The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-02-23
THE SENATE.
Debate at Once Precipitated on
the Lassiter Road Bill.

With the usual attendance of members
present the Senate began on time, receiv-
ing a number of committee reports, neg
bills. and Mann law petitions. In accord
ance with the unanimous recommends
ton of the Committee on Privileges and
Elections the Senate concurred In the
House amendments to the Sale-IIolt re-
dstricting bill and this measure. placing
Norfolk and Newport News In separate
congressional district is "a law at last
after many years of fighting. The appro-
priatIons bill passed by the House was
Deceived and referred 10 the Senate Com
mittec on Finance and Banks.
The calendar brought UP number Of
Important bills on eDgrossment The Sims
bill allowing county boards of supervisors
60 protect game not already guarded
by the acts was ordered 10 its third
reading, with several amendments. Judge
Sims declared that the Louisa supervisors
wanted 10 protect the .'nolly cotton
tails" Several measures were passed by
an consideration OF the Lassiter road
bills began preciptatlng an important
debate. Mr.. Lassistor explained his road
scheme at length. replying to several
questions from different members. He ex
pressed much qualification at the an
announcement of Mr.. Keezell, Of Rock
ingham, one OF the strongest opponents
OF the State aid plan. that the tall syca-
more of Rockingham would raise no OBJ
lection to the convict road force feature,
provided more feasible plan could be
worked out than that proposed by the
Petersburg Senator.
R., F. & P. Bills.
The special order calling up the Rich
mond. fredericksburg and Potomac bills
stopped the discussion. and the debate
OF the new road system proposed Will be
resumed to-day. under the head OF un-
finished business. Mr.. Iassiter has just
completed his explanation of the first bin
relating particularly to the road force.
Again explaining the four Richmond.
Fredericksburg and Potomac bills. Mr..
Wickham, OF Hanover. secured mani
nous consent to withdraw No. $50, as
amended. and substitute a new bill, cor
recting certain verbal inaccuracies In sec
ton six OF the act concerning corpora
lions, and adding thereto n sole section
making the entire proceeding touching
the Richmond Fredericksburg and Poto-
mac matter applicable only TO roads in
which the State holds an interest Since
tho safeguards thrown around the mcr-
ger feature. the objection to theypassage
of the acts has been concerned almost
entirely with the liability OF railroads Sc
curing n new charter as to contractual
and other obligations formed under the
old charter. AS originally drawn, the
proposed new law with reference to the
surrender of charters was general, APP
piled to all railroads. and aroused much
apprehension among the senators in
whose communities agreements. contract
ual or otherwise, had been made with the
railways. The late provision making the
change applicable only to the Richmond.
Fredericksburg and Potomac swept this
objection away. The constitutional re-
quirements concerning the reading and
printing of the bills We're dispensed with.
and all four were then unanimously passed
without debate.
Judicial Circuits
Discussion OF the bill rearranging GER