Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-06-18
ASKS LEGISLATIVE 4
BODIES ASSEMBLE
HERE ON AUGUST IS.
Action Follows Presentation
of Petition of Good Roads
Association.
81
FILL EXISTING VACANCIES
ON DATE OF NEXT PRIMARY
States Executive Prefers to Have
Every District Given Rep
resentation.
MEN WHO SIGNED DOCUMENT
Names Of Seventy Three Delegates
and Twenty-Five Senators M
Appear on Paper.
Names Of Seventy-Thrce Delegates
and Twenty-Five Senators
Appear on Paper.

announcement was made last night
at the office of Governor Westmore-
land Davis that the General Assembly.
III response to a petition signed by
twenty-nlne Senator'S and seventy
three Delegates. would be called In
extra session on Wednesday, August
13.
Action by the Governor was made
from his home al Leesburg, follow
ing n long-distance telephone con-
versation with his aid. Colonel Leroy
Hodges. who communicated the fact
cial session had just been presented
by s. L. Lupton and c. B. Scott, presi-
Gent and secretary. respectively, OF the
virginia Good Roads Associations
The call for the session was deferred
tE the Governor until August 13, in
order to hold special elections to nil
ten vacancies existing in the General
Assembly. the chief executive belIey-
ing. after mature consideration and
advice of counsel, that, while the call
might be legal. there would remain
would be constitutionaly convened
when certain communities had no re-
presentation.
Fairness In Considered.
The question OF equity and fairness
entered also in the consideration, the
1
II matter OF such paramount Import
ance as setting aside an unprecedented
sum sum for use on the highways of the
ssavi;, Ssatei made ma .,,as available by taxing
wealth. every political subdivision
should have voice in the issue.
The attitude OF the Governor seems
to- be at variance with the position
taken by Attorney General John r.
saunders, who. in an opinion rendered
TO c. b. Scott. declares that 'vacan-
cies In the General Assembly should
not be counted in estimating the num-
Der or signatures required to convene
that body in special session under sec
ton 73 OF the Constitution. nor do
should be filled by a special election
before the General Assembly can bs
convened in special session."
Mr. Lupton declared yesterday that
he thought the session should be con-
vened within the next ten days. and
that the task of matching Federal ap-
propriations for post roads should be
completed before the end Of the month
Wants Other LAW Changed.
In setting n date for the conveninE
or the Legislature. the Governor took
undos consideration the proposal to
have that body repeal such parts OF
returned soldiers from voting In the
August primaries by reason of not
having paid their poll taxes. 1t was
pointed out to him. however. by COM
petent counsel that all requirements
for voting in legalized primaries are
constitutional and can be changed only
sions of the General Assembly and,
subsequently. direct vote of the peo-
pie.
With this out OF tho way. he went
into the matter OF filling the existing
vacancies; After consultation with
counsel. he. decided that this should
bringing the solons to Richmond It
was found 1t would require about forty
days to comply. with the law in filling
them by special elections. This would
days before the regular primary. In
order to do away with extra expense
August 5, the date of the regular pri-
mary. as the proper time to fill the ex-
iStinS vacancies.
Three Days for Counting.
The law gives three days in which
1t would then be August s. The Gov
ernor chose the first Wednesday after
this date. Wednesday being the day
named in the Constitution for conyen-
ing the General Assembly.
The list cf names to the petition, as
finally checked In the Governors Of
dce. shows that seventy three Dele
for the session. Mr.. Lupton's list shows
seventy-four Delegates and twenty
eight Senators. though In his signsd
gives tho cause credit for only twenty.
seven Senators.
The names OF ]. y. Elam and r. H.
Stubbs. Delegates, were not counted In
the Governors office. since they had
withdrawn their names. The name OF
Senator George It. Rison was added,
since Mr.. Rison sent his petition direct
to the Governor. ~
Letter Sent by Lupton.
Mr.. Lupton's signed statement to tho
Governor the petition and complete
list of the sgners are as follows:
oh q
His EHcellency, Westmoreland Davis,
Governor of Virginia, ~
Richmond:
Dear Sir.-Pursuant to instructions
associa ton. we are handing you here
with signed petitions OF twenty-saven
Senator'S and sevcnty-four members OF
the House of Delegates. requesting you
to call an extra session of the Legis-
lature as soon AS practicable, for tho
purpose of providing funds to meet
the Federal appropriations for road
construction In Virginia. now avail.
able and to become available.
In addition to the petitions attached
hereto we are advised by Senator w.
l.. Andrews and Delegate J. Sinclair
Brown that they have sent their re-
quests to you direct. The petitions
constitute three-fourths of the mem-
bership OF both branches OF the Gen.
eral Assembly. not counting vacanctess e
and more than two-thirds OF tho en-
tire membership OF each house. s3&
We also enclose a copy OF q letter 4
received from the Atyorncy.Oeuerai.et In s