The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-01-19
REFUSES TO RAISE
PAY OF ASSESSORS
House Votes Down First
Salary Increase
Proposed.
BURDEN WOULD
BE ON COUNTIES
Supervisors May Add Pay if De.
sired-Comnittee Will Plan
for Inauguration on Febru-
ary 1-Strode's Bill to Es-
tablish State College
for Women.

For more than an hour ycsterda!
the House debated the bill offered b,
MI Clement, of Pittsylvania. intended
to increase the compensation OF rea
estate assessors. The argument, which
was the first of the session, was earn
estly wagcd, many of the members
taking part in the discussion. Al
amendment was at last adopted, a.
offered by Mr.. Stebbins. of Halifax
and the bill was engrossed and passed
to Its third reading SO changed a:
to practically nullify the intention ol
Its patron. 1t will be put on its pass,
age to-day.
Mr. Clements proposition was to pa!
the assessors. who will make tho
regular flve-year appraisal Of rea
estate this year, the sum of SO a day
one-third TO be paid by the counties
and cities. Heretofore the pay has
been So a day, paid by the State. with
additional compensation by local au-
thori,ies in some localities. The Steb-
bins amendment fixed the pay at So
with provision that Boards of SUI
pcrvisors may add such amounts as
they sec fit.
Wish to Economizc.
/. The new policy of retrenchment and
economy was responsible for this ac-
tion. While the additional pay would
not come from the State Treasury, 1t
was pointed out that in the hour of
effort to relieve the financial condi-
ton of the State, the General Assembly
should not go on record as putting a
burden on the counties.
The vote on the amendment was II
to "a. The fight for 1t was led by Mr..
Williams. Of Giles. who in an earnest
speech said that. he would not be a
parti to Increasing salaries or to
creating new offices, and that for
his part he proposed to ad-
syocate the curtailmcnt of public ex-
penses. to the best ability OF the Cen
aeral assembly He received by far
the greatest amount Of applause ac-
corded any speaker.
Mr. Clement was much surprised at
the outcome of the vote. He said
in the beginning that he did not ex-
pect any opposition to his bill. and
announced repeatedly that he did not
think any fair minded man could vote
against 1t.
Those who spoke in favor of the
Clement bill believed that the increas-
ed paygwould secure better class of
service. but the fatally weak point In
this argument, and that used with the
most telling effect by the opposition,
was that 90 per cent. Of the assessors
have already been appointed by the
courts. and are under agreement to do
the work for SO day.
Pass Second Reading.
The House, because of the early ap-
pOintfnent of cnr7p,fftaoo
real work yesterday Three bills
House bills Nos. 2, 3 and 4-were pass
ed on the second reading and ordered
to be cngrosscd. They Will come uu
on their final passage to-day. The
Clement bill, No. 4. was the only one
which provoked discussion. Bill No
!. to allow civil justices in cities OF
l0,OOO Inhabitants, was, on motion OF
Mr.. Cox. OF Richmond. one OF its
patrons. passed for the day.
A number Of bills were reported
from House committees. Five came
from the Committee on General Laws
one from Counties. Cities and Towns
and one from the Committee on Courts
Of Justice. and We're placed on the cal.
endar. a bunch of others were re.
ported from tho Joint Committee or
Special, Private and Local Legislation
ana went to other committees for ac-
ton.
Both Houses acted favorablv on a
joint resolution providing for the ap-
;pointment Of a joint committee Of the
House and Senate to make prepara-
stions for the inauguration of the Gov
ernor-elect and the Lieutenant Cover
'nor-elect.
In the Senate six bills were reported
and We're placed on the calendar. This
body decided to allow mileage to the
members of the Finance Committee,
which held sessions prior to the meet
ing OF the Legislature.
Committees in Action.
Several important committees held
meetings Yesterday. The most interest
Ing was that of the House Committee
on Counties, Cities and Towns, in con-
sidering the consolidation measure
The House Committee on Courts OF
Justice reported one bill and referred
several to subcommittee, the latter
course being the ono generally fol-
lowed by other committees In session
yesterday, especially In treating of
the more important bills.
However, the Senate Finance Com
mittee took an important step In de-
Gliding to report Senator Fletcher's
bill providing that tho Auditor ofPuh-
lie Accounts shall have charge OF the
work OF equalization of taxes on real
estate. "A few minor amendments were
made to this measure.
Appointments Announced.
Tho Governor sent special mes
sage announcing the appointment OF
Judge r.. r. Prentis to the State Cor
poration Commission for the ensuing
term of SIX years, and also the ap-
pointment OF number of judges and
minor officers during the vacation OF
the General Assembly. The reappolnt-
ment OF Judge Prentis was referred to
the Joint Committee on Combinations.
Among the more important new bills
introduced Yesterday was fhat of
senator Strobe, having for It's object
the establishment Of a State College
for women. Another bill by thu same
Senator would establish scholarships
for " irginia students In the educa,
5tional institutions supported BY the
State. a8 III S 5a s5f i'd
@ Senator King proposes Il 4 n I, 4 NJ !. a. ! ,