Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-03-02

we leave here we ought to pass Dill 10
accomplish it. We could tax spirits and
raise half million, and relieve the land
owners.
Mr.. wickham asked if Mr.. Heaton
would amend the bill by relieving land
and taxing the still.
The latter said No. He knew public
sentiment on this question. tits not the
time to change the tax law on this sub
ject. The time may and will come when
it will be changed.
Mr.. Koiner said the deficit in Septem-
Der would be about 5000. 900.
Mr.. Heaton wanted all business to
stop in the Senate, that they might go
TO work ON the appropriation bill. lie
wanted 10 see every item.
Mr.. Koiner read the special sppropria-
tons heretofore printed, amounting to
Sl92, 300. If other extra appropriations
pass the amount will run up to $685.
900.
Mr.. Heaton said we had gone on here
giving out money too long, and he
wanted the appropriation bill brought in
as soon as possible.
The pending question was ordered and
the ayes and noes called on the adoption
OF Mr.. Wickham's amendment to in
crease taxes two cents.
The vote resulted-Ayes, Messrs.
Houston, Wickham, Mcdonald. and
Hodges-4; noes, 33.
Mr.. Stubs moved TO amend so az to
include as pensioners each soldier who
had lost an eye.
Mr.. Berry opposed this. He said the
bill had been carefully prepared, so as
to keep out fraud which has heretofore
crept in under the old laws.
Mr.. Gordon was in favor of the amend
ment
The amendment was rejected.
The pending question was ordered
and the substitute adopted. The bill
then passed by the vote of 40 ayes
every member of the body-to no noes.
This is the first bill passed by this body
for years which received forty votes.
THE SUBSTITUTE.
The substitute provides that pension
of $50 per annum shall be given every
person who has lost an arm or leg or foot
or hand in the discharge of his duty as
soldier, &c. For the loss Of two eyes or
| two feet or two hands or IA hand and a
foot, $50 per annum any person totally
disabled, $50 per annum. To every
widow OF any soldier, sailor, or marine
whose husband lost his life in discharge
of his duty in the military service of
Virginia during the war, $50 per annum,
provided she remains unmarried. This |
act provides that no person holding a /
national, State, municipal, or county Of |
flee which pays him over $500 per an
mum, or whose gross income from any
service amounts TO $500, or who owns |
81 900 worth of property, or who receives |
a pension from any other State or the |
United States, or who is an inmate of /
any soldiers home, shall be entitled to |
any OF the benefits of this act.
The House bill appropriated $4,000. |
The substitute reduces the amount to
SEQ, 600.
Another change that the substitute
makes is that it strikes out the provision
permitting the hearing of these cases
before a county court Judge out OF term
time. The committee saw fit to make
this change because OF the danger of the
Judges yielding to the opportunity of
parties in private which public senti-
ment in court would incline him to re-
sist.
AGRICULTURAL BILL.
The next matter reached was House
bill to establish board OF agriculture
and making appropriation therefor. On
u MI 81
by the committee were adopted, and the
vote on the passage of the bill resulted
in its rejection, it not having received
the required constitutional majority. A
motion TO reconsider was made, aud an
other to pass by this motion was pend
ing at adjournment.
Mr.. Koiner called the pending ques-
ton it was ordered, and the Senate re-
fused to pass by the motion to recon
slider.
Mr.. Koiner moved the pending ques-
ton on the motion to reconsider.
Mr.. Rhea desired an explanation as to
how the money was to be expended and
in what manner the farmers were to be
benefited.
The pending question was not Or
dered.
Mr.. Rhea had observed that since the
Legislature began its session there had
been more bills introduced to create new
offices than at all of the other assemblies
since the war. He was opposed to taking
money from the farmers ostensIbiy for
the purpose of benetiting them, when in
reality it was only TO be placed in the
pockets of some political haugerS-on.
The money was to be expended for gath
ering statistics, &c. He would like to
know whether that would make the
farmers any better tillers OF the soil.
Mr. Gordon said the sgriculturists
were demanding the passage of the bill.
1t would confer benefit upon the farm
ers such as they had not received from
the General Assembly since the war. il
the Department of Agriculture was not
doing as good work as could be desired,
the way to accomplish that object was to
re-enforce it by additional appropria-
tons.
Mr.. Houston characterized the mea-
sure as piece OF sentiment, pure and
simple. The bill was not demanded by
the farmers, but was solely in the interest
of would-be and present oflice-holders.
Mr.. Gordon claimed that Mr.. Houston
had no right to make such a statement,
and that it was wrong in every respect.
Mr. Houston stated at once if Mr..
Gordon would cast his optics around he
would even then see the Commissioner
of Agriculture in the lobby of the Sen
ate.
Mr.. Gordon wanted to know whether
this officer hadn't right there.
Mr.. Heaton caused little merriment {
by interfering that he supposed the
Commissioners duties required his at l
tendance at bis Office,
Mr.. Houston. continuing, said that the
best way to benefit the farmers was to @
develop the mining and other industries
now in an infant state, bring money into
the Commonwealth. and thus create a y
market for the farmers produce.
Mr. KOinar raDlviu0 stated that tba