Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-09-29
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER %, iyee

L OR the price of Il special session OF the
81 General Assembly Virginia cannot al
aford to jeopardi2e its future legislation.
reAs between the cost OF such a session and
,Ihc possible invalidation OF all acts passed
-'at coming sessions III this dcccnnum there
Jan lac no comparison that will impress the
sound-thinking citizen with the advisable
lily of present penny economy over future
pound foolishncss Yet, ii is the consensus
81 opinion OF leading legal minds thai il
special session be not called TO remedy the
OBJECT implanted through error in the re-
dlstricting measure enacted by the last Cen
era! Assembly, all acts Of future assemblies
until the State can be redistrictcd in 1882
Will at least he couded with doubt as 20
their validity.
II Is moot question as To the legality
OF Il suggested rcdistricting in 1924 TO rem
edy the error OF omission OF 1922, and on
mat point the Attorney General has not
Yet ruled However, attorneys throughout
The state are fairly united in the belief that
II redlstricting be not consummatca this
year, then IT cannot be legally done until
49, On this point the CONSTITUTIONS even
10 the laymen, seems Enthusiastically clear
an.istnandatory. Section i3 of the Consti-
tuition reads:
Senatorial ana House dis;ri@ts made by
rr r@ va a. OF The General Assembly,, an
.u, reaPpor,onnen, may LAY; BE- made i@"E'Si Il
= de, In
srafter. '''
: No reapportionment was made i'm 1906
when II was optional, and none in 1912
.Wheh II Was mandatory, the Assembly of
sthat year openly and nagrantly evadinr it's
=. !. constitutional duty. The Assembly OF 1922
80 attempted TO comply, with the mandate of
- me constitution bui unfortunately an cr-
~. roF apparently has nValidatcd the measure
.'-hG SET up condition which if not over
-. come, Will be inimica! TO the state The
-. -. measure IS sound as TO the redistrcling of
.a.' ne House OF Delegates, but as To the sen
.ts.ate II has been rendered ineffective through
rr"t he omission of Madison County. Nav II
the fault be not cured, and it is held that
Ill can be cured only through n special scs-
,-S'oi OF me Assembly, il is obvious that If
y-ethe next House be elected on the basis of
-. lac l"22 apportionmcnt and Tie senate
-he CHOSEN on the basis OF the original dis
,.'z' liclile act, then any legislation enacted bv
IAN Assembly so constituted will he open 10
1s..-attack on the ground that the cnac,;uY
I--'nody was Improperly and illegally elected.
a-.-Shou!d tie courts sustain the attack il re-
~-qulFes no large vision to sense the disaster
..ii NlFg!hla's legislative program the stop
---~ping OF its machinery and the wreckinr .,
~s-progressive movements in the process Of
.-.-i oFmauon Surely, that cost will no, bear
- ON parison with what it would rrouirc IN
..--iemedy he defect
-. The decision OF the Governor mas be cx
.-I'ected within few days In fact, il is
Unnecessary that he decide quickly If olnc,ion.
q" III vacancies are 10 be called for The
~-Hay OF Inc general election on November
---' should he decide TO call the extra SEQ.
s-asion he at least viii be following the cou,s.
.-1hf economic and Legislative safety 10 m.
So ta'e' ana n" Viii have the hearty com
fanendat!on o! Virginia citizens generally.
~ IL.