The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-21

clans from the payment OF the annual
license tax.
The Senate pension bill was taken UP
first. 1t differs from the similar bin
which has passed the House in that
1t approprlates, as far as can be es-
timated. the sum OF $4,000. which Is
$4,000. approximately, more than that
carried by the House bill. The present
expenditure for that purpose Is about
100000.
Senator Halsey. who was a member
of the subcommittee of the Finance
Committee to consider the bill, assured
the Senate that the increase had been
distributed among the several classes
of beneficiaries as equitably as could
possibly be done.
Senator STROBE inquired whether a
widow OF a Confederate soldier who
married again and subsequently be-
came a widow for the second time
would be benefited by the bill. The
Senator from Lynchburg replied that
she would not
Much Discussions.
Senator Parks made a stirring APP
peal for certain Increases, and Incl
dentally asked for decrease OF the
amount allowed by the bill to those
who lost both eyes or two limbs in the
service. He said he had no apology
to offer for serving as Confederate
soldier. and, dropping into poetry, he
declared that he wished to be known
In that character here and in the here
after. His amendments contemplated
prorating. to which Senator Keezell
objected, saying that such method OF
distribution had caused great dissat-
isfaction among the veterans, to which
Senator Parks agreed.
Senator Walker called attention to
the fact that the bill was on its first
reading. and that 1t would be necessary
to dispense with the constitutional
readings before amendments could be
offered. and this course was pursued.
Senator Sims then secured the
adoption of an amendment to meet
the case mentioned by Senator Strobe.
Senator Fletcher made his maiden
speech In opposition to the decrease in
the allowance made to class A, which
Senator Parks had proposed. The Eau
quier Senator made an excellent i'm
preston. Senator Halsey took the
same position.
Senator Edmondson spoke earnestly
against amending the bill further. He
referred to some battles in which he
had been engaged. and, seeking to
conclude with q poem, got stuck in the
last stanza. He admitted that he had
become a little mixed. but with true
Confederat persistence he returned to
the charge and Strengthened out the
quotation, for which he received lib
eral applause.
Senator keezell concluded the debate
upon the amendments opposed by Sem
ator Parks. which were defeated to tho
evident discontinue OF the Senator
from Page, who declared that he had
done his duty, and II the Senate did
not take his Judgment in the matter
he would be satisfied, though 1t was
plain that he found 1t somewhat diff
cult to do so.
Afternoon Session.
AT the opening of the afternoon ses-
sion Senator Hartman, by unanimous
consent. offered joint resolution for
the granting of leave to the post office
authorities to erect temporary struc-
ture for their use at the southeast
corner OF the Capitol Square. The re-
solution went over under the rules.
Senator Parks made another state
ment in regard to the pension bill to
the effect that he had learned that
the defeat of his amendments was dat
to Misrepresentation as to the amount
of the increased appropriation ce-
CURED.
Senator Halsey explained calcuia-
tions upon which the committees bill
was drawn. The bill as engrossed, how.
| ever. passed by unanimous vote.
The bill to remove the license Ia,
from physicians was debated at length
=. amendment offered by Senator Har
allowing cities to levy special license
tax upon them was adopted, while the
amendment Of Senator Parsons. ex.
empting clearinghouse keepers from
license taxes and the substitute Of
Senator Chase, including dentists with
the doctors In the exempted class, were
both rejected. Senator'S Noel and Hal
sey speaking against both OF them. Il
was explained that boarding house
keepers were already exempted. blu,
Senator Parsons did not so construe the
law.
Senator Mann made vigorous figh,
In behalf Of the doctors, saying thai
they should have this exemption be-.
manity. preventing certain diseases
healing others, lengthening the aver.
age of human life, administering to tn.
needs of the poor without compensa
ton. and doing It all at great sacri
| Ace.
Speech From Gallery.
Senator Saunders spoke eloquently
for the bill. repudiating the idea tina
re had been importuned BY doctors t,
support it. He said it was time fol
Virginia to put itself in line wit,
all Of tho other States OF the Union
which impose no license tax upon doc
| tors. there being only six exceptions.
Senator Edmonson was making {
good speech in reply to some OF thu
remarks of the Senator from Motto
way. but in the midst OF 1t big maj
wearing his hat and a black mustache
and evidently under the influence O.
| liquor. began to make speech from
the centre OF the gallery. His remarks
were loud. but not skilfully articu
lated. He said he was glad to be pres
emit, and wished to know whether hi
was not looking we'll. The Senator
from Halifax was obliged to yield til,
! floor to the stranger until Sergeant
alarms Watkins put the big ma,
under arrest, and led him out wit
| great dispatch.
He represented himself as William
Jennings Bryan and said he though
the Legislature would be glad to hea
from him.
The Senator from Halifax then con