The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-01

RUAU FUkCE B|LL
AROUSES DEBATE
tCont,nued from First pageD
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were received from various comniit tees
and were read by the clerk. Perhaps
the most Interesting measure reported
was tllat from the Finance Committee.
creating n state tax commission. !. ~ I!
was read d first time and placed upon
tho calendar. This bill is the result.
az q conference of the patrons OF sew
cral similar measures. having the same
l,oard " Fisheries.
Mr.. Rev. chairman of the Committee
on the chesapeake and Its ,, Iripu.
Committee from the further consiaer q: =
tlon of IA bill. mixing additional ap-
preparation for the Board Of Fisheries,
and increasing the salaries OF IT'S mem
bers. and asked to have 1t referred to
HIS committee.
Mr.. Bowman, chairman OF the FL
names COMMIT tee, said he had no ser SER:
the Committee On the chesapeake and and
Its tributaries would agree to report
the bill back promptly and let 1t go
then to the Finance Committee.
4 :. ~
Mr.. Green. of Fnnanter. wanted TO
should have "all the say concerning
5 Ihs measures and Mt Rew Iepa
much II not more about the subject
than even the gentleman from Eau
qnier.
Mr.. Green was not altogether will
Ing to conccde the point, saving that
he had made some study of the q'ics-
ton, and that the people OF his sec
ton are ns much Interested In oyster
The motion Of ,1r:' Kew prevailed.
The clerk proceeded to read the titles
Of o number OF new bills Offered. ali
Of which were referred to their ap-,
propi tate committees.
AT the request OF the citizens OF
Chestnut Hill and Highland Park. MIR.
Thfockmorton Introduced bill TO in
toxin. to he known as highland Park.
It's understood that this bill Will be
contested ..1t and an opPorsunity WIN be
pear before the committees.
Rond Bill Argument.
Senate Bill No. IS. the special order
OF the day. providing for the scntenc-
Ing OF certain criminals. directly To
hard labor on the public highways. was
laid before the House, and Mr., With
ars took charge Of 1t. He was asked
number Of questions before the ar.
Kunlcnt on the merits OF the propost.
ron began.
The first speaker was Judge Martin
measure at some length. Mr. withers
explained that the only change pro
posed in the present law was to raise
s the term Of the prisoners who may be
sentenced directly to the roads from
two to five years. The bill was op.
posed by Mr.. Love, or Loudoun. and b.
Mr.. Cation. of Alexandria. Mr.. Ed.
wards declared that the change woulc
materially affect an existing contract
between the state and the Davis Boot
and Shoe Company. and in view oil
the confusion arising on the iioor
because members had not the printed
bill before them. he moved TO pas:
by the special order until 1880 O'clock
on Monday.
Vigorously opposing this motion ant
In answer to Il question by Mr.. Evans
Mr.. Withers declared tliat the Superin
tendent OF the the Penitentiary' favored
the measure. The motion was lost. aDt
Mr. W!thers proceeded to defend TIL,
hiil. laying IT down IL the start that
z The issue WAS one OF private inter
ests against those of the State. H.
argued ably for the Improvement %
tie highways and declared that TIL,
enlargement OF the convict force a!
provided in the bill would greatly IA
e!litate the work now being done. Mr.
Withers produced statistics In suppor
OF the BILL. and contended that Within
the last two years. since the creation
OF the State Highway Commission
more roads Rad been built in virginia
than in all the previous time since n
war. During this period. he said. TIL
people taxed themselves 100000 70
good roads. and this was strong IN
dIcation that they favored the en-
largcnlcnt Of the system
Auncks Shoe Company.
5. Something of sensation was cause,
when Alr Witbers proceeded to refc
to the opposition.
.s,lr. s-caker.- he declared. "thc
or"cstticn arrinE~ mainly from
selfish fnterr-tr. scoynn0scd Of few
,cyrcanis -rd .hertffs :" ~" St-te,
ana the Davis Boot aud Shoe Co.,
foreign Yankee ccrpnrnt'nn,
which, like vaus-ire. is A-n-inE
the very life blood Of generations
vet unhcrn. SO I s-r it liz snrlvate.
irtcrcrts nEn!n.t tho interests OF
the pe",le Of this state, who nre
clnmcripg for greater roud inn
movements
Liberal applause greeted this decla
-ation. after which tire speaker pro
.eeded with his argument. ard an
,wered many questions propourded b.
F Il 4 u