Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-14
TN THE OLD DOMINION
COMMENT OVER GOV. MoNTA-
CUES FAREWELL MESSAGE.
Special Correspondence Of The Star


RICHMOND, Va, January 13, 1906
The farewell message of Gov Montague,
which was read in the presence of the gen
eral assembly by the governor. has created
great deal of comment To begin with,
the innovation was surprise to the mem
pers at large. In the second place, in which
ne recommended the abolition Of the offices
Oh examiners of records, he has placed HIM
SELF on record IS favorfng the removal OF
men from fat jobs who happen to be op-
posed to him. There is one examiner for
each judicial district, and a majority of
these who hold Office are not political adj
herents of the governor
LII. X ;. Powell of Brunswick county one
of the oldest members of the general as
sembly, has the distinction of having pre-
Sehteu the hrst real live bill in the Iegis-
Iature. DR.. Powell seeks to make the game
OF root ball a misdemeanor IN this state
making the offense punisha BILE by all who
paruclpate IN 1t by fine of not less than
300 nor more than $500. The title of the bill
was all that was read by the clerk of the
mouse and that served to create round of
laughter. Dr. Powell is an original thinker,
rafting good debater and is not without
influence in the state. The measure was re-
ferred to the committee on schools and col
Ieges. 1t is pretty much the same bill as
that o1lered IN the Senate many years ago
by Senator Barksdale which was defea ted
in the house by a good majority
Members Without Desks.
Practically all of the week has been spent
in the preliminary work of the senate and
mousse organizing and getting ready for
work To begin with, there has been a con-
siderable delay in the transaction of bust
ness. When the capitol was ordered re-
modelled and enlarged an order was placed
LOT handsome mahogany desks and chairs.
Ihe chairs have arrived, but the desks have
and hn hnrc,
sltung around in a Semicircle in front of
the presiding officer of the two houses
iiolulhg their coats and hats and waiting
Tor the furniture to arrive. Little has been
or can be accomplished pending the naming
OF committees, arrival of the desks and the
election OF the several judges who are to
De CHOSEN by the general assembly. There
mas peen much caucusng and debating over
TINS question, and the friends of the several
candidates are hard at work in behalf of
certain faVorftes. There has been no CON
teSC along political lines to indicate the
strength of the general assembly as between
Senator Martins adherents and those OF
the governor, and friends of both gentle
men are anxious that there shall be no such
contest There Is no question but that Sen
ator Martins friends easily control the sit
uaton, and We're legislation attempted along
that line the result is already known
Cannot Use Capitol Basement
Although quarter of a million dollars
have been expended in charging the cap
1tol, the rooms in the basement, which are
hght and airy enough, cannot be used Tn
d." the southern portico. owing to some de-
1ect IN laying the marble floor rain beats
through and makes four of the rooms alb
soIutely useless. They were intended for
the use of the commissioner of labor and
the register of the land office, but they
nave declined to move in. Water drips
from the walls and the plastering is begin
ming to crumble and fall to the floor.
In the office of the register of the land
office, who is custodian of the records of
the state pertaining to SURVEYS there are
more than 100000 original surveys and
grants, in addition to more than 1000 old
DOCKS dating back from 1923 and if these
records were placed in the building they
would be worthless in few weeks The
officer has been directed to remain away
until the further order of the general as
sembly.
After the Liquor Dealers.
Delegate E. W. Barrett of Newport News
is hot on the trail of the liquor men, The
saloon men made a terrific fight on him In
the primary and in the general election
they voted the republican ticket. Now it
is Mr. Barrett'S turn. and he has started
by introducing a bill closing all saloons
from midnight to o'clock in the morning
imposing heavy penalties, and also proVid-
ing heavy fine and prison sentence on
all persons who sell liquor on Sunday. The
measures have been referred to committee
Of course, but there is good reason to be-
ievo that the saloon men will have to do
some pretty tall hustling to prevent the
passage of the bills Mr.. Barrett is ag-
gressive and is not afraid to make a fight
Insurance Legislation.
Several days ago it was stated in the dis
patches to The Star that at this session of
the general assembly there would be legis-
latiOn along certain lines which would make
the travels of the insurance companies
rather difficult in this state. This has been
demonstrated, when Delegate Williams of
Giles county offered a bill which requires
the officers and agents Of all insurance COM
panies when getting license from the au-
dtor to do business in this state to make
oath that they do not and will not belong
to any combination or trust which has for
its object the enforcement of the present
tariff rates which have been fixed by agree
ment.
In addition to this there is coming to the
notice of the general assembly within
short time bill to demand that all life IN
surance and fire insurance companies shall
keep in this state, invested in real estate
or securities, all the surplus received from
policies held in this state