The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-03-07

instead OF looking upon them as its
special wards. IL must, after the enact
ment of the bill into law, look upon
them as assets.
The bill, he said would seriously
, threaten an established Industry of
MS section OF the state. and would
1eopardisc the position OF 5000 free
lhboHcrs in the limestone Quarries OF
that section. He urged the Senate
TO vote down measure which pro-
posed TO spend $4,000 of the states
revenues in the exploitation of a
theory.
Tnrcnncr Offers Amendment.
Senator Tavenner took the floor with
an amendment 70 the bill, directing
mat before the limestone grinding
plant be established the board desip-
tIated by the bill shall make @ reason
! able effort to enter into contracts with
one or moro responsible persons or
corporations in this State to ali orders
! for ground limestone and ground
oyster shells at 81 or better per ton
TO. b. cars at the plants. These cor
porations. the amendment further di-
rected shall he required to furnish
such product in quantity equal TO the
. probable output of two plants capable
Of being operated from the appropria-
ton made by the Dill"
Ia The event that the board max Q
snch contract or contracts. the amend
ment provided further the protect con :
templated by the bill shall not be IN
Hcrtaken. While opposed to the bill
as whole. said Senator Tavcnner.
nc thought the amendment would re-
move some of its objection should the
senate insist upon passing II.
Unprecedented Action.
ha
into the limestone grinding business.
said senator Tavenner. was not
pafaiieIed b. any other State. To tho
reply OF Senator Gravatt that Illinois
mas bcen grinding limestone for some
years. Senator Tavenner replied that
no comparison could be made between
the two states The limestone grind
ing enterprise of Illinois. he argued was
| only a small part of its general policy
Of employing convicts in manufnctur-
ing industries. Besides ground lime
; stone, the State. he said, manufact-
| ures brick, clothing and Other. PRO-
ducts. and builds many Of it's buildings
with convict labor.
FROM the report OF the Illinois De-
partment OF Agriculture for the year
1907 senator Tavenner read that in
tnat year slightly more than 1000 tons
| OF ground limestone was produced in
that State by convict labor. although
the plant had been organized since
1903. At the highest estimate, this
amount he said, would hardly be suf-
! ncient for 1000 acres OF land. TO APP
propriate $4,000 for the purpose of
employing twenty or thirty convicts
In the business OF supplying ground
limestone to the farmers Of the whole
State of Virginia. thought Senat tor
Tavenner, was folly Of the worst sort.
Further argument was interrupted
by adjournment, which took place at
/ o'clock The Senate will probably
dispose of the bill Tomorrow To do
=, this a motion will have TO ne carried
! 70 take the hill out of it's regular order.
since the special order was yesterday
! discharged. The general opinion yes
! terday was to tho effect that despite
earnest opposition on the part OF sew
erni Senat tors. the bill will pass by n
, large majority.
Before proceeding to the considera
/ ton OF local and uncontested House
pills, as prescribed by the special riil,
under which it was workine, the SEN
ate voted unanimously to accept thu
oher of Mrs Edward F.chols to pre-
sent to the senate a portrait of former
lieutenant Governor Edward EchoIs.
now President pro iom uf the Senate