The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-02-10
Rev erses Itself and
Passes Amendment
to Constitution.
REV q NUE. BILLS
PASSED BY HOUSE
Power and Light Companies
Must Pay on Gross Receipts.
Automobile Bill Reported to
Senate - Houses Lock
Horns on Pay of
Assessors.

All of the four proposed amendments
to the State Constitution have now
received the indorsement OF the Cen
eral Assembly for the second time.
Ihey have gone the prescribed route,
having received the sanction OF two
Legislatures. and all that now remains
10 make them part OF the organic
| Ia" is majority of the popular vote
The sentiment OF the people on these
matters will be taken at the genera,
election next November.
several Senators changed their votes
| within few days. The previous vote
taken on the question resulted in the
defeat of the amendment extending the
session OF the General Assembly from
sixty to ninety days. but some of the
members have evidently seen a new
light on the situation.
Earnest efforts were made by those
opposed to this amendment to secure
It's defeat a second time, but to no
avail
Prohibition Hearing.
The Senate Committee on Privileges
and Elections decided TO hold its first
hearing on the STROBE Statewide pro-
hibition bill next Wednesday. 1t Is
apparent that there was never any
foundation for the report that the
Republicans would hold caucus on
the question at the behest of either
side. all the members of that party
absolutely denying that they had dis
cussed the question with anybody
The Wickham- Holland automobile
bill was favorably reported in the SEN
ate yesterday. II levtes tax on the
I horsepower OF machines. Dealers are
/ rEuiJiTeI a .>y
/ and chauffeurs of s2.50. Owners are
| taxed as follows: On twenty horse
| power rless. IS; twenty to forty five
| horsepower, $40, more than forty-five-
| horsepower, $50 The speed limit is
made twelve miles an hour in cities,
texcept in certain specified Instances,
tand fifteen miles in tho country.
| The money received from these
| taxes is to go into special road fund.
TO be expended by the State Highway
Commissioner with especial reference
| to. roads used the most by automobiles.
/ The roads are to be selected by the
Governor, the State Highway Com
| missioner and representative OF the
State Automobile Association.
New Sources OF Revenue.
Increased revenue for the state was
the purpose Of four bills passed by
| the House under g suspension of the
rules They were measures reported
by the Finance Committee, and that
body wanted their passage assured be-
fore proceeding to spend any of the
States resources for the next two
years. One OF these embodies the
agreement reached by the committees
of the two bodies and the rpresenta-
tives OF the mining interests, another
levies a franchise tax based on gross
receipts of light, water, gas and
power companies, while another in
creases the charter tax on corporations
| from 81 to SIS.
A lively debate was had in the House
on the pay OF the assessors who will
value all the real estate in the Com
monwealth during the present year
More time has been devoted to this
question than any other one matter
which has been before the House
| Early in the game the House refused
| to force the counties to supplement
| the pay OF the State for these officials
| The Senate put such provision In the
ltbill, and the House on Tuesday rejected
| the Senate amendment. The matter
went 20 conference committee. which
reported practically the Senate bill
YESTERDAY. After another prolonged
debate the House rejected the confer
ence report, leaving the two bodies as
far apart as ever.
| Already Appointed.
1t is argued by .hose who would in
struct boards of supervisors to add 81
! to the salaries OF assessors that the
work will be better done II the pay is
| increased. On the other hand. those
| In opposition point to -he fact. with
| deadly effect, that nearly all the asses.
sors have already been appointed anG
have agreed to serve for the State pay
OF SO.
! The two most important hearings o1
| the day We're those on .he Throckmor.
| ton dairy bill and on the divorce bill
|Large crowds attended both affair
and intense feeling was manifested.
1 'Mr. Throckmorton tried to get hi
bill providing indeterminate sentence!
for criminals out OF the hands OF .he
committee, bu- failed.
The House agreed to the resolution
| prepared by the Committee on School;
| and Colleges as printed in yesterdays
! Times-Dispatch, recommending to the
State Board of Education that the dis.
4 trict school examiners be gradually
eliminated. There was no opposition t.
4 this propositions
| Merchants' Licenses.
An interesting hearing was had on
4 the Houston bill increasing licenGe
4 taxes on merchants beTore the EouSe
Committee on Finance Some Of the
most important and successful husi-
4 ness men in the State appeared and
presented arguments why the change
as projected should not he made. Ir
the course of this hearing some strik.
ling flgures were adduced. showing the
\ tremendous proportion of State taxes
4 (which the cities are paying. compared
with the amounts paid by the counties
SIX cities alone, II was shown. pa,
cent. more than all of the 100 countie.
4 comhinSd,. It was suggested that ths
d merchants of the principal cities would
d pay practically all OF the increase ant
4 that such q change would be inequi
table # M ssi IL. .st i '
The demand fot the peoplesof the cit,
Of Williamsburg for a dispensary "a,
the sale ct ltq uors was voiced in a bill
|,