The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1910-03-15
LEGISLATURE ENDS

The bill requiring railroads, mine
operators and iron and steel manufac-
tories 70 pay all employees at least
twice each month was taken up in the
Senate and concurrcd in afte- a lively
debate. The vote stood 25 To y in
favor of the measure. The railroads
made a vigorous fight against the bill.
The senate eoncurred in the house
bill IN relation TO suppression of the
white slave" traffic.
One of the hottest fights OF the ses-
sion in the house was that over the re
tentiOn of the Office of secretary of
Virginia military records. BY a vote of
81 TO 81, il was decided to abolish the
Office after Feb. 2S. 1911. Confederate
veterans asserted that II the State
really is to get the records. a change
must be made. The work hereafter is
to be done by clerk in the office of the
adiutant general
The house increased general appro-
priations for 1910 for schools and roads
by SIS. 600 each, and the State library
by 81, 500 1t reduced the sinking fund
from SIPS. 900 to Sl2O. 600. The sum of
$500 was allowed for the Office of
military records.
The sum for primary schools was
raised from S475, 600 to $500, 900.
The appropriation bill resembles that
of two years ago. Twelve million dollars
has been allowed for the next two years.
The fact that the surplus of the last
session has been wiped out because of
the size Of the appropriation Of 1908 is
not viewed with alarm as regards the
situation. Additional revenue expected
as the result of tax measures recently
enacted will come to the rescue of the
State eXcheQuer.
BY vote of 81 to 6 the House agreed
to the changes made in the Senate to
the Byrd liquor bill. These merely cut
out the inhibition of saloons within 400
feet OF schools and churches.
The appropriation bills met with no
opposition on the final vote.
The last session of the General As
sembly for real work was held Satur-
day. when many measures were taken
up.
The Coordination bill pertaining to
unifylng the agricultural interests and
boards for concentration of farming in
terests passed. but the appropriation
WIS cut 10 s., 600.
The Lime-Grinding bill failed to pass
The Senate agreed to the House reso-
luton extending the session FIVE days
from Saturday night in order to give
the clerks and others a chance to get
up with the work and to permit the ex-
animation of bills after they have been
enrolled and 10 have them presented to
the Governor. No bills of any sort are
to be considered and the sessions will
be purely constructive.
The conference committee on the Ap-
preparation bill agreed. The House
won on practically every point and the
bill as reported was increased only
about $35. 900 over the bill as reported
TO the House. The bill gives the public
schools $500, 900 and increases the road
fund TO $50. 900 for first year and $780,
900 for second year. Criminal expenses
are fixed at 500, 600 year
The Gravatt bill, providing for sub
scriptions TO agricultural high schools.
was passed.
The Richmond. Fredericksburg and
Potomac Railroad will not merge. and
II is 70 be presumed that il will not sur
render its charter. There is 70 be no
change in the relations Of the State
and Of this railroad during the coming
biennial period.
On the House calendar there persisted
all the primary bills, the Baylor Survey
bill. the game bills. the Throckmorton
dairy bill, the West fee bill. the in
come tax listing bill and every one Of
~-N tAIA1A D4lAcs
excepting the Byrd bill.
From the Committee on Agriculture
and Mining Of the House Hon. c. c.
Ialiaferro, of Orange, the chairman,
was the recipient of a gold Knight
Templar button and pendant
Mr.. Fitzhugh, of Northampton, pre-
sented 20 Major James n. Stubhs, of
Gloucester. a gold-headed cane. Mr..
titzhugh denominated Major Stubs as
a friend 10 every man in the House.
and as ever loyal 10 the interests Of
Tidewater. Responding, Major Stubs
could hardly find words TO express him
self.
At the close Of the morning session
Saturday Major ]. n. Stubs, the old |
est member in point of service, pre-
sented beautiful berry set, suitably |
inscribed. from the members of the |
House TO Speaker Byrd. Major Stubs |
expressed the sentiment of the men,
bers in praise of the fair, able and i'm |
partial manner IN which the Speaker |
had Discharged his duties -s-Esanl@l--l.sS
the Speaker paid a tribute Z ~ ----
eral Assembly. He said he penever =
each member is actuated by patriotic |
that il had been one of the |
hardest working bodies he had ever
seen, and that il deserved well Of the |
of the Commonwealth.