Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-02-27
THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES.
The Lower Branch Spends the Day
on the Appropriation Bill.


on the Appropriation Bill.
Speaker Ryan called the House to or
der at 1870 o'clock yesterday. There was
no minister Of the Gospel present, but
Mr. Il. ID. Jennings, the Delegate from
Lynchburg, offered prayer.
The following Senate bills were passed /:
TO require fire-insurance companies do
ing business in this State to refund to
| policy-holders a certain proportion of the
! premium paid in certain cases.
For the relief of John Quincy Adams,
OF Amherst county, Va.
THE CONSOLIDATION BILL
The bill to consolidate the Richmond
and Petersburg railroad and the Peters
burg railroad came up in the House
again soon after that body was called
TO order, and not only was Mr. Woods
amendment requiring the corporation to
pay local taxes defeated, but also one
presented by Mr.. Reddy, providing that
nothing in this act shall be construed
as giving the consolidated company the
right TO fix freight or passenger rates in
excess Of those now allowed over any
portion OF its road, over which il is not
now authorized by it's franchise or fran
chses 10 fix said rates"
message was received from the Gov
ernor vetoing the bill to incorporate the
Richmond and Tidewater Railroad Com
pany. and the Executive was sustained
in his veto. A bill framed so as to meet
the Governors objections, passed the
House Friday
AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT.
The appropriation bill was then cnlled
up, and Mr.. Winborne offered an amend
ment providing that the Commissioner
of Agriculture shall receive a salary OF
LOO per annum, and his clerk $500, in
stead OF all fees and taxes collected on
fertilizers, but these salaries to be paid
from such funds. DR.. Quesenberry made
a motion that the department be abol-
ished. and Captain Minter agreed with
him.
Mr.. Wilson said the Office had never
been worth a cent 10 him or his people"
and he thought the Office should be abol-
ished. The farmers did not want it.
DR.. Winston thought the department
was Of vast benefit TO the farmers be-
cause the analysis of fertilizers prevent
ed spurious STUFF from being sold in
Virginia.
Mr.. Embrey thought it would be an
unwise step to abolish the office. The
berry said that his county adjoined that
of Mr.. Embrey, and the latter could not
speak for Tidewater except for his Gm-
breys) county. The Caroline farmers
didn't derive any benefit from the de-
partment.
Judge Watkins and Captain Feather
ston were decidedly opposed to abolish
ing the Office. The latter said the de-
partment was the only thing in the State
that bore the name Of agriculture"
The Blacksburg institute had been
ashamed of the name OF "hayseed," and
had changed their title to polytechnic"
COULD NOT RELY UPON IT.
MT Churchman, of Albemarle, said he
represented the richest agricultural coun-
~ in the State, and his people did not
depend upon the department because
they had found that they could not rely
upon IT, When they desired 10 have fer
tilizers tested, they got the work done
either by Professor Mallett, at the Uni
versity or by the chemist at the Blacks
burg institute.
Mr.. Campbell. Of Amherst, said II the
department was abolished the people
would hear from the farmers at the next
election.
Captain Parks said as far as the law
yers were concerned, IL would benefit |
them If the office was done away with,
for the fertilizer suits would then in |
crease.
DR.. Quesenberry said Il was for the |
interest of the farmers Of the State to |
abolish the department, and IL was a
strange fact that the lawyers were en- |
deavorlng to tell the body what the agr- |
cultural class wanted when the latter !
had expressed their wishes for them |
selves Mr.. Thomas took the same view |
OF the matter. DR.. Quesenberry's amend |
ment to abolish the office was defeated. |
and Mr.. Winbornes amendment was |
adopted.
CAPTAIN oBANNoNs PAY.
The next item 10 which objection was
made was that of the salary OF 81 200 for
the Superintendent Of Public Printing
Mr.. Reddy moved to amend this bv in
sorting $3.50. The Delegate from Rich
mond declared that In this movement of
retrenchment and reform there had been
more humbug and rot than he had ever
witnessed before on the floor OF the
House This remark was greeted with
applause, and for the first time during
the session some member even INDUCED |
In giving a good, old-fashioned yell. Mr..
Reddy's amendment was rejected by a
vote of 6l TO %.
Mr.. Parker moved to reduce the salary
of the reporter OF the Supreme Court of |
Appeals from $500 to 1920. This was
agreed to.
At / o'clock the House proceeded with
joint order, having for its object the
election OF judge for the county OF |
Accomac. Mr.. Matthews placed In nomi-
nation Mr.. Samuel T. Ross who received
all of the votes cast.
CONTINGENT FUND.
Mr. Stubs moved to amend the appro-
priation bill by allowing a civil contin-
gent fund Of $1,000 instead of $500. The
fund was exhausted when Governor Tyler
assumed office. and he thought $4,000
should be placed at his disposal for use II
necessary,
mr.. saunders was In favor Of the
amendment. The contingent fund was
Intended TO DO used IN the discretion of
the Executive. for the payment OF ex-
penses arising from cases OF emergency.
Mr.. Diggs thought as 800 was all that
was. needed. according 70 the reports OF
the Auditor, then 1850 was ample for the
fund. The amendment was defeated. the
vote BEING 43 to 80. The amendpsent re-