Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-01-12
TO HAVE GOOD ROADS
Bill Proyidinsfor Highway Commissioner
Discussed by Committees.
NAY ABOLISH COUNTY COURTS.
Movement ON Foot 10 Put the work
IN Circuit JudEes-Biack-burg Co'-
lcwc Wants More Moncy-hiit"r'
Matter. VIII Come In This Week


committees on Counties, Cities, ana
Towns was held yesterday afternoon 10
consider the bill adopted by the Coca
Roads Association at their meeuns TIT
day night.
Among those who appeared before inc
coromittees were: Mr.. Joseph Bryan, presi-
dent OF the association; Colonei a. o. n"-
ford. of Richmond. chairman Vi '"e
commttee on Legislation; ana McsSis'
]. Havenscraft Jones. OF Brunswich' VI
rrank Fletcher. OF Accomac; George H.
Murrel OF Bedford: Charles w. VIII
con. of Norfolk. and H. W. Anderson'
secretary OF the association.
f WHAT THE BILL PROVIDES.
'rbe hill presented by the association
provides that after July ], 1896 all pup
lie roads shall be under the controi Oh
tho boards OF supervisors of the various
counties. and the county engineer
whose position is to he crea'eh ny
Tho hill shall be in direct charge OF
all the improvements TO be carried OUT
lie shall give bond of 500, ana ms
compensation is to be fixed by the boards
of Supervisors. AS soon as practlcai
after tho passage of the Dill 'he poVeinui
Senate. a highway commissioner, Tor "a
term OF four years. who shall be In
charge of the expenditure of the state
road fund compile the several laws, IN
uuire into the Typographical ana goeoio-
Cical features Of the various counties'
gather statistics. etc. All necessary IN
formation shall be furnished him by the
respective state or county ofhcers free
If charge. lie shall give BOND OF
hall no.
shall have no other business engagements
during his term Of office. but may en-
ploy any assistance necessary. An once
shall be proyided for him in the Library
or Capitol building. His salary ana ex-
,,enses are to be paid out or the State
road fund.
The bill further provides for an annual
road-tax of cents on 500 oil real
and personal property, TO be Kept
.s a state road fund. and for an appro-
priaton OF 5000 to pay the expenses oil
tho highway commissioner until revenue
from the road-tax becomes available.
STRONG SPEECHES MADE.
Colonel Buford and Mr.. Bryan made
strong speeches in behalf of the bill. lay
ing stress on the fact that II Incorporated
some Of the best features OF existing laws
in other States.
In order to show how much interest
was taken in this matter by other people
MIR. Bryan mentioned the fact that a
Mr.. Harrison. who was the consulting
engineer TO the Highway Commissioner
of. New Jersey, and secretary of the
Good Roads Association of that state,
had extended an invitation TO the COM
mittees of the Virginia Legislature TO
visit New Jersey and inspect its system
of public roads, and General Stow had
expressed his readiness to negotiate with
the management of the Pennsylvania
Railroad Company to secure free trans
portation to the committees similar
offer had been made 10 the Legislature
OF New York, which expected to frame a
bill similar TO the one just submitted TO
the Virginia Legislature. and it was
thought that the representative bodies
of New York and Virginia should visit
New Jersey at the same time.
Mr. Bryan added that he also had an
offer from the management of the South
ern Railway Company 10 take the men,
bers of the two committees TO Charlotte. n.
c. i'm order TO inspect the improved roadSin
Meck.enburg county, in that State. He
thought these trips would be object les
sons, and il would be wise for the COM
mttees to undertake them. in order to
become better informed on the subject.
Several members spoke to the bill. and
general discussion was INDUCED in,
after which the committees adjourned,
without taking any action.
INSURANCE BILLS CONSIDERED.
The Senate Committee on General Laws
met yesterday morning to consider the
various fire-insurance bills. but only one
measure was acted upon. that being the
bill of Mr. Morris to prohibit any fire-in-
suranoe company incorporated or licensed
In this State from issuing a policy or
policies OF insurance on any single risk
for more than 10 per cent. OF its capital
stock and assets; or if a mutual com
pany. for more than 5 per cent. of its
cash assets; and providing the penalty
for 80 doing.
The committee prepared substitute
for this BILL which is exactly similar to
Mr.. Morriss measure, with the exception
that mutual flre-insurance companies OF
associations organized and doing bust
ness in any county or city in
this State and paying it's losses
solely from assessments upon its mem.
bers shall not be liable to the provisions
of the act.
Monday Mr.. Mason's bill creating the
Office Of Insurance commissioner will be
considered, while on Wednesday the
measures repeating the charters of the
alleged wildcat" insurance companies In
the State will be taken up.
The Senate Committee on Roads yester
day reported the bill providing for the
Reorganization of the Norfolk and West
ssn railroad, without amendment.
TO NAME JUDGES.
A caucus of Democratic senators anC
members will be held Wednesday night
at which time nominations for the Judi
cial vacancies in the County Court Of
Elizabeth City county and the Corpora
ton Court of Bristol will be made
Major Baker l.. Lee is most prominent
ly mentioned for the Elizabeth City
judgeship,' though Mr.. Montague. who /,
opposing him, has many friends in tn,
General Assembly. and is on the field
1t is difficult TO learn much of a tangi
BILE nature of the Bristol fight. Messrs w
$. Hamilton, W. S. Stuart, and II. w
Sutherland. the three candidates, are still
here. and their friends are very active.
The proposition to do away with tn,
Amherst Circuit and add Lynchburg ans
Campbell TO Judge Whites circuit, Am
harst and Nelson 10 Judge Grimsley' s
and Appomattox to Judge Coieman's il
meeting with general favor with tn
members of the Legislature, and a move
ment is also on foot to abolish all tn,
County courts of the State and make tn
Circuit courts do the work that canno
be properly handled by magistrates. Thi
will greatly reduce the criminal expense
OF the State II put into operation.
General McRae will call a meetin,
OF his Committee on Militia and Polio
this week to consider the ACCESSIBILITY o
investigating the manner In which Briga
dier-Ceneral Phillips was elected.
BLACKBURG'S NEEDS.
Captain e. r. Vawter and Mr.. S. II
Graves. OF Roanoke, members OF tn
Board OF Visitors TO the Virginia Agri