The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-01-29
But Speaker Came Near
Defeating Johnson S
Novel Measure.
DEBATE PROCEEDS
ON TAX MEASURE
Fletcher Bill Still Under Consid
cration-Proposal to Have
Governors Council - Pri-
mary Matters Argued.
Choice of Second Door
keeper for House.

4 u
Although Speaker Byrd left the chair
and took the floor yesterday In the
House in opposition to a bill before
that body, he lost his fight, the meas
urc under consideration passing by the
close vote OF Is to AZ. There is no
doubt that his efforts added much to
the negative vote. but the members
| evidently decided to support the report
of the Committee on Courts of Justice,
which had acted favorably.
| The bill in question was regarded by
| its opponents ag quite new departure
| from old-time legal ideas. inasmuch as
| 1t brings spoken words within the pur-
! view OF the criminal law The Speaker
thought 1t would cause innumcrable
small cases In the courts of justices of
the peace. for It provides penalties for
I the utterance or circulation OF SLAM
derous or defamatory language. He
urged that the time -honored standards
Of the ancient English law be not de-
parted from.
| Mr.. Page, the committee chairman,
replied that sometimes changes from
/ old things arc necessary Another
member wanted the privilege OF call
! ing a man a liar If he knew him to be
l
bill he would still have the right TO
do so, unless the charge were false.
Another deplored the passing OF the
/ code dueilo. when clen resented inA.lts
without going to law.
Houac Adjourn. to Monday.
| The House passed fourteen bills on
their third and final readings. making
a good inroad upon the calendar NO
second reading bills were reached. Ad-
journment was taken until Monday at
noon. in honor of the memory OF
Thomas H. Edwards. the member who
died Thursday. The Senate. however.
will be in session TO-DAY.
/ There was a general exodus of mem
bers Of the House yesterday. the legis-
4 lators taking advantage OF the first
and probably tho only holiday of the
4 session. Quorums are doubtful at com
mittee meetings. although sufficient
number may be secured for the hear
/ Ing this afternoon Of the child labor
laws before the Committee on General
Laws.
After the adjournment OF the House
Charles a. Truslow. of Stafford, was
nominated by the Democratic caucus &c
be second doorkeeper, to succeed the
late P. E. Lipscomb. He will be elected
by the House on Monday. b. W. An
drews, of Lunenburg, was also placed
in nomination but his name was with
drawn before the conclusion of the roll
call.
Tax Bill Argument.
4 In no ScSate the ong-drawn- out
discl.>s. "a OF .he Fletcher tax equaliza-
tion LNil was continued. Senator Strobe
criticized the bill, but is the only Demo
crat who has so far manifested dis
position to assume a position of hostil-
ity.
Senator KeezelI made a vigorous re-
ply to Senator Strobe, and continued
his response to tho attacks made upon
the party and upon the bill by Senator
Noel. the leader of the minority. The
bill did not reach the stage of vote
The chairman OF the Finance Com
mittee went into considerable detail in
his remarks, defending the eXpendi-
lures of the Commonwealth In various
: directions mentioned by the Senator
from Lee. He promised that he would
draw up bill properly assessing min.
J eral lands.
Council for Governor.
A move was started III the Senate tc
revive the cid scheme of Governors
council, which existed in this State
- prior to the ffties. The bill would
make body of twenty members, two
III,
tive by the Legislature. They woult
!. serve without compensation or ex
penses. and would act for the State al
a board of trade does for city The,
would discuss with the Governor plan
for increasing the material prosperit!
of the State and bringing new indus
: tries into it. i is the idea to get
y class of men who have been highl!
successful in the conduct of their owl
. affairs-men who are big and broad Ii
= mind.
!. The bill providing for vote on TIL
:. consolidation Of Richmond and Man
? chester passed the Senate, and nov
goes to the Governor.
= BY far the most important commit
!, tee work of the day was the hearing
q on the four primary bills before tn
Legislature in the meeting of TIL
House Committee On Privileges an
= Elections. Speaker Byrd made
: strong argument for his bill, as di
: Mr.. Deal and Colonel West for thei
. respective measures. I.ieutenant-Gov
g ernor Ellyson will be heard later o
. the subcommittee bill. Further hear
Ing was deferred until Monday morn
3 ing,
The evident aim of all those wh
: smoke on primary matters was the pub
nc good, and many suggestions Wer
;. made for the betterment of eNistln
y conditions in the State.
Local Option Contests.
y a very important measure reporte
"a to the House was the bill prescribil,
IL term of four years between holdir
10 local option elections, instead of tn
years as at present 1t was favorab
e reported from the Committee on Coul
Id ties, Cities and Towns, but there w,
ia strong opposition in committee, al
I'd the report comes from a majority al
ar not from the entire body. Tho tigl
f Will be carried to tho foor of the IIou
l-lwhcn the bill comes up for Its secor
ar reading.
er The Casey Joint resolution allowir
70 the United States Weather Bureau
t., Eerect a meteorological kiosk for eXh
CONTINUED on Third Page,)
Z 4 4, 10 Nv