The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-02-03
ii1URs1AY

wns taken M. Mr.. Evans opposed IT.
lie ,o,s the position that II means
the abolition OF discretion on the part
or ,urios. He doubted Its constitu-
tionality. He moved that the bill be
committed to the Committee OH Courts
OF tustice
Mr. WIlliarna, OF Giles, also opposco
tho bill. on the ground that 1t Inn
POSED burdens on clerks Of courts and
Unnecessary expenses on counties ana
cities
Mr.. rhrocknorton said he did not
OBJECT to reference to committee for
the purpose of testing constitutional
tty, and the bill was referred.
Toll Gntc Dill.
Senate hill No. was then taken up.
This allows the county of Augusta to
establish toll gates on certain roads.
among them those which have partici
pated in state aid. II had been un
favorabIy reported from the Commit
tee an Roads and Internal Navigation,
and the chairman Of that committee.
MIR. rhrockmorton. opposed the bIll.
He said lie did not favor turning free
roads into toll roads, and that such y
change was bad precedent. In that
II might bring state aid for roads into
disfavor.
speaker Byrd tMr Cooke in tho
cllaIr) argued for local self-govern.
inent. The people OF Augusta wanted
| the bill he declared. and they should
/ have It, The money to be derived from
I tolls he said. is needed to keep UP the
/ roads Automobiles. the Speaker said
| incidentally, are most destructive to
roads; they seem TO gouge the sur
! tace from the best of highways. This
| is purely local bill" he said, "and
I should pass. have always contendel
I that when Republicans, for instance.
present local bills. 1t is the duty ct
I the House to pass them. for the MEM
bers are responsible to their consti.
tuents In this case, the members
from Augusta are responsible to their
own people"
Mr.. Taliaferro. in opposing the bill.
thought it might prove to be an OPEN
ing wedge to bar the progress of the
State In her aid to good roads. He
argued that good roads had more than
doubled the value of real estate. MI.
Page said this was not the point under
discussion. and asked wherein the bill
. would hurt the good roads cause. MT
4 Talaferro replied that it sets a prece.
dent. other counties. he said, might
come in later. after the State had bull
good roads. and ask for toll gates.
Local Optionists.
reversion to the toll system was q
step backward. thought Mr.. keyser
"rf you put toll on, he asked. why
do you want state aid to roads" Mr.
Keyser said he stood sduarely for Local
option.
Mr. Yarrell said the Legislature ough,
not to slap the members from Augusta
in the face. IT am for local option in
all things" he said
Mr.. Deal was opposed to toll roads
and said they were a nuisance
Mr.. West, Of Nansemond. said the
time might come when the State would
have toll roads everywhere. and Their
the people would rise up and curse the
man who first started the good roads
movement in Virginia. The bill, he
thought. was the hardest blow ever
struck at good roads. II stand" he
said "for free roads
Mr. Ktmpcr, OF augusta. said in re.
ply that he favored good roads. This
was local legislation. he argued, asked
for by his county. 1t has the road.
and now must provide means for keep
ing them up.
Upon roll call the vote stood. Ayes
II; noes, Is. The bill was thus finally
| passed.
The House adjourned at o:1s.