Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-05-21

measure to death by one vote.
Following this there has arisen such a
clamor as has not been heard for months.
The ordinances of the city are wholly
the police can control drunken chauffeurs.
reckless negro drivers or the suppression
or the growing practice OF having chill
dren operate automobiles in all parts of
the city.
No Gambling In Hotels.
Under an Interpretation OF the laws of
the state by the police justice, poker
playing or any other form Of gambling in
hotels is a violation Of the statutes pro-
hibiting gambling In public places. That
Is the construction of the laws by the at
torney for the commonwealth, though the
construction Of the higher courts will be
obtained before 1t Is accepted as con-
elusive by five young men who last Sun
day are alleged to have obtained a room
at hotel and to have INDUCED in q bit
OF amusement by. engaging in what is
The state held that the statutes for
D., bade the playing Of any game in a pub
nc place; that a hotel Is public place in
the meaning Of the act, and fines were
imposed on the players. and In addition
tney were compelled to remain in the
city jail while their cases were tried.
having been continued on two occasions.
Seeking Free School Books.
John L. Degge of Norfolk. engaged in
creating sentiment in favor Of free school
books. has been here for several days.
and he has succeeded in having one Of
the powerful secret organizations of the
state declare in favor of the scheme. The
idea is to compel the state to supply all
the books used in the public schools free
to the pupils. the books always to re-
main the property Of the state and the
pupils to pay for all losses and damage
to the books while in the possession of
the children 1t is being urged that to
do this will prevent 1.-THE quadrennial
adoption of books. when all the books
are changed and parents are compelled
to buy complete new changes. regardless
of whether younger children in the same
family desire to use the books. This
book question has caused confusion and
complaint and considerable allegations of
graft in the last few years. resulting in
two cases of retirement Of prominent
school officials
Basic City's Complaint.
town few miles east of Staunton. is
coming to the front. The council and the
business bodies of the town are engaged
in a war on the Chesapeake and Ohio
Railway Company. The road operates
several fast trains through that place
daily, and the town insists that the trains
shall stop, paying some attention to the
place.
The railroad company was obdurate
The council defined the corporate limits
Of the place, adopting an ordinance re-
curing all trains not to exceed eight
miles an hour while passing through.
Thus in going distance of two miles the
trains are compelled to spend fifteen min
utes-longer than would be required to
stop and start the trains at the station.
The police watch carefully and report
every violation, and heavy fines are be-
ing imposed.
Now there has been filed a complaint
against the company by nearly a hun
dred travelling men. who say that the
passenger service there Is intolerable. and
asking that the state corporation commits
sion shall make an inquiry into the trou-
ble
The Virginia state tax commission,
which was named some months ago, has
been called to meet here June 8 to hear
the report Of the secretary OF that body.
DR.. Douglass S. Freeman. The secretary
and he has compiled a voluminous report
on personal property, banks and insur-
ance taxes.
The report will be submitted to the full
committee at the coming meeting and
will be taken UP for consideration. The
impression prevails that radical changes
are recommended. for adoption regarding
the system Of taxation on these subjects.
The review of the personal property sys-
tenn of taxation is scathing. showing that
little attention Is pad to values by own
ers when assessments are made.