The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-12-14
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IT WAS EXCITING IN
SENATE CHAMBER
Looked Like St. Louis Exposition
Bill Would 60 Under.
COMPULSORY EDUCATION BILL
MIR. Stafford Would Have Parents Com
pelied to Send Their Children Be-
tween Ages of Eight and Six
teen Years to School.
COMPULSORY EDUCATION BILL


| The Senate and House Of Delegates
| had quite interesting sessions yesterday.
| The distinctive feature Of the Senate pro.
ceedinys was the narrow escape from
| defeat Of the bill providing for an APP
! preparation for the st. Louis Exposition
! through the small attendance OF Sena-
| tors The vote by, which the bill failed
| to pass was reconsidered and the bill
passed by until tomorrow.
One of the most important bills offered
| in the Legislature yesterday wac that by
Mr.. Stafford, of Pulaski. providing Tor
compulsory education for children be-
| tween certain ages in Virginia. The
| bill provides that parents and guardians
! Of children between the ages Of eiSh.
and sixteen shall keep them at school
| for at least sixteen weeks eac"
year. For any violation Of the section,
such parent or guardian shall be. deemed
! guilty of a 1nisdemeanor and fined one
dollar for the first offence and IS Tor
| each subsequent offence. The children
i may in the discretion Of, the parents or
guardians, be placed in private instead
of public schools.
| Mr.. Angel offered IN the House bill
| to punish persons for willfuly turning on
steam on engines. or for hampering with
machinery for purposes OF doing damage
| thereto.
| A bill by Mr.. Cardweu to prevent In
| ternal improvement companies from con-
demning the property of schools and
! colleges, was Of interest as was also
! that of Colonel Bowman authorizing or
| phan homes to place iT'corrisible chill
Jiren in, the Sta tie Reformatory.
| fjef, teI n oh
| ing commissioners OF the revenue at
| great length, and it went over until Mon
| day.
| Mr.. Barksdale offered a modified pure
elections bill, and it was referred.
Both houses adjourned until noon to-.
| morrow.
Day in the House.
The House was called to order at noon
| by Speaker John T. Ryan and there was
| no prayer.
When Rule 80 had been disposed Of, the
clerk called the calendar and the fight
! over the mode of choosing commissioners
Of the revenue was renewed.
Mr.. Smith, Of Clarke, who offered the
amendment; Friday for appointment by
Gil cult judges, said he did SO only in or
der to bring all the propositions up, and
then he made a strong speech for cleo
| ton by the people.
Mr.. West arose to speak against cleo
ton by the people and at the outset
lie became involved in brief but spir-
lied wrangle with Air. Settle. OF Kappa
hammock.
Mr. Vests speech was a strong one
for appointment, ana created much en-
thusiasm. He was followed by Colonel
Cation, OF AlexandriaIir&Hyyi1o- spoke earn
estly for appointment By the courts, and
no A., n no e
marks to say that the convention had
not the courage to settle the question.
but had showed the responsibility off on
the Legislature. But for the constitu
tional exhibition on the subject, he would
be for popular election Mr.. eaton was
often questioned by Mr.. Settle and The
two engaged in q brief running debate.
Mr. Gent replied warmly for the commit
tee report and he was loudly cheered He
said he would not consent to withdraw
any more power from the people, and
when he concluded Mr. Allen took the
floor to speak on the same line Mr..
Aliens speech was a long one, and he
too. was cheered.
Mr.. Duke spoke warmly for appoint
ment by boards Of supervisors, and he
was followed in 4 strong speech by Mr..
Early, of Greene, who earnestly and ably
advocated the popular election plan Of
fcred by the committee.
R. e. LEES VIEWS.
Mr.. Early's remarks We're loudly ap-
l,iauded, and his distinguished desk-mate
Colonel r. E. Lee, Jr., spoke ably for
his bill to elect by the Boards of Super
vlsors. His argument on this line was
very strong, and his splendid voice rang
cut as he declared that neither of the
other plans proposed would be best for
the people Colonel Lee made some COM
pHrisons OF assessments in various coun-
ties. and said it was because of existing
Inequalities that some counties desired
popular elections OF their commissioners.
Colonel Lee said If defeated in his bill,
he would go for the report of the COM
mittee, and he said the proposition for
court appointment was the n.Nst danger
Gus one suggested. Colonel Newhouse fol-
lowed Colonel Lee and advocated appoint
mert. He said it was Important that the
people should have a right to more than
one term from good commissioner He
favored either appointment scheme but
was against popular election
The House ordered the pending question
srd il required upon the amendment OF
MIR. Smith, Of Clarke, for appointment by
the circuit courts. and it WIS rejected
ayes. Is: noes, &c.
q motion was made to adjourn. which
upon roll call resulted: Ayes 49, noes. q,
and the House stood adjourned until noon
on Monday.
INTRODUCED AND REFERRED.
BY Mr. snead: To suspend payment Of
taxes on lands enormously assessed until
matter can be adjusted.
BY Mr. Bowman: Authorizing incorpo-
rated associations or asylums for support
and cducatio of orphans and Indignant
children to place incorrigib!e children
with the Prison Association Of Virginia.
BY Mr. Stafford: An act to secure to
children the benefits Of elementary edu-
cation.
BY Mr.. Cardwell: To prevent interna!
improvement companies from condemning
the property of schools and colleges.
BY Mr.. Angel: To protect owners OF
boilers and other machinery.