The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-03-11
VESTS RESOLUTION
ASKS INFORMATION
FINALLY GETS MEASURE CALD-
ING FOR STATEMENT AS TO
~t
FEE OFFICES.

ms tlouort va. ~ 49,
from Suffolk, an hour before adjourn
nent Saturday shot through the SEN
ate a resolution TO have the senate
clerk ascertain the aggregate amount
received by each and report to tho
next General Assembly. Reports py
officers IL not made mandatory. out
the clerk Is ordered TO report II any
decline.
Commission officers were not in
cluded in the resolution. Colonel West
intends to learn what they receive
through tho ONCE OF tate auditor. He
will Introduce q resolution at the be-
ginning Of the 1914 session to have
clerks In the auditors office figurs
| from annual reports the omHissrsns
paid.
/ Colonel West admits that there IL
! no way through a resolution unless
passed BY both houses to require re-
| port OF fees. but he declares he Will
put those on record who refuse to
comply with the request. The resolu-
ton was written several days ago
when 1t was seen there was no hope
OF tho fee publicity bill passing. OPP
ponents Saturday tried to invoke SEN
ate rules to defeat 1t. However, only
three men voted in the negative when
the roll was called Every member
was present.
| The resolution reads:
Whereas, sections 3614 and 2499 Of
the Code Of Virginia Of 1873 REQUIRES
| clerks OF the courts. sherifs, ser
geants and certain other officers to
keep textbooks. wherein shall be en-
| tered the fees for every service per-
formed by them. and the fact of such
fees being paid, or bill being made
out therefor. whichever shall happen
first; now therefore,
BE resolved That the-eserr-
the Senate LIS hereby instructed TO
communicate a copy Of this resolution
to the clerks of the courts. sherifrs and
serEeants, and ascertain the aggre-
gate amount OF fees received by them
for the calendar years 1912 and 1918
respectively. and report such infor-
nation to the next session OF the Sen
ate in 1914, and II any of said Of
fcers decline to furnish said infor-
nation, the clerks OF the Senate shall
report said declinai in detail at the
time stated.
Point Of Order Raised.
Mr. Holt raised point of order
that legislation was proposed by reso-
luton. He moved that the resolution
be referred to a committee.
There is no legislation in this. 1t
simply" said Mr.. West. lets the Sem
ate know what officers are receiving.
II they refuse we can do nothing. but
we will know who they are"
II hope" said Mr.. Walker. this
| will not go to q committee. Every
body understands that means it's de-
feat. as the Senate adiourns presently
unNl 1914 A good marty people
believe officers should be paid sal
airy. II We pass legislation putting
| loe l. net
to learn what they receive in fees.
Such legislation cannot be based upon
population. II county officers assum-
ed the position of some members OF
the Legislature who are opposing this
1t would be insolence on their part.
Federal Officers Report Fees.
Federal court clerks are required
to keep fee books and are required
to report. In addition their books
are audited by an auditor. There is
no argument against this resolution
| Mr.. Featherston hoped the resolu-
ton would pass. He said the law
required the keeping of fee books and
that it would be little trouble to
let the Legislature know what was
on them.
Mr.. Hart wanted to know II the
resolution didn't go over until the
next day under the rules. Mr.. Ellyson
said il did not. but could be voted
upon at once as it was a joint reso-
luton.
Mr. Holt objected to consideration
OF the resolution.
The motion to refer the resolution
to a. committee was voted down by
a large majority. Many voted for the
motion and did not vote against the
resolution.
How They Voted.
For the resolution:
Messrs Blanks, Bowers, Brock,
Drewry, Early. Edmondson. Feather
stou, Fletcher. Folkes, Gravatt, Har-
man. Hobbs. Mapp. Massie. Paul,
Rinehart Rison, Royal. Smith. Sow
der. Tavenner, Thornton. Tucker.
Walker. Watkins, West.
Against the resolution:
Messrs. Catron. Crockett, Cum
mings.
In the chamber but not voting:
+ Messrs. Eehe}s. Garrett, Gayle. Fart,
i Holt, Lesner. Moncure, Montague,
Parr, Saunders.
Redistricting Not Mentioned.
/ There was some surprise that adj
! voeatfs, of the redistrictin9 bill made
no effort to bring 1t up. One reason
given was that many who voted Fri
day to dispense with the constitutional
reading OF the bill were only hall
hearted in their support and asked
that it be dropped so local bills could
be passed. Had the measure been
brought up 1t would have overshad-
owed everything else and many local
bills that slipped through in the last
moments would have died on the
i calendar.
@ No Railroad Bilis PASSED.
Declaring that no bills affecting rail-
roads have passed this session, Mr.
4 Wendenburg made an attempt to call
! up an employers liability bill. He was
unsuccessful. Demanding that mem
bers of the Senate put themselves on
record by vote. Mr.. Wendenburg
said: Let us vote upon one railroad
i measure and show that the Senate OF
Virginia Is not dominated by the rail-
road interests as has been charged.
There must be some truth In this
j charge as all railroad measures have
been killed III committees.
i MIR. Hart asserted that small rail-
I roads would be put out of business by
/ the bill.
I A bill to prevent the selling Of cider
other than that made from apples and
pure fruits WAS passed. It met with
little opposition. Mr., Montague said
1t would put certain dealers out OF
business In Portsmouth.
i The Senate passed the bill to au-
thorixe the State to purchase half Of
the Ford hotel block This measure
went through the House several days