Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-04-17
VA, FRIDAY MORNING. APRIL II, 1885.
Charles City, and David Shriver, Nan

Charles City, and David Shriver, Nan
| semond.
Third District--Normahd Smith, Hen
rico, and +. Guy, Chesterfield.
Fourth District-T. +. Rives, Din
widdie, and 4. Il. Goode, Mecklenburg.
Fifth District-J. J. Wilkinson, Pitt
sylyania, and James p. Critz, Patrick.
Sixth District-Thomas Fauntleroy,
Campbell, and W. Taylor Thorn, Roa-
noke.
Seventh District-H. l.. Lewis, Clarke,
and II. L. Lyman, Albemarle.
Eighth District-W. b. Lynch, Lou
don, and James L. Stringfellow, Gull
pepper.
Ninth District-R. E. Withers, Wythe,
and John NJ. Preston, Smyth.
Tenth District-Joel w. Flood, APP
pomattox, and G. Julian Pratt, Au-
gusta.
AGRICULTURE AND TECHNICAL
EDUCATION.
The report Of the Committee on
Agriculture and Technical Education
was taken up.
Mr.. Hatcher. of Chesterfield, OPP
posed the report. He said the busi-
ness Of the Convention was not to in
terfere with the educational business of
the State. He ridiculed the idea of
teaching in schools practical farming.
Il" the most difficult of all arts"
At the invitation of the Convention
Rev. DR.. j. l.. NJ. Curry came forward
and spoke to the body.
He said that one of the first speeches
he ever made was an agricultural adj
dress. He had been An old-time plant
er, and had been born and raised on
farm. lie disagreed with some parts of
the report. The Government depended
on agriculture for its support. Solomon
had said that the king was served from
the fields, and this meant that the Gov
ernment drew its wealth from labor.
He spoke at some length about the vital
and fundamental questions which made
the basis of agricultural prosperity.
The heaviest tax paid by farmers was
the cost of transportation of produce
over bad country roads. What
Virginia needed was intelligent
labor, skilled labor. The history
of the world showed that stupid, un-
skilled labor never did accomplish any
thing and never would.
The crucial inquiry into this whole
matter was how could scientific princi-
pies be applied to labor. Education in
different courses of study was wanted
to draw out and apply science to agri-
| culture. mechanics, and arts, and make
skilled labor.
Colonel Harrison. Of the committee,
] DIR. Holt, Colonel Withers, and others,
discussed the question, after which the
report Of the committee was rejected,
and substitute adopted which calls
upon the Legislature to establish a
school Of technology.
ROADS AND CONVICT LABOR.
The committee to whom was referred
the question of the employment of CON
Wet labor in repairing the public roads
of the State presented their report.
The report favored the disposition of
convict labor indicated, and Colonel
Buford, speaking to the report, cordially
endorsed the use of conyicts in making
the public roads passable. The report
and accompanying resolutions directing
the attention of the Legislature to the
subject were adopted.
AN EXHIBITION HALL.
The following resolution, introduced
by Mr.. john l.. Hurt, was adopted:
ReSoired. That the General Assem-
bly, Of Virginia be earnestly requested
to appropriate a sufficient SUM of money
to build a State exhibition hall in the
city of Richmond for the benefit of the
citizens of the State, provided the said
city will furnish an accessible lot free
Of cost.
ASKING CONGRESSIONAL AID.
The following resolutions were re-
fcrred Asking our representatives in
Congress to use their efforts to have an
act passed which would stamp out
/ pleurO-pneumona in cattle; also ere
ating a separate department Of agricul-
ture to be presided over by Cabinet
( officer; and a resolution calling on the
/ farmers assembled to endorse the Blair
/ educational bill.
\ recess was taken until s So'clock.
Night session.
The Convention met again at $50
P. NJ.
The stenographic report Of the pro-
ceedings was ordered to be printed.
TOBACCO.TAX.
A resolution was offered declaring
the tax on tobacco iniquitous and un-
constitutional and demanding its i'm
mediate repeal, and this was placed on
the calendar.
REDUCTION OF THE TARIFF.
A resolution asking for the reduction
/ of the tariff to revenue basis and Op-
posing the tobacco-tax was taken up.
DR.. Holt hoped the question would
not be agitated. 1t belonged to the
National Government. lie did not think
there was a man in the house who un-
derStOod the question.
Mr.. Cosby. of Richmond, thought the
question ought to be disposed of to-
night. lie declared it his opinion that
every farmer in the State felt that
protective tariff operated against their
interests. If men of education had
studied the question for years without
understanding it, why should the farm
ers not act at once, feeling and
knowing that their interests were at
stake as the tariff now stands. Hewas
in favor of free trade, but he was not
present to discuss any political ques-
tion. He favored calling upon the
members Of Congress from Virginia to
modify the tariff so as to benefit the
| farmers.
Mr.. Mann Page favored free trade,
but opposed introducing the question
in the Convention. 1t was a mistake
to agitate the tariff question in the AS
sembly.
Mr.. Porter, protectionist, gave an
illustration of the difference of prices
4 A