The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-02-16
elsewhere. evan In his own county o

elsewhere. evan In his own county of
Botetourt
This was an cror, to have tho Com
inonwealth become plaintiM In the set
ticment OF disputes, in the opinion OF
hr' Wh'te. OF Rockbridse. Tho law
He.s TO DO tho work required would re-
Iuire "A large sum.
Mr.. rutherford believed tho courts
hah fun Jurisdiction to settle the MAJ
ter.
Mr.. Bell contended that the Legisia
lute has no constitutional right to pas
law for this special case
Amendment offered
The Speaker ruled thar inasmuch a..
me resolution might Involve the ,xren-
dlturs of money, 1t should DC introduced
IN the form OF d. bill. and was there
'orc not In order. Judge Williams then
amended 1t 50 that the State should
not be i!aHle for any money in the mat
Ter, ana the resolution was admitted
me author said the Legislature should
not turn the people down who are
Knocking at the door FOR relief lie
said SO much argument had been mads
on this subject That the committee and
well-nigh everybody slse ad become
confused.
Mr.. Stephenson. OF Bath. said tina,
similar conditions prevail in other coun-
tics.
Mr.. Cbalklcy thought this mistake.
as In buchanan many of the troubles
come from titles admittedly bogus in
their nature, which make the conai-
lions there exceedingly difficult.
On show OF hands the resolution
received hfty-ssven affirmative votes.
more than i majority, and the negative
was not put.
The House agree TO the Senate res
olution for the appointment of joint
committee TO ascertain tho cost of Il
lot In Richmond on which TO erect nd
ditional State buildings. An amend
ment offered by Alr. White, Of Rock
bridge. that the committee should state
the use TO which the property was TO
be put. was adopted.
Initiative and Referendum.
The Speaker laid before TN House the
proposed amendments to the Constitu-
ton grating upon It the principles OF
The Initiative, the referendum and the
recall. Some weeks ago the Commit
tee on Privileges and Elections held a
public hearing on this proposition, anu
was addressed by former Senaeor a. Z.
Thomas. of LynchbuTg. The commit
tee reported the amendment advers .iy
.. +. Martin. OF Campbell county, the
Ies,ron Of the proposition. addressed
the House In its behalf. lie said tina /
tho existing forms Of government Will
IN time become inadequate and that
the Capitalization OF wealth aid OF
power VIII require more power In tho
hands of the people. Som. mistakes
had been made in carlir days In gov
rnmcnt. as in everything else. For in
stance. the forests had been swept
away by ruthless hands. and the time
Is approa ching for conservation and
even for reforestation. not only for
the value OF the timber. but for it's
effect on watering thu earth.
The Initiative would cali up the use
OF constructive minds II, spoke OF
the session OF the Legislature. toward
the close Of which measures Will be
passed hurr!edly without proper con.
sideration. whereas in refer .ndum
the people could think things out for
themselves
Judge Williams moved to dismiss the
amendment. A roll call was demanded,
and the motion carried. 81 to Is.
Mr.. Cox movsd TO reconsider, and on
that motion he said that he believed
some members had voted for dismissal
under a Inisconcept!on. He lad se.n
some men who would vote for a refer
.ndum on the liquor question vote
against this referendum, and inquired
as 70 It's consistency.
Mr Oliver followed IN the same vein.
He did not SEQ how q member conld
say that there should be n ref ,rendum
on the whiskey question and on no
other II the liquor question was 10
be submitted. why not. he asked,
change the Constitution and SO refer
II without doing violencs to the oaths
OF members TO support the Constitution?
The motion to reconsider was lost.
and the House adjourned At o'clock.