The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-23
Geological Survey.

clerks desk. 1t will be acted upon
too day.
Geological Survey.
When the calendar was reached there
were several interesting bills, most
important among them being Senate
bill No. /. which Is the Rison meas
ure providing for the establishment OF
State geological survey. to be located
at the University of Virginia. Delegate
Alexander S. Hall, of Buckingham. Of
fered an amendment reducing the APP
preparation from $4,000 to $4,000. This
brought on no little discussion. Mr..
Hall said that the University of Vir-
ginia had received enough from the
State, and he could not see what good
this appropriation would do. The sur
yey, he declared, would not benefit the
state at large.
Mr.. Old. of Norfolk, spoke against
the amendment The survey, he said,
would be of material benefit to the
State, and he was sure that il Mr..
Hall would carefully read the bill he
would see that the farmer would come
in for his share. Dr. Powell asked in
what way they would be benefited.
Mr.. Old replied that one great ad-
vantage would be gained by the survey
VI tiit!I SHONiHS INe mineral
wealth of the land. To this DR.. Powell
retorted that lie did not want his farm
surveyed.
Delegate Bowman was against the
amendment. He said geological sur
vey of this State would result in the
investment of capital which would in
few years more than repay the Com
monwealth for the $4,000 appropriated
Many other members spoke, and when
tJE.H To 1, Il
the noes" completely drowned the fee
BILE chorus of AYE"
The bill was then passed. Delegates
Hall. Powell and Tyler voting in the
negative.
Another measure which called forth
some discussion was Senate bill 154,
which seeks to raise revenue for the
State by placing a tax upon peddlers
of pianos, organs, lightning rods. etc.
The Committee on Finance amended the
bill by raising the license tax from
$40 to 5000.
Mr.. Churchman opposed the amend
ment saying that the heavy tax would
be great hardship upon people in
this business, and that the bill did not
state whether they would have to pay
the amount in every county in which
they worked. or whether one county
license would do for all places.
''S cAiA "eas lSLpOi dlIiS pdSScu ny,
but was later taken up and passed with
an amendment offered by Mr.. Church.
man, imposing a tax of $50 on any
firm manufacturing pianos and $40 on
each Of its wagons per year.
Wharton Law.
When the hour for the special order
the Williams anti-compact insurance
bill. virtually the same as the Wharton
law. repealed few sessions agar
rived. discussion began at once and
consumed the remainder of the morn
ing session.
Judge Williams, patron of the meas
ure. took the hoor\ and ably defended
the bill, going back into its history as
far as 1883, and showing the difference
in the insurance rates during the Pc
Rod that the Wharton law was In eff
feet and after 1t was repealed. He
claimed that the cost of insurance to
the people of Virginia had materially
increased since the repeal, and read
statistics bearing on this assertion.
Continuing, Judge Williams declared
not affect the local insurance compa-
mics. They were in fourishing con-
dition when It was in force before and
there was no reason why they would
not be so again. He frequently refer
red to the Southeastern Tariff Associ-
alton, which he described S the great
est monopoly south OF the Mason and
Dixon line. Judge Williams was fire.
onently INTERRUPTED by questions from
various members, and his answers al
ways aroused applause.
Delegates Bowman opposed the meas
ure, and cited his own case In speak
ing OF the benefit derived from the
repeal. The insurance on his property
had decreased about 20 per cent II
other people had derived as much good
from the repeal as he had, he was sure
the bill would be voted down. Delegate
Edwards followed Colonel Bowman in
opposing the measure, declaring that
the wisdom Of the Assembly which re-
preciated all over the State. Mr.. will
liams interrupted the sneaker to ask
Why If this were the case, the House
had again passed the bill, which went
to the Senate and was favorably re-
ported by committee of that body, and
was kept from becoming law only
because 1t was not reached on the
calendar before the Assembly was ad
journed? Mr.. Edwards replied that
there was wisdom somewhere that
stopped 1t,
MIR. Jennings. of Lynchburg, was not
In favor of the measure, and spoke
against its passage. 1t was a blow al
1.-THE best interests OF his city, and lie
had many petitions from citizens ask,
ing him to object to re-enactment. Mr.
Williams asked II II were not true
/ that "a majority of these petitioners
nua ~ stock fOIdars In n virplt,ia Ii ia o,,.