The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-02-22
STATEWIDE BILL
Gets SHORT SHR|FT
H ouse Commi tie e
Reports Myers Meas
ure Unfavorably
ILROAD BILL
GOES SAME ROUTE
Another Strobe Measure Draws
Unfavorable Report - Liquor
Elections Every Four Years.
Senate Acts on Revenue
Measure-Folkes Fights
Express Companies.

state.wide prohibition received an
cxnectcd blow yesterday when the
fIouse Committee on Privileges ana
Elections, By what is stated TO have
been a nearly unanimous vote, ue
icrmined to report the Myers bill with
Il Recommendation that 1t be not pass
ed. The measure goes to the calendar
with this black eye, as a result "
the first round
The corresponding committee qf the
Senate is expected to take up inc
strode bill, which is the Senatc emu
OF The proposition, tomorrow. inc TWO
committees had joint public hearings
on the matter last week. The debate
Ia concluded and 1T is regarded as
likely that the Senate committee VIII
make prompt report.
1t was stated in the House yesterday
that 1t was probable that the Myers
bill will be neyt referred 10 the Com
mittee on Finance 1nasmuch as this
measure, should sit be passed. and
j should the people under 1t call an cleo
,lon and vote TO abolish the saloons.
would Involve loss to the state OIL
y something like 100000. with an ad-
ditional loss to the cities and counties
or perhaps 100000 1t Is likely that the
committee Whicn controls taxation ana
appropriation would like to consider
it in view of the taxes 1T is expected
10 levy and the money Whlch IL IA
asked to eXpeHd.
No Amendment Onered.
The decision to report tile blu un-
fayorably was reached in executive
session. after short debate. The
patron, Mr.. Myers, had baea expected
TO offer an amendment. in accordance
with his statement during the public
nearing, on the proposition of the sale
Of cider However. lie did not appear.
and 1t was presumed that he intends
10 present his amendment on the floor
OF the Houae, II the bill comes 10
vote
.IpasnlJch az the advocates of the
bill have agreed that in no case should
prohibition be effective until January
j. 1912 and in further consideration
of tha fact that the next Legislature,
which may possibly be elected upon
that issue. will assemble only ten days
later. 1t is thought that it might be
best to let that body decide the mat
ter This for two reasons-because
Virginia has a representative form of
government and not democratic
form, and because the next General
Assembly will be better advised of the
resources of the State for the next
five years.
Report unfnyorabIc.
Senator Strode's rolling stock bill
Is probably dead. After hours ofdebate,
which was regarded by somebody as I'M
portant enough to justify being taken
down in shorthand. the Senate Com
mittee on Roads last evening decided.
bv a vote of S to 6, to report the bill
unfavoraby.
The railroads. apparently sure that
2 the measure was unconstitutional. have
made but little fight against 1t, leav-
ing the opposition to the cities Which
would lose large amounts OF money
should the rolling stock be assessed,
and the taxes distributed among those
counties through which the roads run,
instead of az the piace "htre the sHoPs
This bill is really the Caton bill of
tho last Legislature, in nearly the
same form.
The House took hold OF ono piece
of LIQUOR legislation yesterday, when
q ii ordered to It's third reading the bill
prescribing q four-year term between
local option elections, instead of two
years. as at present. An amendment
was added so that 1t applies only to
those cities and towns which vote In
the future. For instance, Petersburg,
which voted on the question last
spring, may vote again in 1911. but
can thereafter vote only every four
years Considering the vote of yes
terday, 1t is presumed that tho bill
Will be passed to-day
Pharmacy LAW Changed.
The House changed the pharmacy
law SO as(to require the state Board
of Pharmacy to allow any physician In
country districts to sell drugs to his
patients. Heretofore this has been
optional with the board, and it is un-
derstood that Its ruling has been
to grant this privilege to only one phy-
sician In country district.
Battledore and 4shuttlecock is appar'
emily being played between the two
bodies on the bill adding sundry banks
to tho list of designated State deposi-
taries. The House added some bank:
and also reduced the amount of bond tc
be given. To this the Senate demurrec
\ and refused to agree. Members stated
openly on the floor OF the House tha,
there arc too many such banks nov
and that they hoped enough amend
lnents would be added to kill the meas
Eure.
The Senate is still going after rev
cnue. 1t passed without trouble thu
House bill imposing franchise ia.
based on the gross receipts Of water
heating. lighting and gas companies
lHowever, there was opposition to- TIL,
bill increasing the tax on express com
panies because tho tax is not higl
enough.
Bnrrooms on Wheels
This bill proposes to charge a mile
age of IS. instead Of $3, as at present
r This would, 1t is 1atd, yield about $4,000
additional revenue, from this source
Senator Folkes said this was a ner'
hagatclle when compared with the i'm
nense exclusive liquor carrying busl
ness which the express companies ar
doing, and he offered amendments pro
yiding for very large increase, II
called attention tostha fact that tn
senate has proposed to hold UP tn
liquor dealers for 100000 additional
under heavy restrictions, while IT Let
"a Continued on Third Page,)