The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-03-01
OF Richmond, were appointed TO represent
the House on the conference committee.
SOLDIERS HOME pIft p.es


SOLDIERS HOME BILL p,ssrr
On motion of Mr.. Munlord tho r,Ie. ,rera
suspended and Senate bill No y was taken
up out # It's order. The bill provides for an
annual Appropriation Of :3Op0O 10 the
Soldiers Home Mr.. Munford exulainad tIe
provisions OF the bill and stated that the in.
crease of the Appropriation should in no wear
exceed the sum OF 100000. The money was 10
be paid at the rate of $50 for each inmate
who is actually ca:ed for in tho institution
during the year During the next wear or
two the full amount would not bo requirel.
for there were not yet sufficient accommodate
tions provided for an increase in the number
OF inmates The State would get good pro
quo for ever dollar appropriated. The prop
erty OF the Home had been bought cheaply
and a great many improvements in that To-
cality had already made the property very
valuable OF the whole area. eight acres.
costing $4,000. had been sold subsequently,
for over $4,000. hIr. Munford also ex-
planned that If the number OF the inmates Of
the Home should become less than fifty. then
the State should pay at the rate Of 600 per
inmate per annum.
Mr.. Gibson offered the following amend
ment: Provided. that should the title to tho
premises herein described as the sol
Home prove defective the provisions OF this
act shall impose no obligations this Com
mOnweath t. make any Appropriation 10 X.
+. Lee Camp. 10. /. Con ederate veterans,
except that the appropriations made or to .
made for the years 1917 and 1873 shall IN any
event be paid out of the treasury of the Conn.,
monwealth.n
Mr.. Wray OF Henry. said that in opposing
the measure he had labOred under misapi re-
tension. thinking that the full ala cunt Of
$4,000 should be appropriated annually with
out any return. since he had lesrnsd that
the State was only 10 appropriate at the rata
n 70 ftp ff.
the property was u revert 70 the state after
II ceased 70 be used for the present purpose
ne cheerfully withdrew his objections, bat he
hoped that the General assembly would pass
some measure increasing the pensions OF tle
Confederate soldiers who continued 10 live at
their homes.
Mr.. Kent opposed the bill, stating that the
appropriation. which was quite large. would
only benefit small number OF men. TWO hun
dred on the outside. while the pension paid
to old soldiers who had lost two limbs. and
there were only six of them living, was only
the pitiful sum of sixty dollars per year.
Mr.. Chambers made a beautiful speech IN
favor Of the BILL which no thought should be
passed without any amendment and without
"a dissenting voice.
Mr.. Williams then called for the pending
question which was carried and the amend
ment of Mr.. Gil son was agreed 10. Inc OH
was ordered 10 its third reading and engross-
III
vote of II % T. The members VINO voted
against it were Messrs. Harris, Hoge' heut
and VI. b. Spencer. of Lee. The bEl passed.
the Senate several days ago and II now goes
T. the Governor Tor his signature.
THE KENT ELL.
At1f:45 the Kent Railroad bill came up on
the calendar as "a special order. MI Ryan
desired to know when the vote on the meas
IRE would be taken. He said he thought the
matter had been before the House long
enough Ii was stated by several OF the adj
vocates and opponents of the bill that they
had mutually agreed to close the discussion
that day.
Mir John +. Mason took the floor and re-
sumed his remarks in opposition TO tho hent
bill and in favor of the substitute offered by
himself. He admitted that the farmer was
certainly entitled 10 consideration, but stated
that there we're 20 900 labOrlng people inter
ested in railroads who might be Affected Dy
the measure of which Mr.. Kent WAS patron
The machinery of the Kent measure, shd
Mr.. Mason. was not only cumbersome but g.
pensiye. The provision making the pay OF
witnesses two dollars per day and recurring
the examinations # the cases 70 De made IN
Richmond would cost the state great deal
of money. Those VIII testified NJ matter III
what county they resided. would have 70 come
here and the Commonwealth would nave 70
pay the mileage.
He had not presented the su hstitute for the
purpose of defeating Mr.. kents bill. but be
cause he wanted 70 benefit the people OF the
State.
Mr. Philip +. Brown, of b tetourt next
obtained the floor and made the following
statement.
Il do not intend TO inhict a speech upon
this House. and the time ! have asked Tor
three minutes guarantees that fact. Indeed
il IS with great reluctance that ] say anything
but the people of my county have petltOned
me IN tins matter both pro and con. / there
fore wish 70 state my reason brlehy why
shall vote as propose TO DO on TINS DlI.
FL have been "a careful listener 10 both
sides and am therefore better informed than
either side of my constituents. House bill
No. pa commonly known rs the Kent ball.
reminds NE OF q blisterlng plaster. u IL very
drawing. Ii also reminds me o. the Riddle
berger Debt bill. which / do not understand
now. but hope 10 understand some day 81,
TO my mind. Mr.. Speaker 1t hrlstles with
danger signally harmful alike 10 the corpora
tions which 1t proposes TO throttle and tho
farmers. whom II proposes T. benefit. Again,
the bill and It's patron appear To be anupOde-,
for the first is the argument Of the bandit OF
the Alps or the Bedouin OF the desert whAe
the patron seems 70 be the personihcation of
lord Chesterfield combined with the dignity
OF the hIg est statesman.
'Now. Mr.. Speaker. / am member Of tile
Farmers Alliance. ! have "a farm of about
three hundred acres but disclain that l am
committed 10 this bill. | am III favor of the
bill introduced by the gentleman from Pe-
tersburg: tor while thar may be regarded as
a blistering plaster also. II bears the relation
of "A beladonna plaster 10 a cantnarides. ami J.
know from experience the difference between
the drawing capacity Of the two. claim ny
independence in this matter
DrFrATPD.
Mr.. Kent closed the argument in behalf OF
the bill He said the measure had been Sc
yerely criticised. The last gentleman VINO
smoke caviled at it. and was disposed 70 d..
cover a mares nest in every line. These ar
guments against 1t were but poorly substan
fiated. In former days many and varlou.
criticisms were made against It. IL wa.
spoken Of as a veritable Pandoras box. from
which all evils would emanate. one by one
these arguments had been abandoned and
others brought forward. The last char g..
against il was its unconstitutionalty. The
sneaker then answered this criticism IN to1ci-
bile language. and vigorously explained the
provisions of his measure.
The whole virillty Of the bill lay IN the fact
that It undertook to regulate tolls. to prevent
unjust determinations on the part OF the ial.-
roads