Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-03-06
GOVERNOR APPROVES BILL
Twenty-Five Senators and Many Business
men of Richmond Applied to the Chief
Executive to Withhold IIis signature
Question of Legality of its Passage by
the Senate Taiscd - Action Taken By
Norfolk Board of Trado and Clearing
House Association.
(speeIal to virglnlan-pllot.,

Richmond, Va, March 5.-There Is
widespread opposition here to the Parks \
bill. creating more than one
hundred new officers. at n heavy ex-
pense to the Taxpayers of the State.
This morning Senator Carter Glass cir
culated and secured signatures to the
following petition, which he presented
TO the Governor to-day:
To His Excellency. the Governor:
The undersigned members OF the SEN
ute OF virginia unite IN urging your
ENcellency to withhold your approval
Of House bill No. 553. known as the
Parks Oil. providing for u commission
OF valuations. and involving the APP
pclntment of some 100 public officers,
with authority to inspect the books ac-
counts and private interests of the cit
izens of Virginia, and to make public
information thus secured. In our judg-a
ment. the bill passed the Senate with
out It's full scope and import being un-
destood, in the closing hours Of a busy
session, and while many Senators were
absent from their seats We regard the
measure as both dangerous and unjust.
and beg that you will not permit 1t to
become law.
Very respectfully,
(Slgned)
CARTER GLASS,
r.. B. HARTLEY,
JOSEPH WHITEHEAD,
IL. j. HARVEY,
GRAHAM CLAYTON,
j. A. DINWIDDIE, jssSsSsi !.
THOMAS d. GOLD, &
~ w. p. BARNSDALE, +.
w. Z. FOSTER,
WILLIAM STANDS,
a. ST. CLAIR
c. w. STEELE,
GEORGE Is. KEEZEEL.
c. HARDING WALKER.
BLAND MASSIE,
HENRY FAIRFAX.
GEORGE w. LECATO,
S. l.. LUPTON,
II. a. JAMES,
G.. NJ. WALLACE, a
WILLIAM B. M'ILwAINE.
THOMAS T.. BLA[EY, W
BEVERLY y. NfUNFORD,
II. l.. MAYNARD.
The Governor did not Indicate what
his action would be.
A number of Richmond business men
were at the Capitol to-day, urging that
something be done 10 prevent this net
becoming law. They contended that
such a law ms that proposed would be
the worst blow that could happen to
the business interests OF he State
HAD NOT PASSED.
Soon after the Senate was called to
order Senator Munford called the nj
tention of the body to the fact that the
bill In question required Il constitu-
tional vote. as 1t carried an Rppropria-
ton. This 1t did not receive and he
moved to correct the journal The jour
nal said the bill was passed when. in
fact. 1t did not really pass because it
did not receive twenty-one votes. In
cidensally. Mr.. Munford said he was
heartily IN favor of making people pay
hn i1y 1,tlt y, 81
this act Should become law It would
occasion more criticism than the So
called land -grabbers' act. passed at the
last session. m
Senators Flood, Lyle, Wickham and
MOTHS took issue with Mr. NIuuford
and commended that it was too late to
correct the journal. They argued that
II there was any question about the bill
having bean Illegally passed, the courts
could settle it, =
Mr.. Munford reduced his resolution
to writing. 1t changed the journal SO
as to show that the bin was i.defeated,.
instead of passed" his point being. as
already stated, that the act could not
have been passed when 1T did not re.
celve twenty-one votes
Senator Morris did not think the bill
required constitutional vote. But
this was not the question to be con-
sidered. The Journal was a diary OF
the proceedings OF the Senate TT
showed what took place Saturday, and
1t was too late now to change It so as
to show that the Chair had ruled that
the bill was defeated When, In fact, he
declared the bill was passed.
CORRECT ITSELF.
Senator Coghill took the same v,ew
of the matter as did Mr.. Munford, and
z y +. ~
Continued on Page 10.