The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-02-16

amendment to the Constitution reauir-
ing the payment OF capitation taxes
ninety days prior to an election In
stead OF six months, as at present. The
patron said that SIX months before an
election most people arc not thinking
about It, and as Il result some OF the
best citizens of the State are disfran-
chised. All whom he has talked with,
he said, favor the amendment Under
It, he believed. the State would get
more money from this class Of taxa
ton.
sent to Committee.
Mr. White moved that the matter
be referred to the Committee for
Courts OF Justice. This motion was
carried by vote OF SO to 20. The
amendment had previously been re-
ported favorably from tho Committee
on Privileges and Elections.
The Senate refusing to concur in the
House amendments to the bill allow
ing counties TO issue county bonds for
road Improvement, on motion of Mr..
Adams the House insisted on its
amendments and asked for a confer
ence.
/ The House agreed to joint resolu-
ton for a joint Assembly at 1890 to
act on the confirmation OF the appoint
mcnt of 7. Richard Wingfeld to the
state Corporation Commission. The
Senate later refused to agree to this,
| because the matter has not been reg
ularly passed upon by the Joint COM
mittee on Combinations.
| On motion OF Mr.. Moncure. OF stat
ford. the House took up the Senate bin
requiring the people to vote before
| county can Issue bonds to build
courthouse. and passed It,
/ The House agreed TO the minor SEN
(! ate amendment to the bill establishing
a state Epileptc Colony
The Gettysburg monument bill COM
! ing up, 1t was, on motion OF its patron,
/ Mr.. Jennings, referred to the Commit
tee on Finance for the purpose OF
amendments.
1 Debate on Optometry.
The bill establishing a State Board
of Optometry next came up. Mr.. Steph-
cnson, of James City, again spoke IN
| opposition. He said that in many cases
OF Brlght's disease the trouble was
first discerned in the eye, and such
matter could not be detected by the
optometrist. whereas It would be noted
by the oculist. who Is a trained ply
stefan. Many lives, he said. would thus
be sacrificed to Ignorance. He was
| willing TO protect optometrists, but the
bill ought to prescribe a careful course
of study and preparation. The meas
ure. he said, legalizes the practice by
employees of existing houses, and tends
to create monopoly.
Mr.. White, supporting the bill, said
that 1t discouraged takers. 1t would
I he argued. encourage efficiency in a
/ recognized science Seventy-fve per
cent. of the people wear glasses, and
! seventy-five per cent. OF these get re-
lief from optometrists. The standard
OF those practiclng this should be rails
ed
That this was one of the best bills
before the Legislature was the conten-
ton of Mr. Harwood. He exhibited a
pair of glasses which he had Just pur-
chased for the sum of 10 cents. Such
practices. he argued, should be broken
!, up.
Not Recognized.
II In opposition to the BILL Mr.. Keyser
. said that opticians are not recognized
by any reputable medical college. They
!, all thought there was nothing in it
as a science. a good deal OF pleasan-
!, try ensued between he and Mr. Har-
wood as to what kind of glasses suited
, the other best. Mr.. Keyser maintained
, that the fitting of glasses by opticians
, was held UP to ridlcu1e by colleges
, Upon roll call the bill was lost by a
vote of 80 to 81.
, Senate bills to regulate the practice
of dentistry and to authorize counties
to use its State aid for good roads in
, building bridges were passed to their
third reading
House Bill No. S." which during the
/ ! past few days has formed the title of
so many editorials in Virginia news
papers, was the next business. 1t pro-
: vidcs that no man shall be eligible
to the position of division or county
, superintendent OF schools unless he be
a resident of the district over which
he presides.''
, The patron. Mr.. Love. offered an
, amendment to the effect that the law
, shall not disturb those persons who
have been heretofore appointed.
Power of State Board.
] Speaking to his measure, AR Love
$ said that its object was to curtail the
power of the state Board of Education
I'm my opinion" he said. mo such
power was ever vested in one body
under republican form OF govern
ment.
1.-THE menace is greater than any the
State has had to- face since the war
4 Many years ago I sat In the House
gallery and looked down upon thirty
u six colored members. said to myself
e The negro must so from politics. we
!, have gotten rid of them. But say to
5 you that our State Board of Educa-
V ton is a greater menace to the State
than negro rule ever was"
It was shame. he said, that the
G money of the State should he dis.
S bursed by an all-powerful. autocratle
: board II desplse.'' he said. "a Law
g which confers on few the liberty tc
}. take away the rights OF the people
| The power of this board must be
s curbed. and the Legislature is the only
a body which can accomplish It," He as.
s serted that the board should not sc
o outside OF a county to get its schoo
e superintendents.
Go .rnmort, he argued should exis
4 only with tn. consent of the governed
Q Were Solomon alive now he could dis
g cover II new; tliln.,--government in ;
u republic without tho consent of TIL,
: governed. FIe said that the superin