The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-02-27
A m end m ents to Will
liamsMeasure Receive
Favorable Action.
ROUTINE MATTERS
TAKE MOST OF DA Y
Byrd Liquor Bill Made Special
F., Order in the House for To-
! Morrow - Governors Bill
and Criminal Insane Bill
Sent to Finance Com
nlittcc.

What is said to be an agreement be-
tween all parties in interest on the
bill to provide for supervision of State
and private banks was adopted by the
House yesterday in the shape OF amend
ments to the Williams banking bill.
The bill thea went TO its engrossmcnt.
it VIII come UP for final action on its
passage within few days.
1T is understood that the changes
ure accchtablc to the Senate Committee
on Insurance and Banking. This be-
Ing the case, the close of the present
session Of the Legislature may witness
final settlement OF question which
has hgitatcd lawmakers for years.
Existing conditions. In which national
banks arc rigidly inspected by officers
of the United States government 4.
believed to have been an immense dis
advantage to the State banking bust
ness. In nany soctions of the State
this matter OF supervision Is used as
an argument in favor OF deposits In
national banks. and. more serious still,
certain disastrous failures OF recent
years have stiil more had the tendency
20 caube loss of public confidence In
institutions of this class. This In spite
Of the fact that most OF these banks
has been nobody officially TO say so.
Trouble over Bill.
In the presence OF n practical GER
tainty that this Legislature would
adopt some law governing State
banks. a lengthy bill WAS prepared in
advance. and was introduced at the
beginning OF the session. This was
considered day after day by the Joint
subcommittee of the two committees
on insurance and Banking. Objections
and couater-arg uments were met at
every turn, and tho subcommittee
specdily became envclopcd in Il fog OF
conflicting elements
AT this tnpcture Judge Martin vii
Nains conceived the idea of cutting the
Gordian knot by preparing a simple
bin having for IT'S purpose the cx-
tcnsion of the present supervision BIZ
the State Corporation Commission over
those State banks which are designat-
ed State depositarics. 10 all State
banks and private banks.
Tho subcommittee liked tho idea.
md. with some amendments, the
measure was finally adopted and wen,
to the calendars with favorable re-
ports
However, the Williams bill was not
at all perfect. Objection was made
that the department. would lack re-
sponsibie head. The original Wiugo-
stebbins-Nolting bill was rcintroduced
with some changes. and was again Ia
Ken up by the committees. Friends of
a bank supervision began to fear that
tho matter would fall to the ground
and no bill AT all be enacted.
Amendments Accepted.
Finally Judge Williams, with Sena-
tor Holland. OF the Senate committee.
after consultation with representatives
of State banks, agreed to series of
amendments to his bill. These changes
he presented TO the House committee
at a meeting held yesterday morning,
asking the opinion of that body With
minor changes. they We're agreed to,
but not without considerable arsu-
mont.
Before adjournment was had in the
House. Mr.. Baker. the chairman of the
House committee asked that the Will
liauls bill be taken up on its second
reading. Mr.. Deal presented the
amendments endorsed by the commit
tee. and they were agreed to. There
was general satisfaction over the re-
suit, and none was so happy as Cap
tain Baker, who has struggled with
the problem for years.
Aside from action on the banking
bill. little business that is prominent
" In the public eye was taken up in
the Legislature. Both houses put IN
the day working on routine matters,
number of local and minor bills hav-
Ing been taken up and passed. Tho
House has still a long string of uncon-
tested bills just ahead, which will con-
sumo many hours OF wearlsome rol,
call.
Liquor Dill Monday.
Not that there is no fun ahead. For
the House has agreed to make the
Byrd liquor bill a special and continu-
ing order for tomorrow at 1880.
This action was taken at the request
OF Chairman Bowman, of the Finance
Committee, who wishes to get his
revenue measure acted upon before
his committee frames Il general APP
preparation bill.
AS first proposed by the Speaker
this bill made radical changes In the
existing Byrd liquor law. The Com
mttce on Counties, cities aud Town
cut out about three-fourths of the
changes, and the Committee on Isl
nance cut out about the other fourth
Nothing remains in the way OF strtn-
gent legislation excepting that tho
sale OF near beer is stu eliminated and
the license taxes on saloons Is large
" increased, The rates in It nre
made now entirely along the lines OF
tho Holt bill. which has passed the
Senate How much tho Speaker may
try to get into tho bill when it comes
up tomorrow. and how much lie viii
decide not to try to add, is unknown
Although the Governors bill, Great
ing aE1inted Agricultural Board was
,lnfavorably reported from committee
it's end is not yet. In the last sec
ond OF yesterdays session its patron
Mr.. Page secured Its committal to the
Committee OH Finance. It Is likely to
he heard there with view to finding
out where the mysterious opposition
comes from,
Teaching New Arts.
Possibly the most important actor,
in tho Senate was tho passage OF the
bill providing for teaching agriculture
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