The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-01-24
THE SENATE.
Proceedings Interrupted by Noise
of Ventilating Apparatus.

PRAYER was offered in the Senate by
Rev. DR.. W. II. l.. Smith. pastor OF inc
Second Baptist Church, after "hich
business began promptly. The attendance
of members was larger than on the day
preceding, practically every seat being
filed Committee reports, returning
number of bills with various recommcn-
dations and amendments, consumed the
Nrst ten minutes New bills and resolu-
lions were then in order. In View OF the
past records the number appearing was
astonshingly small:
Consent for immediate consideration was
obtained for two Joint resolutions. both
or which were unanimously adopted. one
of these resolutions, offered by Generai
Anderson, OF Richmond. proVlced ZOE the
appointment OF joint commission 10
n,s,ka suitable arrangements for the In
duction into Office on February Isl OF inc
Governor elect and the Lleutenaht-SoV-
ernor-elect. The commission VIII be com,
posed OF three members of the senate anu
Ave OF tho House OF Delegates. The chair
M once appointed General Anderson. OF
Richmond: Mr.. Garrett. of Henry. Mr..
Campbell, OF Bedford. 10 act ior the SEN
ate. The House promptly announced its
concurrence.
,rhe second Joint resolution. offered by
Mr. Fulton N Warren, requires members
offering amendments TO existing laws 70
underscore the amendatory clauses ana
further provides that the public printer
print these clauses in Italics. me Naiue
o. this reform. which appears on us race
10 be OF minor importance, VIII ge app.ti
ent only to those VINO nave haiiuiee so,sse
OF the bills introduced. Pages OF tSps-
written matter. the majority OF Wh!cli
was a repetition OF old statutes, Wo uiu
often contain IN addition. sanuwlched
away somewhere without any uis..a rs, u'' Nv
ing mark an amendment. itnportatt o'
unirnportaat, as the case might pe, apso-
iutely unintelligible to any one put tt.e
patron OF the bill or to some son enc ahau -
trious person who secured the Code OF
virginia and located the change. or else
10 Some lawyer sufficiently familiar al
ready with the existing Law 70 note
rhereof the amendment consisted. ShueF
the Fulton resolution the . ainenoa'ory
clause may be detected at glance.
Tax Upon Railroads.
Upon motion of Mr.. Thomas. OF Lynch
burg. the resolution reported from tne
Finance cimmittee, calling Tor an IN
cuiring into the discrepancy In the as
sessed taxable value of the. railroads OF
the State as between the reports OF the
Interstate Commerce Commission aud the
Virginia Corporation Commission, was
taken UP out OF It's order. placed upon
It's passage and unanimously adopted. me
Lyrchburg Senator. in a brief speech,
disciaimed any intention OF rejecting
upon the Corporation Commission, wnlcn
he believed 10 be one of the most useful
and beneficial institutions in the State.
II would be unfair he realized, to tax
railroads at their full value. because Of
the franchise tax. He was believer
In single taxation, ana anything thAt
directly or Indirectly attempted double
taxation would have his strong apposi-
ton. But the discrepancy was so great,
nearly sl50,0OO,0o0 and the amount an
nually lost by the State apparently SO
large, about $4,000, to be deemed an
Inquiry necessary. AT all events an In
vestigation, he declared. could do no
harm.
Had Noisy Time.
Hideous noises began to issue from the
cnvernous depths beneath the rostrum
or the President. The ventilatng appara-
tus was out of gear. and for five min
utes or more. the Senate chamber was
Hooded with grinding sound that set
the nerves of members on edge and
drowned their voices In vain the Scar
galt-at-Arms, shouted that there was
too much confusion upon tho floor. The
buzz from the machinery grew louder
and louder and Pages were sent out
hurriedly to INVESTIGATE the trouble. -Four
messages from the House of Delegates
were received In rapid succession. Tho
messengers stood in the middle of the
floor and shouted at the top of their
voices. but could make no Roadway
against the runaway machine. The mes
sages had to be taken for granted
Suddenly the racket ceased. The calen-
mar was called and disposed of. A resolu-
uon offered by Mr.. Keezell. of Rocking
ham. and adopted. provided that all bills