The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-01-14
BUT LIST STANDS
AS ANNOUNCED
Speaker Byrd's Appointments III
the House Generally Com
mended-Not Much Ac-
tivity Along Line Of
Investigation Is
Expected.
by LEWIS II. MACHEN.

The announcement OF committees.
few resolutions. a few speeches and a
good many bills introduced. tells the
story Of yesterdays proceedings in
the legislature. The attendance was
somewhat smaller than heretofore, be-
cause some members did not return
from their homes In time to attend.
The sessions of both houses were brief.
The committees OF the House, unlike
those of the Senate, are absolutely
determined by the presiding officer.
Consequently they were accepted with
out question. and appeared to give gen.
eral satisfaction. In the Senate, how
ever the minority. speaking through
their floor leader, Senator Noel. pro-
tested against what was termed dis
.crfmination against the Republicans In
the assignments made by the steering
committee OF the Senate. The absence
of any representation upon the Com
mittses of Finance and Roads was the
subject of especial complaint. Figures
were presented showing that districts
having assessed property of over $780,
100000 were not represented while
other districts, with combined assess
ments of less than half that amount,
had two representatives on that COM.
mittee. No reply was made to these
sus SSSllOuSs aDuI ny d vote
the report Of the steering committee,
approved by the Democratic caucus Of
the Senate, was adopted. seven Demo-
Gratis voting with the four Republicans
against Its adoption.
In the louise joint resolution COM
mending the character and public SER
vices Of the late William H. Boaz. of
Albemarle, and deploring his untimely
death, was adopted and was concurred
In by the Senate. Brief speeches were
made in both houses. setting forth In
moving terms the personal merits and
faithful public services of Mr.. Boaz
as the ideal of an unpretentious and
conscientious representative.
1t was the consensus OF opinion
among those who had been associated
with him in his work for the State that
this unusual tribute to his memory was
highly deserved.
Many bills OF Importance were in
#troduced In both houses. some OF which
The House was In session only
thirty-Ave minutes and there was no
general discussion of any kind.
Warming UP in the Senate.
In the Senate there We're several
pretty little parliamentary contests
over the reference of some bills to
certain committees. The rulings of
the president Were given promptly and
met with general approval. and the
usual course OF reference was not dis
turbed.
Senator Gravatt offered resolution
looking to a Joint session of the Road
Committees OF the two houses.
Senator Lassiter. who is recognized as
specialist in road matters. while COM
mending the general objects of the
resolution. thought 1t might defeat Its
purpose by reason of the difficulty and
delay incident to assembling these
large committees in joint session at
irregular hours. Tho resolution went
over under the rules.
The Spirit of Investigations.
Delegate Curlett presented yester-
day in the House bill providing for
the appointment of a standing com.
mittee in Legislative investigation and
Recommendation of and concerning
State Institutions. The demands for
investigations OF this character have
been so numerous and SO insistent at
recent sessions that Mr.. Curlett be.
lieves the work can best be done by a
standing conmittec.
1t is Impossible to say what lnves-
LEGATIONS will be asked for at this ses-
sion, but 1t is certain that some such
requests will be Forthcoming. Often
times the occasions for these requests