The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-02-03

III. General Fence Bill Passed with some
Amendments.


| Code in relation 10 railroad companies
| enclosing their roadbeds with fences ana
| erecting cattle guards
Mr.. Pitcher. of Fauquier, offered an
amendment providing that no court small
| have Jurisdiction by writ OF mandamus
| to compel railroad companies 10 erect
| fences and cattle guards. Mr.. saunders
| accepted the amendment. which has the
effect that railroad companies SHAH he
compelled 10 pay for stock that Is killed
on their roadbcds.
Mr.. Banton. Of Cumberland. offered
| an amendment excmpting the counties or
Cumberland, powhatan and Chesterfield
| from the provisions or the bill. THIS
amendment was also accepted by MI
| Saunders
Mr.. Mann. Of Nottoway. offered an
! amendment providing that railroad COM
panies shall only pay for stock killed
on their roadbeds. provided 1t has been
listed for taxation on the preceding hrst
day OF February The amendment was
opposed by Mr. Saunders and MI. Craig.
| of Kockbridge. while Judge Watkins, OF
Prince Edward and Mr.. Mann, Of MOTTO
way. advocated the adoption OF the
amendment.
The House declined to agree to Mr..
Mann's amendment. The bin was then
ordered to it's engrossment and third
! realing and subsequently passed
recorded vote was taken, which was
80 10 Q Mcssrs James Mann. Of Motto
way. and Maupin, of Henrico. alone voted
I'm the negative
AGAINST PREFERRED CREDITORS.
On motion Of MIR. Withrow. OF Bath,
House bill No. SIC was taken up out OF
its regular order, the purpose Of when
is TO do away with preferred creditors
where persons, firms or corporations are
about to make an assignment
Mr.. Withrow, the patron Of the BILL
stated that the object of the measure
was to make a man pay his honest debts.
Mr.. Pitcher. Of Fsuquier, moved that
the bill be passed by, and remarked that
some times a man did not want 70 pay
his honest debts.
Mr. Withrow replied that under existing
circumstances the small dealer could now
obtain no credit unless he had bank ac-
count or owned property because he could
prefer creditors.
Mr. Pitcher. after withdrawing his mo-
ton TO pass the bill by. stated that the
bill had come up every session for the
past twenty years and had been deieat-
ed every time. II was backed up by the
wholesale merchants In and outside OF
this state and the people did not want
II. The great trouble was always that
too much credit was given and the right
to prefer creditors should not be taken
away.
DIT. sncad. Of Princess Anne. thought
Il was a meritorious bill and should be
passed. and Mr. Upton ID. Jennings. or
Lynchburg. thought II was bill In the
direction Of honesty and fair dealing.
Mr. Saunders, Of Franklin, spoke
against the bill. which. in his opinion.
would break up the credit in this state.
for no man would take any risk If II
could not be protected.
Mr.. Digs OF King William. thought
the bin ought TO pass. II the Legislature
up TO this time had protected the retailer
some show should be given the wholesaler
for AT least two years, until the next
LEGISLATURE met. n this was done II would
very likely appear two years hence that
the change in the law had been bene-
dcial one.
FOUND THE COMBINATION.
Mr.. Pitcher again went over the same
ground which he used in his previous ar
cument and Mr.. Digs interrupting him.
said he wondered when Mr. Saunders
fence bill went through so smoothly
whether there was any combination be-
hind the measure and he had just dis
covered that Mr.. Saunders had given his
assistance to the opponents Of this bill
who i'm turn had helped him In passing
his cow bill
Mr.. Walker. Of Northumberland, also
smoke I'm favor Of the measure and Mr..
Anderson. Of this city. explained that
the bin was equally in the interest OF
the retail merchants as or the wholesale
merchants. 1t was a bin similar 10 a law
81
ginia. The bill provided that it should go
into effect 10y July lst but 1t was more
desirable to postpone the enactment until
November list. and he offered an amend
ment TO that effect
Mr.. Withrow. when questioned. stated
that the idea Of the bin originated with
him. but not being very familiar with
framing a bill. he had requested Mr..
Henry r. Pollard to draw the bill for
him.
MIR. Darlington. of Charlotte. opposed
he bill and said. If it was passed, the
wills caused by 1t would not counter
alance m benefit derived from it and it
would take from the retail merchant the
management OF his own affairs.
judge Watkins, Of Prince Edward
bought II was a frst-class bill. the OBJ
ect of which was 10 benefit the people
If the country who did commercial busi-
ness and ii was not only asked FOR by me
letailers but also by the wholesale deal
srs. IL placed the creditors on a basis
where they could safely deal with The
country
Mr.. Withrcw explained the workings OF
me bill and while advocating the same
he explained that at present 70 man
from the country could buy goods III the
city of Richmond. unless he was report
ed by one Of the mercantile agencies In
the past however, a country man could
buv all the goods he wanted and start
Il country store. This was not the case
now. bu' il the bill was passed these
times would likely come back. because II
would give the man with the small capl-
,al chance 10 come back into the COM
mercial world. He accepted the amend
ment suggested by Mr.. Anderson, that
.hs bill should only go into effect on No
gember !. 1885
on motion OF Mr.. Feathorston, OF
Campbell tie pending question was then
ordered and the House refused TO oroef
tho bill TO its engrossment and third
reading by vote of 80 10 10.
THE VOTE.
The vote was as follows:
Yeas-Messrs. Allen. Anderson. Barley,
Charies T. Band. Blanton Booker,
Churchman. Clarke Darnall. Digs. Early.
reatherston, Folkes, Garrett, Hale, Ivey,
Upton ID. Jennings. Jones, JordCn Kizer.
Ligon. James Mann, Minter, Murphy. Pal
mer Parks. Reddy, Snead, Charles Smith,
l1lrpin. Wallace G. Harding Walker.
watkins, Watson, Wexford, J. w. VIII
liams, Wilson, Winborne, Withrow,
Speaker Ryan-39.
Navs-NffSSrS. RauSerman. Bcrrcy,