The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-01-25
PROHIBITION BILL
IS GIVEN HEARING
Whitehead Says Demo-
cratic Ring Should
Pass 1t.
BOOK COMPANY
SEEMS A WINNER
Educational Officials Think Con.
Germ Is Valuable to State in
Distribution of School Books.
Virginia Education Com
mission Makes Import
ant Report.

Initial public hearings on the Jordan
ehaolnS act to permit the calling OF
~ e.eV.ion by petition on the question
OF state wide prohibition, and the con-
ciusion of the investigation into the
AFFAIRS Of the Virginia Book C,ompany
we're tho matters of principal impor-
lance yesterday in connection with ths,
session or the Legislature. These two
s.appenihEs were In committees, for tho
senate continued to transact no BUST
ness of Importance and tbe 1Jouso
spent most OF Its time in discussing a
nlotion to send u bill to a committee.
which was finally accomplished. &
ASSOC from these matters. the Gem
eIai assembly. in Joint session. com
pieted the election of Senator's AIartIn p
and Swanson and appointed comn,jtteea
20 notify them Officially of their
choice.
Threatened with pcrcnt
inteats OF political death and ami
hilntion were hurled at the heads of
MEMOIRS OF the Legislature who OPP
speaker of the Antisaloon League Of
Virginia At the hearing yesterday ar
ternoon and last night before tile E,lec-
ions Committee. Saying thee repre-
scented tho people of virginia, tho adj
Vocates OF the Jordan bill set forth
.ue'f claims TO be allowed vote OF
the subject of the open saloon.
The affirmative rested for tho I'm.
oeins, and the committee rose to meat
again on Tuesday morning at IN
O'CLOCK. w'aen the opposition will pre
sent It's side. The Antisaloon League
VIII have the close. but whether or
not It will be reached on Tuesday IL
doubtful. -
Would Help "thc Ring"
UNIQUE indeed was the sncoch ~
THOMAS Whitehead. of Amherst. which
concluded the hearing. tIe made his
appeal without septlalent a 4 -awithou!1
] temperance argument. Tlo called him.
SER ring Democrat" saying he be-
longed to the Tenth District organiza-
ton and the State 'mnchine" Flo arr
gued that the machine had been in tho
saddle for twenty years. and can stay
tnere so long as IL continues TO give
| tho best administration
10 keep Its hold on the voters of yir-
ginia- said Mr.. Whitehead, it should
| pass the enabling act. and 1t will thcn
continue In power. Ho had read that
twenty-four Sena tors would vote
| against the bill, and he said the boys.
should get together and see that 10
becomes law. go that the twenty-fout
could so and join "the kickers," the
antimachine faction in the partv in
| the State.
Mr.. Whitehead made a challenge for
| a joint caucus OF the Democrats Of IN.
two houses, which he thought would
| show clear majority for tho measure.
| II Is believed the House committee
VIII report the bill unfavorably
Book Company Hearing.
When the investigation as TO the
Virginia Book Company was concluded
last night, after two hearings for tho
| day, IL seemed that its verdict wound
IL, - hot
night session OF the special House COM
| mittee. headed by DR.. Kent, officials
OF the Department of Public Instruction
| appeared and said that the book COM
pany had formulated a system calcu-
| lated to bring about an adequate dis
tribution of school books. They cyl.
| IDENTIFY approved its operations
! AT the morning session Attorney.
General Williams made vigorous att
lacks on the company. saying IL was a
combination In restraint OF trade that
Its business should be suppressed, and
that tho book publishers who have
made contracts with 1t should be sued
by the State. The committee did not
reach a decision, but may have III
| ready for the House to-day.
Bill Is ommittcd.
The House at its session yesterday
sent back to committee the bill to pre-
vent criminals and idiots from trans4
| hitting their tendencies to children.
In addition. it began. but did not I'm
| ish. debate on a reduction in the ex-
emption of the wages of laboring men
! from $50 TO S?S a month applicap!e
only TO claims for rent. necessarles Of
! life and wages OF other laborlng men.
| The advocates OF the bill said 1t was
designed to protect the business men,
while also caring for tho families OF
| the laborers. It's opponents said is
! changed system which has worked
well for years. and might work inJus-
| tice to men OF small income
In both bodies the report of the vir-
| Sinia Education Commission was re-
ceivcd. 1t advocates n mill tax for the
| maintenance Of higher institutions OF
| learning. recommends that there should
be but one medical college in Virginia,
declines to favor the establishment OF q
woman's college at this time. and
makes many interesting suggestions as
| to the states educational system aad
as to the work done in the schools.
| Sitting Jointly. the Senate and
House Committees on Finance heard
last night from the cleemosynary insti-H
tutions and departments of the State
| government as TO their needs in tina
way of appropriations for the next two
years No new material of conse.t
quence was presented, the leads Of IN !
stitutions repeating 1gures already
produced and laid before the Legisla-
ture by tho Governor. Hs
The bill dirertins the rolling stock
| taxes from the cities where principal
OFFICES are located, and distributing
| them. WAS parrly cenrd nafoie tsss
fioase Committee on Rosd< AID fns}G
tornal Nayisatian and coagiaHrd u &
\ Is being strongly opDosed.
The HOUSE Finance Committee had q 4
hearing on tho proposition TO ABOLISH