The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-01
Withers Describes Davis
Company, Which Holds
Contract, as Vampire.
MIL AIRY BILL
STRlk IS A SNAG
Folkes Declares Discrimination Is
Made Against Artillery, and
Sale Denies Charge-Child
Labor Fight On Before
Gommittee-Hearing
on Whiskey Bills.
BY LEWIS II. MACllES.

iyY LEWIS II. ,i.ACllES.
For some reason the Rhea hearing
vas postponed until yesterday evening.
and the result was that the Senate
and House committees were busy In the
morning and afternoon attending TO
their Legislative duties.
The sessions Of the two houses were
not OF especial interest, except for THE
debate In the House over the Bill which
passed the Senate several days ago III
reference to the Increase OF the convict
road force by allowing Judges TO sens
tence those who had been convicted
of felony to serve on the road force for
five years or less instead OF In the
peniten.tary, Tho present statute al
lows convicts sent up for two years or
less to be so sentenced.
Opposition 10 Bill.
Some opposition was made TO the
bill upon the ground that It might In
fringe upon the contract between tn.
state and the Davis Boot and Shoc
Company, and also upon the ground
that the results OF the State aid plan
had not been productive of satisfactory
results 1t was stated that only fra:-
lion over eighteen miles had been built
by the convict road force. and that the
combined state and county outlay
therefor had aggregated about slo6.-
900.
when these objections had been
made Delegate Withers. who was joint
ratron or the bill with Senator Lassi-
ter. made an able and eloquent speech
in support OF the measure, and showed
that in New York the cost OF road
Building had been $1,000 per mile: In
Massachusetts, $1,000 and In New Jer-
s.y, $1,000 per mile, while in Virginia.
under the convict road law, the cost
had been about se,soo per mile. He
made the point that the good roads
Till had caused the counties to appro.
Pirate s6o0,oO0 for road purposes. and
had furnished valuable obiect-lessons
10 the people OF the several counties.
He contended that the statute would
rot abrogate the States contract with
the Dsyis Boot ana shoe Company.
which, he said. was an alien corpora
ton vampire feeding upon the life
blood OF the States unfortunates, and
represented by strong lobby oppos-
ing the bill; that the bill was merely
.aerclsIng the reserved right of the
state to change the form OF punish-
Iuent for certain crimes. He was much
applauded a, his conclusion. and the
House Immediately adjourned
Military Bill.
&.
interest was Senator Sales's bill pro-
-idng that cents upon the hundred
dollars OF the general tax levy be set
aside for the use ofthe militia, $4,000
of which Is to be for q permanent
campground for the militia of the
state,
Senator Folkes introduced an amend
rnent to the effect that $4,000 be set
aside each year for TIL. use Of each Of
the three artillery companies of TIL.
State. and asked that the bill be re-
committed for the purpose of having
this amendment considered. Senato u
Sale contended that his bill made NO
distinction between the branches of thu,
military service; that he was equally
interested In all: that the military
board would deal fairly with the ar
tillery and all other branches OF the
service. that the Forkes amendmen,
reflected upon the board. which con-
sisted OF the highest officials OF The
state; that he trusted the Senate would
not recomnit the bill and SO endanger
Its passage.
But The Senate voted to recommit
Several minor bills We're considered
In both houses. but the depressing Ell
fects Of recent and pending contro-
versies were clearly apparent.
Rhea Inquiry.
The Rtea Investigation in the Senate
chamber at night dragged it's weary
lcngth along until Judge Rhea himsei.
took the stand. No new evidence OF
Importance was introduced The Scot,
county ballot was the subject OF muct
sollcitIde, but 1t still remains ar
orphan. as its parentage has not ye,
has been seriously questioned.
There was cOnSidera h1e eVf6ence n.
to the several irregularities at the
election In. 500. but Judge Rhea's par
ticlpationsGin them was not shown.
granted. After some witnesses hae
testified to Judge Rhea's high stand
ing IL his section Of the Safe, 1t was
witnesses who had been summoned
1870 Il. Nj, Judge R61 took the
+ stand in his own behalf. Ills demeano
deliberately and concisely. He sdentet
the statement ofHa previous witness
that he had had any come ion'switi
the Bristol census, or had advised an,
ofa theatre, He dlsclatned any knowl /
edge or approval Of the Scott county
ballot, which he said lost him man!
votes. He3went. Into the ordans ca s.
the prisoner showed . q. case Of self.
defense, and the conviction vas, there
had heen set free becn use the nttorne q:
for the Commonweal.h h had said tla
no new evidence could headduced san,
entered. He disavowedS 5partic tloi
IN any OF the irre egularitlesE lleretofor,
mentrned In connection WI Ith the fal
styling OF returns or the fnrgerysso,!
certificates Of election. He was still
upon The stand when. the .comn,itteefod d
8 journed until Monday It is hopet
that the hearing will be conclude,
then. Is y gSSs 4 ~
SESSIONS OF TWO HOUSES
Lively Debates on Both Sides Arous
81, Much Interest.
spe aker& Byrd called the House o
Delegates to order promptly at moor