The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-03-04
Committee for Courts Of Justice sitting
in tho Blackstone investigation.
limiting Sueecj,tnakinu

In tho Blackstone investigation.
limiting speechinnking.
Senator Walker introduced a resolu-
ton which was adopted, limiting any
speech on any one subject to ten min
utes. However, the appropriation bill
and tho two special orders for the day
were made exceptions.
Senator Parson attempted to have
bill, In which lie was Interested, ex-
eepted also. but his motion was voted
down.
Senator Tucker asked that the Com
mittee on Roads and Internal Naviga-
ton he discharged from the further
consideration of House bin No. I'D
relative to the working and keeping in
repair the roads of Rockbridge county.
His motion was adopted, and the bill
was passed under q suspension of tho
rules.
An effort was made to have the bill
creating State Board of Health
taken up out of its order. Senator
Keezell said that the Finance Committee
had instructed him to oppose any move
of this kind until the question of APP
preparation came UP. Senator Lasster
thought that the Finance Committee
was in favor of the bill and that all
opposition had been withdrawn. To
this senator Keezell replied that the
committee did not object to tho bill,
but simply wanted 1t passed by for a
few days 1t was finally agreed to
set the bill as a special order for Fiji
day morning at IL o'clock.
The bill to create fireman's relief
fund, and to increase tho efficiency of
the fire service. which was set as
passed without debate. Senator Parks
briefly spoke in favor OF the measure
and the vote was unanious.
| For School Teachers.
! When the hour for the consideration
of the bill providing retirement fund
for public school teachers was reached
the gallery was packed to It's capacits
with teachers from the public schools
of this city, and although 1t took over
an hour to get the measure through.
the ladies stayed until the motion to
RECONSIDER had been put and voted
down.
Senator King, patron OF the measure
| in tho Senate. opened the debate in ia
vor OF the bill, which, he said. had
the Endorsement Of nearly every county
in the State. Mr.. King urged the Sem
ate to pass the bill as 1t then stood.
| Senator Watkins proposed an amend
ment. which left It optional with the
teachers as to paying in per cent
age OF their salary for the retirement
fund.
Senator Strobe declared the adoption
| of this amendment would practically
| kill the bill. It would take a large
amount OF money to keep record of
those who had voluntarily paid the
| percentage required.
| Senator Lassiter suggested an
amendment, which provided that each
! district board of school trustees be
authorized and directed to increase the
pay of teachers in proportion to their
salaries. This would make up the
amount which the teachers paid out
| of their salaries to the fund.
| Chnir is Sustained.
Senator Walker raised a point of
order. claiming tina. the amendment
was not germane to the bill. He was
sustained by the chair. Senator Las
sitter appealed, but ruling was upheld
| by vote of "a to ., Senator's Lassiter
and STROBE voting In the negative.
Senator Holland op. osed what he
called the creating of a civic pension
list. This is only the beginning. he
said; what the end will be no man
can tell. Senator Parsons also op-
posed the bill. and spoke at some
length on the subject.
| Senator Lincoln stated that several
Senator'S from his part of the State
| had spoken against the bill, but that
under the impression that the senti-
ment there was entirely against the
measure. He had heard nothing
against 1t from his district, and be-
lieved that the teachers out there are
/ in favor Of 1t.
Senator Edmondson also said he had
heard no protest from his district
against the bill, which he would sup.
port. and which he believed to be emf
nently right He concluded his speech
by paying a glowing tribute to the
womanhood of Virginia, and was great
ly applauded when he took his seat.
| Senator Parks offered an amendment
providing that no teacher who received
/ an income from some other source of
/ over $500 per year should be eligible
for the pension. Senator Walker OPP
| posed the amendment, which he said
was requiring some teachers to con-
tribute to the fund, but prohibiting
them from deriving any benefit from
1t. The amendment was defeated by
| a large vote.
/ Called 1t Hold-Up.
Il Senator Watkins spoke against the
bill, calling it "hold-up" measure
He agreed with Senator Chase, that 1t
required the county teachers, who are
poorly paid, to help provide for the
city teachers in their old age. When
bill was passed by a vote of 30 to o.
A communication from the House
stated that the lower branch refused
TO concur in the Senate amendments to
House bill No 2Ss. better known as
The Byrd whiskey bill. The Senate ad-
hered to the amendments, and COM
mittee. consisting of Senator's Mann.
Echols and Garrett was appointed to
confer with committee from the
House on the subject.
Senator Sale asked for unanimous
consent in suspending the rule pro-
hibiting the introduction of bills after
February Goth, so that he could intro
duce bill to authorize the United
Estates government to acquire title to
and jurisdiction over the land upon
which the Jamestown Exposition was
held The Senate agreed, and tho bill
was introduced and passed.
The Massie child-labor bill was
passed with an amendment offered by
Senator Hart, which places mercantile
establishments in cities of over 1000
inhabitants under the provisions of the
new law
At p. NJ. the chair was vacated
SpSSinu