The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-03-03
VIGOROUS PROTEST
AGAINST LOBBYING
Senator Fulton Rakes the System
Of Importuning for the
State Colleges.

Senator Fulton. OF Warren county. in a
speech OF great earnestness, raised
vigorous protest during the afternoon
session Of the Senate yesterday against
what he stigmatlzed as shameful lobby
maintained in the Capitol by the public
Institutions of Virginia. and declared that
the time had come when some effective
check should be administered to the ever
increasing demands of the State colleges.
and plainly intimated that more impor-
tant gneral objects were in his Judgment
suffering, while the spols ia the treasury
were parceled out among the swarm or
money-seekers representing special In
terests.
When l came to this Senate two years
ago. more or less unfamiliar with legis-
lative Methods declared the senator
from Warren, in effect. IT discovered
condition which brought the blush of
shame to my cheek l refer to the
lobbyists sent to this General Assembly
by the State colleges and universities.
who stood forever knocking at the doors
uttering their demands. have returned
tc the Senate again and find the same
conditions.
j spoke not of the man who came sim
ply to lay before the General Assembly
the conditions in the schools, as Is their
duty, and then leave. but OF the others
who are here from the beginning of the
session until the end, or at least until
they get all the money they want. when
they suddenly vanish. They arrive here
early in the session, find out the condi-
ton OF the treasury with reference to
the surplus. and after that it is simply
question of dividing the spoils. Every
thing else has to content itself with what
Is left. IL there Is anything left
While these colleges thus have men
here plying the General Assembly with
arguments for special favors, great OBJ
5ects like the primary school system have
to rely entirely upon what Individual
members of this Senate can do for their
benefit
Mr.. Fulton also objected to the pr-
mary and high school departments of the
Farmville Normal School. from which.
he said. but sixty teachers a year are
given the State.
Senator Thomas to some extent agreed
with the Warren senator, and discussion
of much interest and spirit followed In
which some half dozen senators Joined.
BY practically unanimous VOTE the
Senate COMMITTEE for Courts of Justice
yesterday afternoon decided to report
favorably. without amendment, the bill
providing that in the event Of the con-
solidation of Richmond and Manchester
the latter city shall retain it's present
court. to be known as Division No. 1
of the Hastings Court of the city of
Richmond.
Strenuous opposition to the bill was
made by representatives from Richmond
including City Attorney Pollard. who
declared that a separate court was not
necessary. and that II 1t should become
necessary In time, the City Council could
deal with the question. On the other
hand, 1t was held. among other things.
that the location OF tho Two cities, with
river between them. and the fact that
Richmond courts are already claimed by
some to be SO congested as to demand
a new court. whether the consolidation
occurs or not made 1t necessary that
Manchester should have :; court of It's
own. The committee with the excep-
ton Of one member, took this wv.
The question Is ono of the very great
est Importance, upon which tho fate of
the consolidation plan itself may depend
The Senate Committee on Counties.
Cities and Towns spent a long session
last night considering the proposed new
Norfolk charter While no vote was
reached, the committee practically agreed
to all the amendments proposed by the
tonal of It's own. forbidding the city to
engage In the wafer supply business OUT
side the corporate limits. This protects
the Fender Water Works now operating
In the suburbs. Several gentlemen rep-
resenting the city. We're present ana
spoke. The committee will meet again
this morning at 10 o'clock Mt which time
1t will report the bill .;,yorab.s,. as
amended.
Tho House Finance Committee last
night reported q bill making the Bank
Of Commerce and Trusts, OF this city, 3
State depository.
Hon. John l. Owen, member Of the
House from Primes Edward. who was
stricken with an attack of acute indiges-
ton on Thursday, has fully recovered
alNl has resumed his Legislative duties.
Christian Science Service.