Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-26
IN THE OLD DOMINION
POLITICAL PEACE PROSPECTS
ARE FAR REMOVED.
special Correspondence Of The star.

RICHMOND. Va, February "A, 1900.
The possibilities for peace. politically. in
this state. are far removed at this time.
Efforts I'm that direction. the conciliatory
speech of Gov. Swanson. the signal triumph
of the party In power and other things have
had the effect of making sore certain mem.
bers of the general assembly and others
who can see that they are being prodded in
every bill that Is introduced and In every
vote that is cast 1t is even suggested that
the move to investigate the state corpora
ton commission is prompted by politics.
and is to hinder the ambitions of certain
men who are said to be clamoring for po-
litical preferment.
The investigation of Eugene H Cloves
for membership on the state hospital board
Is another political move, according to
some politicians. II is impossible to figure
out how this conclusion is arrived at, how
ever. as the appointee was named by Gov.
Montague and his confirmation is being held
up by a gentleman who is and has ever
been friendly to the late governor. This
latter investigation. by the way is said to
be disclosing some remarkable conditions
ana the statement was made a few days
ago by man who knows what has trans
pired behind closed doors that 'if the evil
dence already taken is ever made public
some one will get killed inside of two
weeks"
State Redistricted.
As was intimated In The Star few days
ago. the redistricting bill, which passed the
senate, struck snag In the house, that
body striking off the ST Clair amendment
which affected the sixth and ninth districts,
and returned the bill to the senate as it was
originally drawn by Senators Holt and Sale.
The bill separates the first and second dis
tricts and places the two cities-r-orfoIk
and Newport News-in different districts.
whereas they have both been in the second
district for many years They have con-
hicting interests-the shipyards one n gov
eminent yard and the other private yard
and IL was contended that no one man could
incident thereto.
There is just one small change made in
the bii-Surrey county being taken from
the second district. In addition to the
ooai'tles taken from the second district
and placed in the fourth district That
county Is In the congressional district
winch is represented by fourth district
senator s' and for that reason it was deemed
pest TO solidify the district Senator Sale
was Delighted when the bill wa spassed
saying that he had worked for the meas
t ure Tor nve years, and that it had three
times been passed by the senate. and had
died each time--twice in the house and
once by veto of Gov. Montague
The R., F. and P. Charter.
The bills presented ten days ago. which
allow the surrender of the charter OF the
Richmond. fredericksburg and Potomac
railroad, the exchange of the states in
terest for securities of the new company.
the merging of the road with other proper
ties. came up in the senate Thursday as
special orders-there are four of the hills
ana We're engrossed and passed Senator
hehry /; Wickham said the bills had been
presented with the Endorsement and ap-
prevail of the sinking fund commissioners
the states directors of the road and the
financial officers. He invited the closest
scrutiny of the bills, sa ying that auy of
the oi1icers named was given power to
prevent merging If there was a suspi-
clon thai the interests of the state were
not protected The bills were discussed AT
length, and the statement has been made
that there is an cd amendment to the
charter which provides that when the diyi-
bends reach 10 per cent rates for passen-
gers and freight shall be so reduced as to
keep the dividends at or below mat figure
Senator Patteson, authority for the state
ment, says that 1t is impossible so he ia
informed, to keep the dividends to that fig
ure, and IN order to permit the stock to
pay greater amount to the holders of the
stock 1t is necessary to have new char
ter and permit the present rates to be main
tanned. 1t Is believed that some mistake
has been made and that the amendment
alluded to has an altogether different mean
to have the charter changed. and II Is
held that they were first approached by
the states representatives and the propo-
siton offered for their consideration The
bills are now in the house for disposition
Lee Monument Bill.
The bill to appropriate $4,000 for an
equestrian statue to General Fitz Lee.
which has been pending before the gem
eral assembly, has been withdrawn be-
cause of the demand for money on the
part Of all the state institutions The
finance committee of the Senate consid-
cred the measure and is understood to
have been opposed to the proposition so
rather than have 1T said that the state of
Virginia had failed to make an approprt-
alton for the monument to General Lee
the bill was withdrawn. The ladies' in
charge of the measure. headed by Mrs
Norman V. Randolph. will make an appeal
to the people of the state to make a con-
tribution for the work, hoping to raise
more than the. amount asked by popular
subscription.
For the same reason-the demand for
money-the bill to create three new nor
NAL schools will probably die. Newport
News Norfolk. Martinsville, Fredericks-
burg, Front Royal, Harrisonburg and
other towns have offered free sites for the
schools, but the state is said to be unpre-
pared for the work at this time. So the
bills are to go over to the next general as