The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-02-09
SESSION MAY Be
YET EXTENDED.
Legislature Making Slow Pogrcss
and Both Houses Are Crowded
With Work. sIH59jh,
REPORT ROAD BILL .FAVORABLY
I,assiter-Nvithcrs Measure On
Way to Passage and Consider
ing Canton Insurance Bill.

onc-half of the legislative session has
expired, ana no measure OF sweeping
public moment has been gotten through
both branches.
The question of mi extra session is
therefore being given serious consdcra-
ton by members of both houses, and an
extension for period of thirty days
would cause no great surprise.
Members almost without exception
seem to be OF opinion TINT the constitu-
sional limitation fixing regular sessions
At sixty days was 81 great mistake and
there Is much talk OF an amendment.
restoring the old provision for ninety
days.
1t will require weeks to give mature
consideration to the general appropriate
tion bill. just presented to the House
yesterday. and which will mean the ex-
penditure of some 100000, and this is
saying nothing OF the measures on good
roads. better schools. pensions etc, to-
which the Democratic party stands
pledged.
The House yesterday voted for n strict
enforcement OF the rule TO permit only
privileged persons upon the floor but
meet the situation.
The Cation insurance bill contains nine
ty-bve printed pages. and this has TO be
read on three separate days in each
housc. to say nothing of the debate and
roll calls on this and numerous other
pending measures. II one-tiiird of the
bills introduced arc to be passed. an cx-
tension OF the session is absolutely neces-
sary. fss
Judge o. o. Gwathrncy Of King Will
liam, had warm tilt with Mr.. j. r.
Royal. the Republican floor leader OF the
House. yesterday over the bill TO appoin.
commissioners OF the revenue by the
courts. The latter had said In colloquy
with Mr. Fuller that while the assess
ments made by commissioners were not
final, yet the appeal would likely be
made to the courts which had named the
commissioners. and the latter would In
all probability be sustained. Judge
Gwathmey took this statement as re-
Election upon the judiciary of the State.
and he made warm reply. He said II
the gentleman from Tazewell could GUS
tain a charge OF corruption against the
Judges, he should specify and offer Joint
resolution for an investigation.
Mr.. Royal rejoned that he had stated
a case which might happen. and lie had
no apologies To make. Here the colloquy
closed. and the vote was taken on the
passage OF the bill.
A resolution offered in tine Senate yes
i terday by Captain camm Patteson, OF
Buckingham, directs the Committee for
Courts OF Justice to draft and report
bill definitely fixing the powers OF the
courts of the state to punish In cases of
alleged contempt. Senator Patteson con-
siders the bill OF great Importance. In
stances have been known, he says, where
Judges have been harsh in inficting PEN
altIes for criticism OF the courts, when
the criticism was proper and Just, the
rights OF the people being jeopardized
by the arbitrary exercise OF power in
some few cases.
An amendment to the existing law was
proposed in the Senate yesterday by Mr..
Grecar. Of Grayson. making 1t unlawful
10 kill or capture mountain trout by any
process whatsoever in any of the waters
OF the State at any time except that the
board OF supervisors of any county may
permit angling with hook and line under
such condition and at such times and
places as they may designate.
The Sims bill. requiring that all wagons
hauling merchandise or other heavy loads
over country roads be equipped with tires
four inches wide, has been reported
favorably by the Senate Committee on
Roads and Internal Navigation, with an
amendment providing that the general
law shall not go into effect until July /,
1910. Counties desiring to introduce the
change sooner, however, shall have the
right to do SO within their own territory
after July ], 1907. The bill hits the famll-
lar country carts that now come into
S..x.-
filled with farm products that are sold
upon the streets or in the market places.
Judge Wickham, of Henrico, attempted
to have the two-whcelers exempted, but
the committee refused to agree. The wide
tire scheme is designed TO prevent the
cutting up of the roads by narrow wheels.
1t, of course. does not refer to buggies
and similar vehicles.
Action on the Sadler bill providing for
a State game commission, and imposing
tax of 81 on resident hunters, will
probably be taken at n meeting of the
Senate COMMITTEES on fish and game, to
te held at 10 o'clock this morning.
Strong influences are at work in support
of the bill. Among the speakers in favor
of it at an important an exceedingly in
teresting hearing Wednesday morning.
were Mr., William butcher, of New York,
president of the National Association OF
Audubon Societies Mr.. Il. G. Pearson,
State commissioner of game OF North
Carolina, and Mr.. Il. S. Palmer, of the
United States Department of Agricul-
ture.
A bill offered in the Senate Wednes-
day. by Mr.. Chapman, of Greene, asks
an annual appropriation OF $4,000 for a
contigent fund to be used by the Attor-
ney-General for, the employment of assoc;
ciate counsel, to assist him in the dis
sharge of any duties that may devolve
upon him by reason Of the Constitution
Of the State, or laws passed in pur-
suance thereof in reference to the State
Corporation Commlssions
According to Mr.. Chapman, this bill
Is designed to protectSthe interest Of the
state from tho attack by the railroads
Incident, to the proposed regulation, OF
.t,o iSoin,,