The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-02-15
Bills Are Offered to Re-
verse Sta tus of
R., F. and P.
PROPOSES TO CUT
MEMBERS SALARY
Earman Believes Econom y
Should Begin at Home-Many
Measures Introduccd-Com-
mission Government Amend
mcnt Passes-House Adj
/. vances Important Bills.

IN anticipate I OF the ,xpiratio OF
the time limit Tor the introduction OF
new bills. the efforts OF members OF the
Legislature was largely concentrated
yesterday on getting their proposals
before the two houses. y food OF
measures vas introduced the most i'm
portant. perhaps. OF which were com
panion bills designed TO permit the
merger and rcincorpora,!on Of the
Richmond fredericksburg and Potomac
Railroad and its correlating parts, win
suTTend :r of It's exemption from taxa
ton and relief from It's special bur
dcns and responsibilities.
While there is nothing contained ia
these Bills which could force the rail
road into q merger or into = change
Of its status, II >is Understood that its
directors and stockholders vii! he Will
Ing TO accept the terms offered b. the
state and they will agree 20 merge
within q year. The advantages whicr
would accrue as result OF the binding
together OF the component parts or
the Richmond Washington system
would. II is believed, outwe gil tho
saving now effected by reason OF the
fact that tho road cannot be taxed
either by the Stat. or By the localities
through which /, runs, this constitut-
inc a non-depcaIa5le feature OF It's an
Gent charter.
y commission is provided COMPOSED
q the Governor the State Corporation
Commission and one other party. TO
conduct the terms OF the change on the
part 81 the state. and the proxies rop-
reseuting Nirginias stock interests in.
tine ROAD would be required to vote rs
directed h. this commission. The mi
nority holders are car.d for. The
bills were proposed il. the Senate Is
Seaat-rs Fletcher. Lesner and Echuis,
and in the House by Moas.s, Bowman,
oliver. Chalislcy, Weaver. Lunstord and
byrd.
Gut Members Salaries.
The retrenchmenl and reform spirit
is stiIl abroad In the Capitol-at least
in tbs minds ot a few legislators. In
resolution offered yesterday By dnNal
llndford. 10 per cent OF the annuit'cs
xlv.n all higher institutions OF learn
ing Is 10 be cut on; OF the general APP
Precipitation bill. and the same -estric-
tloa applies 10 primary schools. leav-
ing. apparently. tho high schools In
taei. The only exemption named IN
The resolution Is the Virginia school
for the . .af and the Blind.
Worse still. in the minds OF members
of the General Assembly. is a resolution
offered by George y. Earman. OF Rock
ngham which cuts the compensation
of lawnakes. II goes further than tn
Rudford proposition OF TUESDAY bv re- !
Legislature from $500 10 $500 for the
session, and OF the President OF the
senate and the Speaker Of tho House
from 5000 TO $500, For extra sessions. |
officers are 10 get 5000 and members
5000 Nlr. EGrman prefaces MS dire
proposition with the sigu!fcan, remark:
Whereas. there Is q great d.mand on
tho part OF the taxpayers for economic !
legislation, and whereas example is
better than preccpt.' Their fore het
would have economy 20 begin at home, I
and II anything liz to be cut, let Il be ,
the compensation OF members.
Consolidate Medical School..
Among other nav bills introduced
was one to permit the cons olida tion OF
the medical department of the Un!ver |
sity OF Virginia and the Medical Col I
lege OF Virginia, whenever the govern
ing boards OF thos, institutions may
agree upon plan. Further. the con-
solidation OF any private medical col
lege would be allowed By agreement.
This follows out the recommendation OF ,
the Virginia Education Commission,
which said there should b. hu; one med !
icaI college in Virginia and that II,
should be located in some city The |
hill permits any part of the course 20
be given in Richmond and allows the /
use OF the property OF the Medical Col /
lsgo OF Virginia for this purpose
Apparently there is little chance 10
upon the matter of redistricting for
congressional lines Chairman Cox has
said he would not issue Il cali for
meeting uni css asked to do so hv ma
iority Of the Democrats. 4 cali was in
circulation yesterday. but had not the
requisite number OF signatures. and II
IS stated they cannot be secured. OPP
moments of the proposition TO change
tbs Fifth, sixth and Ninth Districts say
they can defeat II II the Republicans
in the House are allowed to vote.
Bills Arc Advanced.
Aside from the passage by the House
OF the amendment to the Constitution
permitting the Legislature TO grant
commission form of government to
cities there was little business OF
public importance In the Legislature. /
Committees continued their labors, and !
many bills were advanced on the CAL
endar mainly those which provoked no !
opposition.
Among the measures which We're ap-
proved on their second reading In the
House. were the Dreamer scmi-montn-
bill, the hotel inspection bill, and the
measure lengthcning the hours of
labor Of employees at the Capitol
Those which were deferred In the
House on ten objections. were the pro-
position to approve the income tax
amendment to the Federal Constitution
the bill to establish State Board of
Optometry, and the Throckmorton bill
designed to prevent the contamination |
of the sale of tho Seven Pines line /
under the agreemnt as approved by
tine Richmond City Council.
Vote Is Deferred.
No vote was taken In the Senate on /
tho rolling stock bill. action being de- !
/T1on1Inuad an aiXth DapeO