Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-01-14
\ Large Legislative Program

rONNENlNG OF the General Assembly al
- ways lis event Of interest and i'm
portance to Virginia. No matter whether or
not the numbers on its Legislative program
DC fraught with vital moment TO the Com
monwealth the gathering together of the
men chosen by the people to represent them,
ana charged with Il mandate to mako their
laws and safeguard the public welfare, is a
biennial event which serves as marker in
Virginia history
The Assembly, which meets today for the
l92O session has large and varied duties TO
perform. How it will discharge those duties
remains to be seen. AS a body it is as yet
untried, but many members at former ses-
sions have returned and the State ut largo
knows their executive ability, their power
IN debate and their tried loyalty. Only a
crisis Or great legislative battle brings the
dominating figures ITO the front Given that
opportunity-and there are signs 1t will not
DE iacklng-and brilliant personal and State
history VIII be made i'll this session OF 1920.
II forecasts are not misleading this SEES
sion will stage several spectacular battles.
the results OF which will be Of far-reaching
consequence to the State, and perhaps to the
nation as well. It also has before il a mass
OF legislative business, to the transaction OF
which high order Of intelligence and sound
patriotism must be brought if it is to be
acceptable to the citizens, every one OF whom
icaily. For the accomplishment OF its pro-
gram IN the brief time at its disposal it will
also require arduous labor and painstaking
devotion. Otherwise there will be the usual
eieventh-hour scramble and a host Of things
iett unuohe That the Assembly will meas
urc UP 10 the task before 1t is the belief Of
those who have studied its personnel
This Assembly will be called on to deter
mine the fate of the Prohibition department.,
TOT Which, it is reliably reported, the Cover
not mas Jailed TO recommend appropra-
tion In his budget. If this report be found
correct, then the Governor has acted COM
mendably, and the Assembly will do we'll If
IL follows his lead and consents to the duties
of this department being turned over to the
regular iaw-cnforcemcnt authorities. This
Assembly must determine the suffrage issue,
so far as is concerned the constitutional
amendment. Here will come q brilliant bit
Ter battle 1t must determine its future
course toward the public schools and pro-
vide more literally for them than it has done
III the past. 1t must advance its road build
ing program and continue its efforts to nut
virginia Ill the first rank OF good-roads
states 1t must conserve and further the
interests of tho farmers, that great sturdy
body or citizens which it depends II
must ind means OF curbng the prolteer and
restoring normal conditions of living, and il
must take adequate care OF tho great inst-
lulions, educational aud elecmosynary f.,
whose welfare the State is responsible in
addition, 1t has many important offices TO
I'LL. among them judge of the Supreme
Court Of Appeals. All these things the AS
sembiy faces, and to them will be added the
hundreds perhaps thousands, OF local and
less important general bills. y stupcndous
legislative schedule, to be sure, but there is
confidence that it can be disposed OF TO the
credit OF the lawmakers and TO the honor
ana benefit OF the State
Richmond always is glad to welcome the
Assembly TO its capital, and it bcspcaks for
ITS members pleasant and a profitable ses-
sion.