Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-12-21
AGAINST tn
TONNACET TAX
The Fertilizer Trusts l}; Big Fllghss|
Against Measure. D
AN OFFICE AsoLlsHE p1
Opposed law IN Relation to Licea-
ainE Persons 20 Practice Law
House suspends Operators OF, or
"Land Grabbera' w-Biils iat.#
,sod"ced aud Bits Passed BliisE
Passed BIZ tho seuate.

Especial to vlrginian- pilot. :.

richmond. Va, Dec. 20,-The long;
oratorical contest in the Senate to-day
showed what n strong fight the farsS
uilzer trust is making against the ton
mage tax OF. 10 cents imposed upon their
product by the bill introduced by Mr..
John Whitehead, which has already
passed the House.
The fight developed the fact that the
Virginia Carolina Chemical Company
has strong lobby working for it's M
terests. The Senate was In session
nearly the whole day, and the bill was
tlnally referred back to the comnlltteag
70 give those interested q chance to be 5
ieard. The fertilizer people say that
they are not opposed to a tonnage tax,
put desire to make known their views
before the measure becomes n law.
SENATOR MARTIN. DECLARED +
ELECTED.
The first proceedings Of tho Two
branches this morning was a jolnE5
caucus, at which Lieutenant Governor
llchols declared Senator Thomas s..
Martin duly elected to succeed him!
selt for term of six years in the
United States Senate 81
AN OFFICE ABOLISHED.
Contrary to general expectation. E
when the bill to abolish the office Of
fllSegister. of the Land Office was taken
up by the Senate, there was no debate
upon It.. A recorded vote was not Z
Echols, who Is presiding, put the ques- ;
ton on ordering the act to it's third
reading and engrossment and paused
Tor any Senator to state his objections
NO one desired to be heard, and there
were only two or three noes" when the
vote was put. AZ
TO PRACTICE LAW.
Senator Barksdale offered a bill 10
repeal the present law in relation to
licensing persons to practice law. As
now provided, applicants have to pass
examination by three Judges OF the
Court OF Appeals. The effect Of the
passage of Mr.. Barksdales bill would 1
be to restore the old law, under which,
candidates for admission to the bar
Were examined by circuit Judges. Mr..
Barksdale thinks the examination to5
Which candidates are subjected Is too
severe. s. ~
THE "LAND-GRABBERS :" ACT.
4 The fight in the House was on the
"La nd Grabbers' I" act. which, while not
so long as the fertilizer disturbance An l
the other branch. WAS no less acrimnsa
5nious and interesting. The bill underS
debate came over from the Senate and
is designed to suspend the operations Of;
that act for forty days.
Section two OF the bill provided that
no court or judge should do any act
provided for in the bill sought to- be-
suspended during the suspension OF said
act. Ss XIV fs
Mr.. Parks commended that the result
of such provision would be endless iit-5
igation. ,
3 Messrs Whitehead, of Norfolk; Shell
ton, Petit, Gent and Duke spoke to tSeS
question, each contending for passage
OF the act. and condemning the land-S
grabbers law.
The question was called, namely: TO?
amend the Senate bill by striking out
the second section. as proposed by Mr.
Parks. Ss3s 81 So
MIR. Buntin asked for a recorded vote
and sufficient number of members.
agreed to insure such vote. The request
for q recorded vote was afterwards res
considered, and the amendment was
put on Its passage. The amendment
was adopted 80 to 80.
Mr. Kelley offered O second amends
nient, providing that the suspensionj
should not apply to applications al.
ready on file. "
Mr. whitehead, OF Norfolk, moved
that the last amendment be laGa ON the.
table, but the motion was votaA 64eyn,
wfereupon Mr. Jennings asked fos ii re-,
corded vote. but the House declined TO,
have the roll called.
On the vote. the Kelley amendment
was adopted, SO to 81. If:
onpassage Of the bill as amended the
vote was unanimous.
BILLS INTRODUCED.
The bills introduced at to-day's ses.
sion were ms follows: i3Sl 24.s XXI
BY Mr.. Gravely-To extend the time
| = . Il,
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