Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-12-04
ABOLISH THE OFFICE.
LEGSsLATunE BEsITATEs ABOUT
ELEcrING SECOND AUDITOR.
BILL AIMED AT D-GRABBERS.
senate Passes n Measure 90 Protect
nnoccnt Purchasers ri Delinquent
Iayas-seycraI Propositions Look
fng 20 Reducing Expenses.

officers nominated at Inursudy HBHt
caucus. 1t is q significant fact that ii
election of a Second Auditor was post
p~oned-not n significant fact take
merely as a fact. but significant becaus
OF the ayowed object of those who press
ed the motion. 1t was stated openly tina
the election was postponed for the reaso
that It was desired TO a V time to In
vestigate the practicability Of a~bolishinV
the office, and the speeches made in sup
port OF the motion showed that tn,
sentiment in favor Of economy. general.
supposed to be prevalent among the mem
bers OF this Legislature. is PRACTICAL,
unanimous.
IL was further developed that Other
Offices, as well as that Of Second Auditor
are In danger Of being Topped off. Mr.,
Darksdale's biz 20 abolish the Office OF
Railroad Commissioner is distinctly
stated by its patron to be in the line OF
economy and Will be pressed with vigor.
The bill passed by the Senate to re-
lieve innocent purchasers of lands upon
which taxes are due was an important
piece OF legislation. and. in results, is
expected to accrue TO the benefit Of
citizens OF every section of the Common
wealth.
The Day I'm the senate.
The Senate was called 10 order at 1905,
the opening prayer being offered by Rev.
J. X. Garlick, u. D.. During the morning
hour the following bills were introduced:
BY Mr.. Southall: An act to protect the
game and song-birds OF Nottoway county.
The rules suspended and the bill passed.
BY Mr.. Flanagan: To authorize the
County Court of Cumberland county to
order such repairs rs IL may deem neces-
sary for the safe preservation Of the
records OF that court. and the convenient
arrangement of the same. Referred.
By Mr.. James: To incorporate the Dam
Vile Mutual Aid and Benefit Society.
TO TAX BANK STOCK.
Mr.. Letcher introduced a bill providing
that shares Of stock issued by banks To-
Gated I'm towns shall be taxed as all other
moneyed capital. The law at present al
lows cities TO tax such stock, but towns
have not that power.
Mr.. Flanagan introduced a bill. whose
object is the repeal of the law requiring
persons sentenced 10 the penitentiary In
the vaHous counties to be brought 90
Richmond by guards sent by the Superin-
PENDENT Of the PenitentiaIy, and proposing
they shall be brought here by the
Sheriffs. as formerly. This law is one OF
the potential influences that operated TO
defeat Major Lynn.
WANT THE OFFICE ABOLISHED.
A bill to repeal certain sections OF the
Code and TO control common carriers is
The bill looks TO the aboli-
ton of the office of Railroad Commission
Mr.. Barksdale IS thoroughly deter |
mined 10 have this Office lone away with. |
md will fight earnestly for the passage
Of his measure. This repeats the laws
N relation TO the office. Mr.. Barksdale is
to the Commissioner being paid
Dut OF a FUND assessed upon railroad
companies, and he thinks the duties of
he Commissioner are such as to make
the office Of no value TO the people of the
state. 1t Is Mr.. Barksdale's purpose TO
,Ter a Dill cTeating a new commission.
With increased powers. The measure was
Mr. Barksdale also worked through to
~ engrossment a bill authorizing the su-
bonds. The amount the board desires to
ssue Is $4,000 for the purpose Of taking
I'D bonds OF that amount subscribed some
,ears ago 10 the Halifax. L%ynchburg, and
Durham railroad, the new bonds bearing
/ lower rate of interest.
TO COUNT THE VOTE.
A communication was received from the
touse notifying the body that a resolu-
ION had been adopted specifying the
banner in which the vote on calling a
Constitutional convention should be count
ana asking the Senat to concur.
ne resolution was concurred in. and the
halr appointed as members of the joint
ommittee Messrs. Letcher and Tate.
resolution that the Treasurer Of the
be instructed to furnish
copy Of the Code and the Acts of As
emily 10 each Senator for his use du-
Ing the session was adopted.
THE GAME LAW.
Mr.. Floods bill for the repeal of the
wv with the exception Of certain coun-
10 prevent the killing Of partrsdges.
anne UP, n Mr.. Sands called attention
D the fact that If the present law was
there would be no game law
! the counties not named i'm the bill.
nd Mr.. Flood promised to prepare ne
essary amendments.
ELECTION OF OFFICERS.
The Senate voted TO concur In the {
resolution to go into the election
basement oihcers. The Lieutenant
overnor called the President pro tenn,
Ir. Wickham. 10 the chair. and the Sen
10 went into the election Of State Off I
for which nominations were made {
Y the caucus the night before. There /
ore no nominating speeches, the names
elected IN the caucus being presented in {
w n simple words. {
Mr.. Maynard nominated Mr.. Joseph II. !
awless for reelection to the Office of |
OF the Commonwealth; Mr.. I
ushbach presented the name Of Colonel j
orton Marye for reelection as State
uditor; Mr.. B'akey nominated Mr.. Jo-
ah Ryland for reelection as Second d..
uditor: Mr.. Letcher presented Mr.. A. ]
|: name for reelection TO the !
Ice OF state Treasurer-Seconded by =
+. lie Cato: Mr.. James nominated Mr.. !
Gorge NJ. Helms for the office Of Super !
of the Pen~itentiary; Mr.. Flood !
the name of Mr.. Joseph w. y
'uthall for the position OF Superintend- .
L OF Public lnstruction-seconded by Mr.. y
orris. '
Flanagan, a Republican, said he y
surprised to hear of these nomina- \
ms. He thought they indicated the =
party was growing better. III =
)uld give him great pleasure to vote q
r his %neighbor, Mr.. Southall, to become $
e head of the free schools of Virginia. =
SECOND AUDITOR NOT ELECTED. h
was considerable debate over the L
mt resolution received from the House n
oyiding, that the election of Second a
be postponed. Mr.. Foster in "
ired as 10 the object of such a resolu- II
n. and Mr.. McIlwaine stated that IL
IS for the purpose Of giving time 10
lily OF abolishing the Office. He had v
told that, perhaps with the addition =
a clerk In another department, the Iss
Ice could be done away with. !,
ar. Blakey opposed the resolution. saw u
that agitation TO abolish this office II
,urred at every session. and always p'
In the decision that it could not e,
done. W
ir. Opie thought the time had come 10 q
,nomize in every way practicable. and ca
Il the office could be abolished without
the interests OF the State in the
ST. He said everything had decreased az
thin the past few years, except taxes ra
! salaries, and II was time these were to
ng cut down He said he thought the IA
tie could easily get along without a "a
mmissioner OF Agriculture-there were n
as many potato-bugs now as before IN
office was created. The office OF Rail- pa
y Commissioner had not lone any- =,
ng towards reducing the number OF yyl