Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-02-25
House OF Delegates.


Speaker Ryan called the House to order
at IL o'clock. There was no prayer.
The House appropriation bill was
promptly called up. The measure had
just come from the printer. and copies OF
1t were being distributed on the desks
OF the members by the pages.
Mr.. Withrow objected to the considera-
tion Of the appropriation bill. without the
members being given an opportunity to
acquaint themselves with it's provisions.
The measure was only then being placed
IN the hands OF the members. the bin
having just come from the printer. He
thought the consideration OF measure.
appropriating 100000 Of the States money,
should not be unduly rushed through, and,
therefore, he asked the House to pass By
the matter until to-day Mr.. Winborne
and DR.. Quesenberry also took this view
of the matter. Mr. Cooke moved that
the consideration Of the measure be post
poned two hours, and this was adopted
by vote of 30 to g.
THE CONSOLIDATION BILL.
The bill to consolidate the Richmond
and Petersburg railroad and the Peters
burg railroad. which was dismissed in the
House a few days ago because an amend
company to pay local taxes, came up
again in the shape of Senate bill.
Captain Parks said If a similar amend
ment was again offered he would make
motion to dismiss the bill, as he had
done before. II was no case of "bluff''
with him. He meant what-he said, Judge
Watkins. who had favored the amend
ment when the House bill was up, said
since thinking the matter over he had
come TO the conclusion that the railroad
was in earnest in the statement that 1t
would not accept the amendment, and.
in order that the State at least
might receive taxes from the corpora
ton, he would advocate the passage OF
the bill just as II came from the Senate.
Mr.. Owen then offered the same amend
ment he had presented few days ago,
the railroad to pay local taxes.
Mr.. Wood. OF Chesterfield, spoke In favor
OF this amendment. Mr.. Wallace offered
a substitute to the amendment, providing
hat the railroad shall pay local taxes
ten years after the passage of the bill.
Mr.. Willard was opposed TO both amend
ments The State was given an opportu-
1ity 10 receive 5000 or $4,000 per year
rom this railroad, and she should ac-
,ept Il.
Captain Parks, in reply to a ques-
ton from Mr. Wallace, said that he was
prepared TO say on behalf Of the railroad |
hat the latter would not accept the bill, |
Z IL was changed so much as even dotting |
an "l' or crossing st."
A GAME OF BLUFF.
Mr.. Wallace declared that the House
ill had been dismissed in the first in
tance because the body thought the
old," he said, 1.-The morning after the
Measure was dismissed It came back
gain in the shape OF a Senate bill. And
we refuse to be 'biuffed' this morning.
mark my words" said he 1.-The bill will
e again introduced this afternoon"
Corporations had three methods Of fight
lg the Legislature. First, they
ickled them under the chin; next, they
hook their fists i'm tho face OF the body.
nd when these tactics failed they at
asst went on their knees before the law
making body of the State. He wanted
o fight this matter out, until the corpo-
alton adopted the last resort and sue
umbed Mr.. Wallace's remarks were
reeted with considerable applause.
MIR. Reddy made a splendid fight in
avor Of the amendment He was opposed
D a corporation coming with a whip
4 its hand and demanding legislation.
Mr.. Switzer agreed TO every word ut
cred by Mr.. Reddy. He did not think
county should be oppressed because the
legislature had not the spirit to put its
Dot on any such proposition as held out
Y the corporation.
A MATTER OF PRINCIPLE
Mr.. Hicks was opposed TO the amend
lent. and did not think the State should
lrow away $4,000 because the county Of
could not get its portion.
Mr.. Withrow also spoke against the
mendment, and appealed TO the House
n the part of the State to accept the
600 When he looked at the depleted
.easury of the Commonwealth he knew
nat ii was his duty TO protect the credit |
the State.
Mr.. Quesenberry said that the question
as not one of dollars and GENTS, but of
'incipie and public policy. The State
as not in a position TO make any such
lrgain with this railroad. The latter
ad enjoyed complete exemption from
xation. and now came TO the State and
ked 10 be exempted from half. The ,
ate should be consistent, and require all.
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