The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-02-16
House W. Change in
Election Z. >hool
Superintendent.
SEN A T E DEBATES
ROLLING STOCK TAX
Initiative, Referendum and Recall
Meet Positive Defeat in House.
Latter Body Plans to Settle
Buchanan County Situa,
tion--Woman's College
To-Day.

approval by the House OF Delegates
OF an amendment to the Constitution
permitting the Leg stature to determine
the manner Of selection of division
school superintendent; provision by
The House for procuring solution OF
the Buchanan county land situation
and the rejection ~ the same body
OF the constitutional amendments
bringing about the principles Of the
initiative, the referendum ana the re-
call. were the legislative events OF
yesterday,
Debate on the rolling stock tax bill
was partially had in the senate, but not
concluded Senator Saxon W. Holt.
patron OF the original measure. at
tackled the committee amendments. de-
string that the entire income from
this source be divided OIL proper
tonat4 property valuation basis. lie
had an amendment giving % per cent
10 the home cities OF railroads and 10
per cent Ia the other localities, in
lieu OF the proposition OF 10 and so per
cent. as proposed by the committee.
Effect ON Countics.
In answer to the objection that the
proposed change would save the rail-
roads some money, since the county
tex rate is lower than that of the
cities. Senator Holt said he would pre-
V'rc IN Amendment TO cover the point
by the increase .. levy.
II Is the impression that discus sion
o. the rolling stock bill is now prac.
ticail concluded. although there is a
possibility that II Will be extended
through a large part OF to-day's SEES
sion. In the latter event, IL Is prob
bile that action ON the woman's coll
lege bill will go over until to-mor-
row. ON the other hand. should the
lffl k. lien sI .f nriz- "a
lnay b. reached on tho college propo-
Hit'on. The latter. on motion OF SEN
ator early yesterday, was made spe-
clal and continuing order for 1890 to-
day. the Holt hill having precedence.
Many women Interested In tho EARLY
Elson measure Will. IL Is expected. he
In the Senate chamber to witness the
struggle over its passage. The advo-
Gates feel that they have a fair chance
OF success.
Byrd for Amendment
Speaker Byrd led the hight for the
Joint resolution proposing al amend
me- Mt TO the Constitution regarding the
election OF division school supcrin-
tcndents He blamed the Consiitu-
tional Convention for the mistake OF
putting too much power in the hands
OF the state Board OF Education. and
In placing division superintendeuts in
the position OF being responsible only
10 board which meets only in Rich
mond. and that occasionally. and on
the other hand. 10 school trustees
whom the superintendonts themselves
sclect In large measure, and who fix
the salaries of the men who put them
In office.
The only voice raised in opposition
was that Of Robert Gillian, OF Peters
burg. who. thinking OF the Democrats
Of the Southwest. said the people
should not be permitted 10 elect their
supcrintendents. He further said that
expert men could sometimes be secured
from outside OF certain city or coun-
~. That his appeal was not without
effect was shown by the negative vote.
which. only fifteen In number. came in
the main from Southwest Democrats.
Many members spoke for the propo-
alton. telling OF the unrest among
the people, but they followed the lead
OF Speaker Byrd. who. in paying the
highest of tributes to Superintendent
Eggleston and his work, said criticism
should not be directed at that ofiiciul.
but at the system which has tied his
hands.
Help for Buchanan.
Judge Martin Williams. by piece OF
genera]ship, saved the Buchanan coun-
~ situation when all seemed lost The
article in The Times Dispatch OF yes
tcrday, IT was said. contributed to the
result The member from Giles Sc
cured the passage of a resolution APP
pointing Marshall Mccormick, A. $.
Higglnbotham and j. IL. Stuart, three
we'll known lawyers. to Investigate
the land title situation in Buchan,
and reposi remedy to the next Cen
eral Assembly. Fees and expenses are
to be paid By the people of the county,
who desire the matter settled, so that
their property may be settled and de-
veloped by capitalists, who are now
afraid to buy. and SO that the minds
Of property owners may be set at rest.
Members of the Committee for Courts
OF Justice opposed the Williams reso-
luton. the latter saying that the ex-
tensive and bewildering arguments
poured out upon the committee during
the past weeks has had a confusing
OBJECT upon all.
Meets First Dcfent.
o. r. Martin, patron of the amend
ments to the Constitution which would
bring about the application of the doc
trines of the initiative, the referendum
and tho recall, spoke in behalf of his
proposition. He was given the most
respectful and earnest attention, and
stated his case clearly and with
marked effect, although this was his
first appearance on the floor as a
speaker. He told how he believed these
principles to be the solution of gov
srnmental problems of the future, and
how he thought the people should be
more closely allied with tho weapons
which organized government places in
their hands.
tIe received only fifteen affirmative
votes. while ffty-seven were cast
Rgainst him. But he got all he ex-
pected, and probably more.
Enabling Act Unconstitutional.
Following the dismissal OF the
amendment. which disposes of the prop
(ContInued on seventh Dage0