pro-
viGed for by naming the specific
amount the head OF department Is
: 10 receice as salary, it viii he unpos-
Isihfe for the governor to change II
ANY wa except to veto It. THIS would
leave the department without funds
with which to pay salaries FOR two
years
Should the governor do this It
would necessarily involve the calling
Iof an extra session.
Iieutenan MT Governor Returns
! Lieutenant Governor Buchanan was
called away at the close of the regu-
lar session on an an Important en-
sa cement. Senator walker, president
pro tenn, and chairman of the COM
mittee on courts of Justice, Volun
teered to serve as presiding officer
of the senate during the necessary
absence Of the president but stated
that II would be at considerable IN
convenience The lieutenant governor
then conferred with Senator Walker,
and other lawyers of the senate. and
1t as decided that, in accordance with
rus S, the president could designate
a senator to preside and exercise the
functions Of the presiding officer, and
Senator Cannon, Of Richmond, was NO
DESIGNATED in order that there might
he no delay to the states business
Rule reads:
The president may call an sena-
tor 10 the chair. who shall exercise
it's functions for tn time. bat nd
senator. by virtue Of such appoint
ment, shi4I preside Tor q longer pc.
riod than three days
When the senate met on Tuesday
doubt on this point was raised BY
the officers OF the assembly. and rather
than have any possibility OF voidine
legislation through technicality, Sen.
p ator decided not TO sign the bills pre-
sented
wire to Lieutenant Governor Blu
chanan explained the situation and he
returned posthaste to attend the SEES
sion Of yesterday.
In the meantime there has been ne
delay to the states business. The ap
preparation bill was in course of be
ing enrolled, and was and is beini
, passed TO the governor in sections
1t viii not come before the presidin,
: officers OF the house and senate 70
: day or two yet. The bills signe,
by the speaker on Tuesday wen
through the regular formalities there