The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-23
the advocates OF the measure were
being actuated by desire to make
political records
Night Session.

Night Session.
At the opening of the night session
Senator Ward said that since the .ad-
journment OF the Senate he had come
to the conclusion that the amendment
which he had offered might as we'll
wait until next session.
Senator Sims supplemented his re-
marks against the Strobe amendment
by saving that the bill carried s25o.00o
for the fiscal year 1909. and that the
Amherst Senator had objected that this
amount was being returned to the
counties from which 1t had come.
Senator Strobe interrupted to say
that this was a total misrepresentation
of his position.
1t was explained by Senator Sims
that the cities contribute one-third OF
the license taxes. ETC., and that only
$4,000 of the appropriation proposed
by the bill came from the counties. He
insisted that the basis of distribution
under the bill included the capitation
tax, thus involving the element OF
population. The results, he thought, was
as equitable as any that could be de-
vised.
Only n Beginning.
Senator Parks thought. IL area was
to be considered, population and to-
biography should be considered also;
that in the larger counties the roads
were less travelled than In the smaller
ones. He considered the bill as only At
beginning, to be worked out in after
years. He believed the usefulness or
the bill would be jeopardized by the
amendment of Senator Strobe. That
gentleman, in reply, said that there
was some merit in the population basis
of distribution, but that the bill al
mostly wholly ignored tnat element, as
the capitation tax revenue was scarce
ly more than one-twent1eth of the
total State revenue of over S5,ooo,Ooo
a year. He submitted figures from the
Auditors Office to sustain his conten-
lions. He said that similar system
of distributing the school moneys would
close half the country schools in the
State. Admitting that his proposed
method was not an ideal one, he yet
claimed that. at least, II recognized
need as a basis of distribution; that
the plan of sending most of the money
where it is least needed has not been
adopted in any other jurisdiction. He
denied that the adoption of his amend
ment would jeopardiZe the passage OF
the bill. He replied to Senator kee-
zell,s criticisms of the bill, and claim
ed that no county could get dollar
OF the appropriation until 1t mad put
.up a dollar to match 1t. and that 1t
would result In the expenditure OF
$500 900 In good roads.
The vote was then taken upon the
amendment, which was rejected by a
majority Of eight.
Senator Sale offered an amendment,
the purport of which was that the
part of the fund contributed by the
cities should be returned to the proper
authorities Of the cities to be expended
40 cities to
he selected by those authorities. In
explanation, he said that. as the cities
contributed at least one-third of the
fund. they should have something to
say about the way in which part OF
it should be expended. The people OF
the cities he contended, We're more
heavily taxed than those OF the couh- :
try. and the cities contained just as
many poor people and people OF mod-
crate means as the counties. lie thouSlls
the streets of the cities Were bene-
fit to the counties, as the country roads
were benefit to the cities.
Bill Is Passed.
Senator Sims replied that the State
Highway Commission had compiled
figures showing that the amendment OF
the Senator from Norfolk would divert
SO per cent. OF the fund from the coun-
ties. Answering a question OF senator
Echols. he said that counties Which,
for any given year, received State con-
Wet aid could not, for the same year,
receive the money aid given by the
bill.
Senator Carter urged the passage Of
the bill without amendment and Wis
orously opposed the proposal OF the
senator from Norfolk. whom no Ia
advertently described as THE Senator
from Petersburg"
Senator Sale returned to the attack
and charged that those Senators who'
had voted against the STROBE amend
ment would be inconsistent II they
voted against his own. He said that
twelve OF the cities paid half the taxes
OF the State exclusive of the portion
which is derived from the state at
large, such as corporate taxes. Never
theless, the amendment was deicateu
by recorded vote Of IS TO .
Tho bin was then passed unanimous
lS
a resolution was adopted for the.
reassembling of the Senate, AZ 10
o'clock to-day. The special order,}bthe
mining tan bill was continued until
half an hour after that time.