The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-02-26

SENATOR ]
lives OF members of the Legislature. espe-
cially those hailing from the City by the
Sea. little strenuous at the present
time. and 1t Is all about House bill No.
23o, known as the Fuller anti-gerryman-
dering bill. One delegation that has been
In evidence several days favors the bill,
but another one showed up yesterday and
brought with them preamble and reso-
lutions passed by the City Council of
Norfolk, printed copies OF which have
been put in tho hands OF every member
OF the Legislature. The preamble is ac
follows:
Whereas, there is now pending before
the Legislature of Virginia bill known
as House Bill No. go, the effect of which,
IL passed by the Legislature. will b. to
fasten upon the city of Norfolk for the
n xt three years the ward lines existing
under the ord nance which became law
on the Goth day OF April. 1901, and thus
to make permanent for sid time the
existence OF the Fourth Ward OF the city
of Norfolk as now constituted; and
Whereas, such result would be de-
leterlous to the future owth and pros
perily of the city and detrimental TO thu
better political conditions thereof"
The resolutions. which are couched In
elegantly strong English. urge the Legis-
lature not to pass the bill, 'inasmuch as
1t Is aimed especially at Norfolk and has
no general purpose, though disguised In
words of general application: and fur
Their because the bill is an interference
by the Legislature in tn local affairs of
Norfolk, as evidenced by the selection
for valuation by the Legislature, rot of
the last redistricting measure passed by
the present Councils of said city (and.
therefore, the last expression of the rop-
ular will of Norfolk upon this subj c0,
but OF the redistricting measure passed
by the Councils preceding the present
Councils thereby endeavorinS to infi2t
upon the citizens of Norfolk. for several
years or more yet to come, the &c $ OF
Councils which have been out of exist
ence for several years
The resolutions request the Norfolk leg
slators to use every effort to defeat the
bill, unless 1t Is so amended as to vail
date all nrevious ordinances TOT reo'slriet-
! ing the city.
Under the resolution the following com
mittee was appointed to come to Rich
| mond and present the protest: Mayor
| James G. Riddick. George l.. Arps, c. II.
| Bull, H. NJ. Murray and w. j. Simmons.
The presentation of tine report of the
special committee appointed to inspect
| the public grounds and buildings and
report as 10 the advisatility of dividing
| the offices of Register of the Land ONE
| and Superintendent of Public Grounds
| and Buildings, has been delayed some
| what.
..The report will be filed on Monday"
said Mr. Sadler. of Powhatan, chairman
| OF the committee on Saturday. we VIII
then also offer bill carrying out the re-
! concentrations to be made by the COM
| mittee. ~
| The report OF the committee will prob
| ably meet with opposition. AS heretc-
| fore stated, one of the recommendations
| to be made will be that hereafter the State
| Librarian perform the duties of the
| Register of the Land Office. In the Senate
yesterday Mr.. Keezell. of Rockingham.
offered two hills abolishing the office OF
Register of the Land Office and trans
ferring the records and duties of that
office to the Office of the Secretary of the
| Commonwealth. l1r. Keezell does not
favor the committee plan of having the
State Librarian take up this work.
The fight for normal schools grows
daily hotter. On the Senate side the APP
preparation asked on the general propo-
sition. is being considered now by the
Finance Committee. The particular local
/
with renewed energy to the task of try
| ing to get one of the plums. Senator
Holt, of Newport News, on Saturday Of
| fered a bill providing that one of the
| schools should be located In his city;
Senator st. Clair offered bill for the
location of one ut Radford, and Senator
Keezell offered a bill for the location
| OF one at Harrisonburg. All three bills
were referred to the Finance Committee,
| cs;,,, tn pf bar las,
| now before the Committee on Public In
stitutions and Education were by unan-
| imous consent, transferred to the Finance
| Committee, also thus bringing all the
| normal school measures before the last
named committee.
The factonal fight that has shaken to
| Its foundations the little town of Belle
| Haven. in Acconac county. has reached
its climax by the Introduction of u bill
! in the Senate by Mr.. Gunter, of Accomac,
providing for the repeal of the charter
| OF the town. Much has been written
| heretofore about the Belle Haven situa-
| ton. Mr. Gunter said yesterday that the
representatives from the section have
| offered the repeal bill at the request Of a
/ majority of the voters. Under the bill all
| property, real and personal, belonging to
the town. will become vested In the board
/ of supervisors of Accomac county, and
\ will be by 1t sold and the proceeds there
OF. together With any money on hand.
] applied first to the payment of any debts
| due from the town, and teh remainder
thereof he paid to the school hoard of
Pungoteague District. to be by them
4 applied to tho use and for the benefit of
tho public, school located in the town.
The Powell bill, cxemptng physicians
from payment of n license tax, was intro.
duced In the Senate Saturday by Mr.. st,
Clair, of Giles.
] An appropriation Of 5000 for the bene-