Year: 1877

The Legislature adjourned on yester-
day after session of fifty days. Upon
the assembling of this body the public
did not expect much of it, as it was
thou xht the Senatorial elections and the
contest over the capital bill would con-
sumo most of its time. In many respects
pablic expectation has not been disap-
pointed, yet in other respects it has been.
The Legislature has succeeded in accom-
plishing mole legislation than
was expected, but it cannot
be denied that some of the legislation
had better have been lett undone. A
great deal of time was consumed In the
consideration OF q new school bill, and
when it had been amended in all particu-
lars the Legislature summarlly disposed
of it by rejecting the bill. The same is
true in reference to the proposed judi
cisl amendment to the Constitution. 1t
was dragged along through the entire
session, and even the session was extended
eight days for the purpose OF a.
lowing the friends of the proposition to
put it perfect shape in order to secure its
adoption. The session drew to close
and lust at the last nom ent the joint
resolution was defeated in the Senate, 50
that SO far as two of. the most impor-
tant measures to the state are concerned,
it would have been better to have had no
sessionof the Legislature at all. AS Is
usual in state legislatures, a great deal
of valuable time is taken up by the claims
OF individuals, while the genera inter-
ests of the state are left to suffer.


The Legislature as "a body was COM
posed of more than o, ordinarily intelligent
men, and in this respect could compare
favorably with any of its predecessors.
But the majority OF them were new men
in legislative life, and just as they were
becoming qualified for their work the
session terminated. The Senate was
composed of an dignifed set OF gentle
men, but the trouble with the Senate was
the mem bers thought they had not dis
charged their duty as revlsory body un-
less they tackled on an amendment OF some
kind to the work sent them BY the House
On the other hand the House was dis
posed to be jealous Of its own ability and
dignity, and showed some disposition to
resist the assumed superiority OF the
Senate. This, of course, did not produce
the most cordial relations between the
two bodies and somewhat retarded the
business of the Legislature.


There was, however, a CONNER dable
disposition on the part of the members
of both branches to work, and they de-
serve credit for the manner in which
they applied themselves. With the ex-
psrience they now have. the present
Legislature would be qualified to do
efficient work in another session. In
the House OF Delegates, Judge FER
GUsoS, Chairman of the Judiciary
Committee and Mr.. CHANCELLOR,
Chairman of the Committee on
Finance had more laborious work to per-
form than other members, and they dis
charged the duties Of their respective
positions in the most satisfactory man
nef. 1t would be invidious to single out
individual members for the purpose of
commendation, yet we have mentioned
these because of the responsible position
they held. The Republican members,
although in a minority, contributed their
part toward facilitating the business OF
the body, and to their credit it must be
said, interposed no obstacles to the work
shaped out by their Democratic col
leagues. This WAS doubtless due to the
good practical business sense of DIR.
HALL and Mr.. RILEY, who were the
leaders of the opposition.


This Legislature, like all of its prede-
cessors, had its virtues and its faults, and
its work will have to undergo the same
public criticisms that others have done,
but upon the whole we are disposed to
think that it is hardly probable that any
succeeding ore will be composed OF bet
ter material, and the chances may be IN
favor of getting worse one. We be-
lievc that each member had concien-
tious desire to discharge his public duty
in an acceptable manner, and whatever
errors were made, were more mistakes OF
Judgment than of the heart.