The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-01-07
LEGISLATIVE NOTES..
Gossip Concerning Various Bills Up
and TO Be Introduced.

4.
Mr.. Epps, author of the James Grow"
car bill, has been deluged with Hilrl-
gated mass Of communications. He has
letters from colored Baptist preachers In
half a dozen cities. all protesting against
the measure. and arguing in the hope OF
causing the patron Of the bill to- With
draw it. Ono OF the unique collection
Of letters is written by a colored brother.
who evidently labors under the lnisappre-
hersion. for. he conSratulates Mr.. Epps
for the stand that gentleman has taken
in opposition to his own measure
Two of your lady friends wrote Mr..
Epps a nice letter thanking him for origi-
mating the bill.
Senator Munford's bill. offered yester-
day, authorizing the Southern Railway
Company 10 reduce the nominal amount
OF its stock. IS 10 enable the company 10
retire the issue of Sl2o, 100000 of common
stock by the issuing of lieu thereof $780,
Oo0.oo1 of stock whose value however,
would be double that of the issue retired.
The bill does not apply TO the s6o,o5o.0QQ
of preferred stock. Mr.. Wickham'S bill,
in the interest of the Chesapeake and
Ohio railway. is designed 10 secure i SIM
lar reduction N the common stock OF that
company.
Mr. FolkeS patron of the bill to require
the laying Of wires in underground con-
Quits III cities Of $1,000 population and
upwards. does not concede defeat of his
bill by any means. even though it may
be reported adversely from the commit
tee. He announced his purpose yester-
day to inauguraIe a vigorous light in the
House i'll Tie interest Of mis- bill.
Mr. Epps' superintendent act, which has
excited wide interest. was taken up again
Yesterday morning in the House Commit
lee on Roads and Internal Navigation
The session lasted two hours. beginning
at ~ o'cIoc..
Counsel for the railways presented a
bill, which they desire to Submit as a
substitute. This bill, which Is a very
long one, confers power on conductors
to seat passengers where they choose.
Mr.. Epps regards the proposition of the
railway attorneys as calculated to nullify
the object sought in his bill. and believes
that litigation would be brought about
under the operation of the substitute,
which would finally wind up by indeti-
mite delay of decision in the matter.
Tho hill will be further considered on
Tuesday.
The Committee on General Laws fur
ther considered Mr.. Eolkes' bill to re-
Quire wires N cltleS Oh Gv,VVp pOpu!dtlOn
or more to be put in under ground con-
duits, at meeting held yesterday. Mr..
Tolkes argled in favor of his bill. and
Mr. Whitehead. of Norfolk, led the fight
against the measure The bill will be
reported Monday.
There appears TO have been no founda-
ton for the report, which was printed and
freely used as an argument against
voting for the measure, that Governor
Tyler had ntmated his intention to veto
the bill designed to abolish the Office Of
Register of the Land Office, should it pass
the Assembly II can be stated on au-
,hority> that the report is without basis
IN fact.
The Governors position in reference to
the measure in question IS consistent with
policy he strictly adheres to not to de-
eide in advance of submission of bills
whether or not he will sign them.
The House Committee on Counties.
Cities and Towns yesterday set Jan
uary sd. at i p. NJ, for hearing gene
raj road bills and requested that MEM
bers having such bills present them before
the date mentioned.