The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-03-09
TWo-Thirds Vote Could
NotBe Secured for I'm
mediate Action.
FARM LIME BILL
: PASSED BY HOUSE
Big Majority Recorded - Byrd
Liquor Bill Goes Through
Senate-House Rejects Flet-
cher Tax Equalization
Plan and Passes Tax
Commission Bill.

At the end OF day crowded with 4
OF important legislation,
the House OF Delegates last night
passed the agricultural lime bill. which +
has occupied great deal OF the centre
OF the political stage. The debate
which preceded the vote was one OF
tho most animated OF the session. The
plea was made that the measure was
in the interest or tnc farmers OF the
state. and that this class gets very
little from the state treasury. Those
who opposed 1t protested against the
taking up of a measure which had just
appeared from which the committee
had only on the same day been dis
charged. and which tho members had
had no opportunity to read.
The bill carries an appropriation OF
$4,000. With this limestone quarry
IS to be leased or purchased and plant
Is to be established for grinding lime
by convict labor. The product Is to be
sold 10 any citizen OF the State at
price OF 10 per cent. above the cost OF
production. This is being done. it Is
stated. In other States with success.
Adverse Report on r., r. d II.
Once more Is the outcome OF the
Richmond. Fredericksburg and Potomac
Legislation in doubt Aftera long joint
session last night Of the Senate Com-'l
mittces on Finance and Courts OF JUS
tice, the merger bill was reported with
a recommendation that It do not pass.
The ngh. will now be transferred to-
the floor of the Senate. Under the cir
cumstances the outcome OF the issue
must be regarded as3axt.cmely doubt
full.
While the Senate cpr,m...ces were
listening TO this matter the House was
passing companion bill. suspendinS
the operations OF the Cooke amendments
10 the Sunday train law for six months.
80 as to gircsthi3 railroad time 70
merge before this burden falls upon II.
Although this bill was the very last
on a crowded calendar. the House took
1t up and passed 1t. deeming 1t but an
act OF justice. considering the lesisla-
tion which had gone before.
prohibition Dies Again.
Or. Myers. the House patron of the
Statewide prohibition bill. succeeded
in getting recorded vote on his mat
Ter Yesterday The House voted. 40
TO 49, TO take the bill up out of Its
order. but 1t was necessary to secure
two-thlrds. and the motion was conse-
uuently lost. While the vote was In
large measure test one, 1t was not
altogether so. since some few mems
bcrs, realizing that two.thlrds could
not be secured. voted. they said, ANY
wayo II cannot be denied. however.
that. could the bill come up In It's reg
ular order. which is now impossible,
the vote on its passage would be ex.
tremely close. and 1t might pass by q
Vote or two.
Thc effort was made at the morning
session. DR.. Myers made a quiet and
modest plea for immediate consider
alton OF the bill. disclaiming any In
15 tention to embarrass any one. He was
briefly answered by Mr.. Oliver. who
called attention to the futilty OF CIV
ing time TO the question, since a Sim
liar bill had been rejected in the Sem
ate On the hand raisings the House
voted against consideration of the
measure. but when the two recorded
votes came there were evidently q
few changes.
The Republicans voted solidly tt
take the bill up. The Democratic vote
stood: For the BILL SO: against, 40.
Equalization Bill Rejected.
Down to ignominious defeat wen
the Fletcher tax equalization bill, owe
which the Senate expended SO mucl
time and eloquence Attic conclusion
OF an extended debate the House votet
to dismiss this measure by a vote o
SO to 81. It was objected to largel.
because of an alleged tendency to cen
tralize power in Richmond and furthe
because 1t seemed to be felt that tn
whose direction the equalization wa
intended to be made, could not llav
the knowledge requisite to make rea
estate taxation equal.
There will, therefore, be no chang
In method of asslSisnents. so far a
/ this years valuation Is concerned
which is8to stand for five years.
The House Finance Committees sub
stitutc for the Holland tax commissio
bill finally passed the House, Thi
~ provides for a commission to eXamin
the tan systems OF the State. and t
report the strong and weak points4t
the next Legislature. The Senate ha
designed this. commission to be CON
posed of the Governor, the clairma
OF the State Corporation Commissio
and tax expert. To this the Fous
has now added the president OF ii
Senate, the Speaker OF the House AN
Finance Committees. The maximul
compensation OF the expert was hxc
by tho House at 5000 a month, !, inst lea
OF 500. as In the Senate bill. Th
whole proposition must now SO bac
to the Senate for action on the amend
nlents.
BYRD Bill Passed.
An equally busy day was spent
The Senate, It nassed tho Byrd liqu
bill,5withf unlnlportant mendment
Ono chang made was that the prov
sions8 against. sal oons within 400 TO
of churches and, school houses W
eliminated. This had already be,
mad mot TO amply to existing license
5 The upper bod Y also Y passed t
House bill provldinE for a State q
countant. whose duty " shall bo Il
prepare n ~ N form ii sys stem Ii Of boo
keeping in the on,eta AS departlne its al
Institutions &c tho State, & IIa IS al
Continued on, ~ bird PaGelN o.