Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-01-23
COMMITTEE WORK.
PoaTSMouTH SEEKING RELIEF FROM
DECISION OF SUPREME COURT.
The Proposed New Library Building
Adverse Report ON the Female
Physician BILL

There was an important meeting last
night Of the Roads Committees Of the two
houses in joint session to consider the bill
by which the city of Portsmouth seeks
relief from a decision of the Supreme
Court of Appeals Some eighteen months
ago Portsmouth entered into an agreement
with the Seaboard and Roanoke Railroad
Company by which in consideration OF
the roads building union depot in
the city and making other improve
ments il was to be allowed to lay
its tracks through certain streets of the
city. Hodges and others. whose property
abutted upon one of these streets-Craw-
ford street-applied to the Corporation
Court for an Injunction against the laying
OF the tracks. which was refused An IN
junction was obtained from ono OF the Su-
preme Court judges, but this was dis
solved in the Circuit Court OF Portsmouth:
The petitioners then went to the Court or
Appeals and q perpetual injunction was
granted by that tribunal. A motion for
rehearing was made, and onsthe Monday
following the decision the order entering
the decree was withdrawn.
In December last the Court refused TO
hear reargument and the case renamed
submitted one.
Yesterday the Court rendered another
decision. in effect the same as the first
one. and perpetuating the injunction.
The far-reaching significance of the de-
cision Is that no railroad can under the
law run within sixty feet of dwelling
house without the consent of the owners.
This applies to both city and county.
The relief sought in the bill, which was
introduced in anticipation OF the Courts
Il l. huA ..tfw .A IN
NAV consummate its contract. The COM
mittee. after hearing argument, decided
to report the bill favoraby, only one
negative vote being cast.
The New Library Building Question.
The Library Committees of the Senate
and House held a preliminary joint meet
ing yesterday afternoon TO consider the
matter of erecting new building for the
accommodation of the State Library, the
Supreme Court of Appeals, the basement
offices. DC. There were also present at
the meeting Messrs. George Il. Christian,
ii. II. Pollard. J. Ran. Tucker. Jr., j. Tay-
lor Ellyson, and X. B. Lee, of the Cham
Der of Commerce Library Committee, and
Hon. William Writ Henry, representing
the Virginia Historical Society.
| Judge Christian presented TO the CON-
mittee the Importance of immediate action
as means Of increasing the committee
room accommodations of the Capitol and
dwelt upon the present almost uselessness
| of tho library. He also emphasized the
good that would be accomplished by
having the library open during longer
hours and making il accessible to the pub
lic-thngs, he said. that could not be
done unless proper building was pro-
vided.
MAYOR ELLYsoN's VIEWS.
Mayor Ellyson next addressed the meet
| ing. Among other things, he said that in
| consideration of the erection of such a
| building as was proposed, which would be
| an attraction to the city. and In order to
secure the opening of such library TO the
general public, he thought the city would
| be willing to bear the expenses of its an
nual maintenance-sucha as paying the sala-
ries of the librarian and his assistants, the
| ianitor &C.. and furnishing lights, &c. OF
| course, no formal action had been taken in
| the matter by the municipal authorities
| and no one was authorized TO pledge the
| city, but he believed that, in order to have
the library put in new building and q, KEEP,
open from early in the morning till late at
night, the city would be willing 10 con-
| tribute that much to the expenses.
THE VIRGINIA HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Mr.. Henry urged the great need for a
! tie valuable books and papers of the Vir.
I glnia Historical Society, and expressed
| the hope that when the building was
| erected one or more rooms would be pro-
| yided for that society.
| Mr. Pollard, who five or six years age
! was the author of bill to erect new IL
] brary building, made an earnest appeal
tor immediate action. He suggested that
1t might be well for the committee to refer
| the matter to special committee, who III
| addition to the Library Committee, would
consider it. and thus interest a larger
number of members of each branch OF the
| General Assembly.
| Secretary -of-the-C commonwealth Flour
noy submitted report on the subject OF
| the library generally, in which he strong
| ly advocated the erection of new build.
| ing. The joint committee deferred
action for the present.
Against Female Physicians.
A long session of the Senate Commit
| tee on Public Institutions and Education
was held IN the Senate Chamber yesterday
afternoon, the principal matter under
consideration being Mr. Koiner's bill.
| which has passed the House, to provide
| for the appointment of female physicians
in the female wards of the asylums.
The bill was advocated by MIR. kolner,
Mr.. +. w. Saunders. Mr.. b. b. Munford
Major j. Horace Lacy, Hon. John +. Mas
sey, and Captain 4. G.. Morton, and op.
posed by DR.. W. W. Parker and Mr. }. N,
Opie.
During the discussion there were some
| fifty persons IN the Senate Chamber.
The committee decided to report ad.
versely on the bill by vote of 10 TO q
| All the members of the committee. except
one who was kept away by sickness, were
present.
The boards of the asvlums have now q
right to appoint female assistant physi.
clans if they deem it advisable, and there
| is one connected with the medical staff OF
the asylum at Staunton, but Mr.. Koiner's
bill makes such appointments compulsory,