The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-01-21
WOULD VALIDATE
ANNEXATION
Mr., Byrd Offers Bill for
Relief Of Certain
Towns.
EXTENDS LIMIT OF
LEE STATUE BILL
Member of House Seeks to Make
the $4,000 Already Appro-
priated Available if 1t
is Desired-Manv
Bills Are Of
fered.


With the Senate away and the SHINY
attended House OF Delegates disposed to
hurry through its work with the great
est dispatch consistent with dignity and
the proper conduct OF public business,
there was little Of widespread interest,
In the halls of the General Assembly OF
Virginia yesterday.
Among the bills offered in the House
were two or three of general interest.
attention being particularly called to
measure proposed by the Hon. Richard
Evelyn Byrd, designed to remove from
the cities and towns which have taken
advantage OF the annexation act OF 1904
to extend their limits, the danger of an
uphcava' as result of the proceedings
now pending In the courts OF the State.
The bill OF the Winchester member vail.
dates the steps taken under this act
whatever may be the decision of the
courts as to the constitutionallty of the
law. and insures the status OF the cities
in question presenting what. should the act
be declared Unconstitutional. might other
wise be a serious and even DISASTROUS
blow to the municipalities. Numerous
cities and towns have taken advantage
of the act to enlarge their boundaries,
and many have held elections. Issued
bonds and made Improvements on the
basis OF the new corporate limits. To
declare all OF this null and void Mould
cause incalculable confusion in the State,
Lee Statue Matter.
Apart from this measure and one or
two others. including one to extend the
time limit of the appropriation of $4,000
for a statue OF Robert r. Lee to be
placed In Statuary Hail, Washington.
there WAS scarcely II flicker of interest
In the session. Many members were
absent The committr'sv- did practically.
no work. On the Senate side there were
scarcely a dozen members In the city.
the majority having taken advantage OF
the adjournment until Monday to go to
their homes in many different sections
OF the State.
While there was thus little of import
ance In things done there was still a
good deal worthy OF note In the things
doing. Indications OF one or two Inn
portant matters now brewing came to
the surface yesterday. One Of these,
which Will be set forth at length In a
bill shortly to be proposed will have
perhaps the most important influence
over the primary school system OF the
10
In brief this bill will propose to make
possible the investment OF the literary
fund of over million collars in the
erection OF public school buildings in Vir-
ginia, instead OF exclusively in Virginia,
Federal and railroad bonds as is now the
case
The plan Is thorough and far-reach-
ing. Steps taken yesterday also point TO
coming Legislation for pure food. Senator
Machin, of Alexandria. announced that
he would within few days re-introduce
caused the spectacular fight at the last
session. The factions that will line up
for battle over the REV crab law are
loading I'D with crab lore dug out of
great tones In the State Library.
Both houses will meet tomorrow at
noon and the week will be very busy
one. The short session will make expe-
dltion necessary and there will be few
IL any delays. This heavy work will
begin with the new week.
Session of House.
After an absence OF two days Speaker
Cardwell was back at the capitol and In.
the chair again when the session OF the
House of Delegates began atfnoon. Many
seats were vacant The attendance of
visitors was as large as usual. The
speaker invited several ladies standing
In the gallery to seats below, declaring
that tho regulation excluding the public
from the floor WAS not operative until
proper conveniences had been arranged
In the gallery.
A number OF bills were advanced on the
calendar or passed by. When the Byrd
bill, increasing the salaries OF the judges
OF the Circuit Court. was called on Its
second reading. Delegate Read took oc-
IA sion IN warn tho house of the danger
of expanding the public funds, so badly
needed elsewhere, in the raising of SAL
aries. The Cation bill. permitting the
creation OF estates by devise or deed of
gift, to which tina estates OF courtesy or
dover shall not attach. was reported
adversely from the Committee for Courts
OF Justice, The report of the joint-com-
ulittee on local and private legislation