The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-03-08
AFTERNOON SESSION

At o'clock the Senate resumed tho
discussion of the game bill and over
vigorous objection passed tho Bowers
amendment permitting farmers to
hunt on adjoining land by permission
OF tho owner. a number of the Sena-
tors saw in this provision opportunity
for general evasion of the law, claim
ing that 1t effectually nullihed that
part OF the bill which requires hunt
ers' licenses of 81 OF all farmers hunt
ing on lands not their own.
The strongest fight OF the afternoon
was wased against an amendment Of
fered by Senator Tavenner which pro-
posed to make the game law optional
with the several counties. BY a ma
jority vote, 1t provided, tho Board OF
Supervisors of any county could abro-
gate tho law as far as that particular
county was concerned and place 1t sub
ject to the game laws which were i'll
effect prior to the passage OF the
bill.
Supported by Saunders.
The amendment was supported by
Senator Saunders. who looked upon
this application of local option principle
In the matter OF gamo laws, with ap-
prevail. Differing conditions In the
several counties, he argued, mlgcat
arise which would make highly de-
sgrable the abrogauon of the law.
Each county should be left to decide
for itself, he said. whether it wanted
to remain under tho new gamo law, or
the old. a similar position was taken
by Senator Rinchart
Senator Hart entered strong OBJ
lection to tho Incorporation of the
amendment To adopt It. he thought,
would be to give a death blow TO tho
entire bill. He deprecated the 'subter-
fuges" that were being restored to to
~ 4. 4ls,n
advised the Senate to kill it openly, II
that was It's intention Objections
along the same line We're offered by
Senator Smith, who pointed out that
tho life of the bill depended upon its
ability to raise enough from the gun
tax 10 pay tho game commission its
salaries. To permit the local option
amendment to go into the bill, he said,
would mean practically the destruction
OF this source of income. Tho amend
ment was killed by vote of "a 10 IL.
Minor Amendments Adopted.
At the instance of Senator'S repre-
scnting districts with abnormal ccndi-
tons, minor amendments were incorpo-
rated to meet them. Among these was
one offered by Senator Mapp, exempt
ing from the operation of the law
Back Bay, Princess Anne county, where
private parties have invested many
thousands of dollars in shooting lodges.
An amendment offered by Senator Cum
mings. excluding from the effect of
thu law Washington and Smyth coun-
ties was killed. The schedule Of fines
in one or two instances was cut in
half.
Senator Royal introduced an amend
ment directing that any surplus in the
game fund accruing from licenses or
fines, after all salaries and expenses
are paid, shall be deposited in the
State treasury 1t met with objection
and was voted down. The bill as
amended was put to Il vote at 5:i5
o'clock and carried by narrow ma
jority. of four twenty-five Senators
voting for 1t and eighteen against it,
Tho recorded vote stood as follows:
Ayes-Bowers. Brock. Drewry, Early.
Edmonson. Fletcher. Gayle, Garrett,
Gravatt. Hartman, Hart, Holt. Lesnor,
Mapp. Massie, Montague. Moncure. Paul,
Smith, Thornton. Tucker. Walker. Wen
dcnburG-22.
Noes-Blanks, Catron. Crockett, Cum
mings. Echols. Feathcrston, Folkes,
Garrett. Hobbs. Parr. Rinchart. Rison,
Royal. Saunders. Sowder. Tavenner,
Watkins. West-1S.
House Bill. Passed.
Upon motion the Senate took out OF
It's regular order and passed the fol-
lowing House bills:
To authorize and empower the Board
OF Supervisors OF Culpeper county to
issue bonds to raise money for the pur-
pose Of providing for and erecting
certain bridges in that county.
TO relieve j. L. Arlington. j. B. Wells,
Morgan Boiling and w. r. Collier, late
members of the Board of Supervisors
of Wise county, from refundlnG Ger
tain mony received by them for SER
vices rendered In Connection with the
building of macadam roads in Wise
county