The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-01-27

ual REIMBURSEMENT OF the virginia pubic
debt The first bill. extending the fund
ing act until the next Legislature. WAS
reported at once. Judge Dew, second
auditor, then appeared and made state
ment setting forth his scheme for the
settlement of the debt. The plan was
very favorably regarded by the members
OF the committee, and after full con-
sideration 1t was reported without amend
ment. Under the terms of the bill. which
was explained yesterday. the auditor Will
be enabled to divert GO per cent. of the
remaining each year after all appropra-
lions have been made. and use this sum
for the purchase of outstanding Virginia
bonds. With this fund the sinking fund
and the literary fund, the debt of over
S25.0oo.0G0 will be extinguished by the
year 1850
A Curious Tangle.
A curious tangle has developed in
connection with the salary increases of
the Commissioner of Agriculture. the Su-
perintendent of Public Instruction, and
the state Librarian. Tho House of Dele
gates had passed two bills, one raising the
salary of the Commissioner to $500, and
the other giving the Superintendent the
same amount The bill increasing the SAL
airy of the Librarian has not yet been
committee yesterday the increase in the
salaries was agreed TO. majority OF the
committee appeared TO be In favor of Civ
ing the superintendent 5000 year, but
to prevent the necessity of sending the
bill back to the House and causing delay,
the committee accepted the House bill for
50 500 a third bill was then reported
giving the Librarian $50 a year
After all this had been done 1t was dis
covered that all three bills as drawn, in
Guiding the two already passed by the
House, were unconstitutional. IL rs pro-
vtded In the Constitution that when a sec
ton of the Code is amended the entire
section must be re-enacted. one very
long section covers the provision for sala-
RES for all three of the officials named,
hut in amending the law each had hah
,.eenacted ONLY that subsection referring
10 himself. The committee then drew u
new bill amending and re-enacuns the
entire section and Including the saiaFS
increases of all three in the one Din.
But now the trouble arises. Under the
Constitution the salaries OF certain ON
cials cannot be increased or diminished
for the term they are serving. rms reicis
to the Commissioner of Agriculture
a,,a Tho superintendent of Public In
struction. but not TO the State Librarian.
The terms of the Commissioner and the
Superintendent begin on February list,
and unless the bill Is acted upon at once
the Increase of salary will be Impossible.
The librarian has more time. The in
cluslon of his salary increase In the biii
with the others, however, WILL II is sad,
impede the progress of the measure
through the House and perhaps delay IT
beyond February 1st since while the
body has acted upon the other two bills
A.. t., ami fna
There was a considerable stir-up among
the officials Interested over the situa-
| ton yesterday. It was understood late
last night that conference will be held
to-day with n view to inducing the
| librarian to withdraw temporarily, let
! the bill get through with the other two
Increases and then after the critical
| point has passed make his fight to have
| it amended and re-enacted again so as
to include himself
Insurance Bill Killed.
| The Lassiter insurance bill, which,
| providing that agents in Virginia snail
receive the same commission paid to
agents In any other State has caused
great stir in business circles. was
Yesterday afternoon reported( by the
Committee on General Laws with the
recommendation that 1t do not pass.
Several gentlemen spoke upon the bill.
Mr.. Alexander Hamilton, president OF
the Petersburg Savings and Insurance
Company was engaged In an address
opposing the measure. when Mr.. Las
| sitter Interrupted the speaker declaring
| that further argument was unnecessary.
| The patron OF the bill realized that the
| proposition had been Chilled dead. and
| Mr. Hamilton. under the circumstances,
argeeing willingly TO suspend, the COM
| mttee voted almost unanimously against
| the measure
J The Sale cemetery bill WAS taken up
J and reported favorably The Shackel-
! ford bill relating to beneficial associa-
tions was. after statements from Mr.
Randolph, of Norfolk, and Mr.. Hill Mon
| tague, OF this city, referred to a sub
4 committee.
/ The Sadler bill concerning the powers
! Of the Commissioner of Labor was cal &C
4 up late in the afternoon. AT this poin
the power plant suffered a collapse, thu
lights went out and the committee, II
darkness hastily adjourned.
Have Hard Struggle.
School legislation proposed is still pillni
UP. Several h!ls were offered In the Sen
ate yesterday by Judge Sims at tn
REQUEST of the state Board OF Education
The Senate Committee on Public Institu
lions and Education has set next rucsda,
4 FOR hearing on the Thomas tin /,
appropriate 10000 for the primary schoo
system This bill makes All increase o
S'Oo0Op in the annual appropriation, nh,
state Board wants at least that amour
and MI. Thomtts said last night that h,
would not compromise on smaller sum
He viii fight before the committee 10
"A report OF his bill without amendmen
I Ia. tl Nk,,, IL u. 4
there VIII carry the struggle onto Tia
floor OF the Senate
On the following night, Wednesday, TIN
committee Will take mp the Normal Schoo