Evening star., 1925-09-13
VIRGINIA SESSION
FACES BUSY WINTER
Much Time to Be Given to
/ Considering Constitutional
Amendments.
Special Dispatch TO The Star.


RICHMOND, Va. September r.
Much of the next session of the Gen
eeral Assembly is to be taken up with
amendments to the constitution.
Though the people of the State did not
take kindly to the suggestion that the
time is at hand for the holding of a
convention to frame a new basic law,
the fact is that there is general ac-
ceptance of the view that many and
important changes are demanded right
now. One of these is that pertaining
to the beginning of the term of the
new governor The last convention de-
cided that the best thing to protect
the State was to have the governor
begin his term some three weeks after
the Legislature opens its biennial ses-
sion.
The governors term of four years
expires February l, and the General
Assembly meets early in January pre-
Ceding. Thus nearly one-half the Ses-
sion is over before the new administra-
tion takes charge. The result. 1t is
said, is that the policies and ideas of
the new governor are subordinated,
handicapped and nullified as he enters
his term. He must wait two years
before he can reasonably hope to have
his policies submitted-to a Legislature,
though the one chosen-the lower
branch-when he is made governor
may be in accord with his views on
many subjects. Half of the session
has virtually gone.
There is a general demand that the
governor shall be inaugurated not
later than January l, possibly Decem-
Der |. so that he may have a chance
10 present his recommendations to the
Legislature .-rior to the assembling of
that body-that is, to have his address
and suggestions printed and dissent
mated. This proposed amendment
would shorten the term of Gov. Byrd.
who thinks the policy of the outgoing
governor should not influence thr
Legislature If the views are opposed
by his successor.
Change POlltax Laws.
That there is an imperative demand
for change in the election laws. and
especially that pertaining to the pay
ment of poll taxes; no one will deny.
The constitution of a quarter of a
century ago provided that the poll tax
should be paid not less than six
months prior to the first regular elec-
tion following such payment. The in
tent was to discourage and defeat the
activities of the unfit, the undesirable
and the Venal vote. The thing has
worked too well-the vote in the last
several elections showing that the
people have failed or refused to make
the payments and to qualify them
selves for the electorate. In addition,
there has accumulated on the books
of the tax officers some $1,000, 900 in
unpaid capitation taxes. Under the
law this cannot be collected until it
is three years past due.
The idea is to reduce the time for
payment at least one-half of the pres
ent and to provide for the collection
OF the tax each year, just as other
taxes are collected.
May Appoint Commissioners.
Many Virginians are strong for
return to the old system of having
the members of the State Corporation
Commission appointed by the gov
ernor. The claim is that the commits
sion is closely allied to the practice
of the courts and that it is not we'll to
have the members dependent on the
popular. vote for retention in office.
The commission has not always rem
dered popular decisions. even when
the members We're appointed. and on
this score the record is about half and
half. It is contended that the gov
ernor and his cabinet might better de-
termine the capacity of the members
of the commission than the people.
incidentally, the voters of the State
have not always accepted the dictate
of the Organization" in the matter
of naming members of the commission
and this fact may be one that is re-
sponsible for the demand for a return
to old conditions and customs. This
change could be made by the Legis-
lature, the constitution vesting the
Legislature with the right to make
such power
State Finances a Problem.
The financial situation of the State
is one that will cause worry and
uneasiness in legislative circles the
coming Winter. The State is short
some 81 100000 right now. The ques.
tion is whether the State will make
any increase in taxes to meet de.
mands or whether she will cut her
expenses so that the money will
cover operations and provide for a
reduction of the deficit. There will
come next Winter all the State sup
ported epartments-roadS, schools.
hospitals, officers seeking increases
asking for enormous increases in
their appropriations. The money is
not IN sight, and the estimates do
not make provision for meeting the
demand. The people of the State
"iii 'io1 9Noliu iol pay IilS more taxes
even the counties now paying little
having, in many instances, reduced
their rate for the next five years.
Though Chairman j. Murray
Hooker of the State democratic
committee said several days ago
that he would call a meeting of the
committee early in this month. he
did not see his way clear to do this
until this week, having asked the
members to meet here September 90
for declaring the formal result of the
primary and to arrange for the prose
cution of the campaign. Mr. Hooker
says he favors a vigorous campaign.