The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-02-07
Five Hundred More on
Highways; Remain
der on Contracts.
PEOPLE MAY ELECT
SCHOOL TRUSTEES
committee Reports Bill to This
EHect-Fight by Minority in
House Against Inviting Har-
mon-Many Uncontested
Measures Arc Dis
posed Of.

Convict road forces In Virginia will
be augmented by about $50 men. II tae
recommendation Of the subcommittee
on convict labor and road Improve
ment. adopted last night Is approved
by the Legislature This report Will
be submitted tonight to Joint meet
Ing OF the Senate and House Com
mittees on Roads and Internal Nuvi-
cation This Will make total OF
about 1880 men in stripes working on
the public highways Of the State. 1t
Is realized also that state money aid
must be continued to those counties
which are unable TO secure convict
labor
IIodIncd Contract.
Details OF the subcommittee decision
arc unknown. IL was decided TO give
out no information until the report is
presented to the committees tonight.
II may be that a few men VIII be used
in lime grinding plants should (, be
decided TO have the State en-
bark In this enterprise. Per-
haps some may work in quarrics. But
II is expected that about 900 men. de-
scribcd by Superintendent James b.
Wood as TOO dangerous or unit for
road work, will be retained IN the
Pcn!tcntiary under some modified form
of contract This vii. include a
lnrser price and probably better con-
di,ions than now prevail under the
contract with tne Tnacner Company
While at the bcginn ng of the ses
s!on there WAS much sentiment to
abandon the contrac. system. the feel
ing has grown that new contract
viii be necessary. at least Tor Il time.
Employment OF men making clothes
Tor the prisoners and Tor inmates OF
other state institutions Is regarded as
.. ~
used at this sort Of labor. Then, the
Finance Committees say the state can
not undertake suca buruen In no
form OF employment, say committee
men. Will there be prevented compeu-
ton with free labor. The aim has
been to reduce this competition TO the
smallest limit
Elect school Trustees by People.
The most important action of yes
,erdays meeting was the approval
given By the House Committee on
Schools and Colleges OF the bill pro-
viding for the election OF school trus-
ices by a vote OF the people The
prosrc:s of this bill was remarkable
II was introduced in the House yes
ana w. %. Walton. OF Hanover. was
taken UP hy the committee in the
afternoon and reported tavorably.
In the Committee OH the Chesapeake
and Its Tributaries. the TWO Curtis bills
relating to nsh and oysters were de-
fcated. receiving the vote only OF Cap
tain John \. Curtis, the patron. One
Of these sought TO forbid the taking
Of menhadcn hsh In Chesapeake Bay
On the ground that the Industry de-
stroys food hsh and increases their
cost to the producer Captain Curtis
had Il similar bill AT the last session.
and II WAS made the topic OF debate
L.. IL tn .sr.,,
good deal of money is invested in the
menhaden industry. which uses non
edible fish to make oils and fertilizer,
and il is highly lucrative.
The other Curtis bill would allow
capital from outside the State to be
invested in the Virginia fish and
oyster business. This was pposed by
and others on the ground that the
concentration of large sums of money
would result In sitting individual cf-
fort OF small producers In the bust
ness.
Many Bills DIsposed OF.
Routine business occupied the at
tention of both Senate and House yes
terday. In both uncontested bills were
handled, the House passing twenty
four such measures. They were reach
cd without a fight under rules previ-
ously adopted to advance local bills
and those to which there was no OBJ
lection.
The only one of general significance
was that of George L. Richardson. OF
Henry, providing for local boards TO
revise the pension rolls. They are to
be appointed by the circuit courts.
three to 4 county, two of whom shnn
be Confederate veterans.
Teachers won in the House Commit.
tee on Schools and Colleges yesterday
hnt 6oh
designed to abolish the retired teach
ers' pension fund. The COMMITTEES was
evidently unfavorable.
rather unexpected fight arose over
tho proposition to invite Governor
Judson Harmon. of Ohio. to address the
General Assembly. 1t was cont ended
In the House that neither the time nor
the money should be expended. How
ever the invitation went through by
vote Of 42 to -.
Bcfor. the House Committee for
Courts Of Justice there was an intense
fight against four bills Designed. SO
their opponents said, to abolish Inc doc
trine of contributory negligence. The
purpose of this proposed legislation
is 10 prevent the use Of the plea OF
negligence on the part Of the plaintiff
in cases where negligence of the de-
PENDANT Is shown, except In mitigation
of dGrGagcs. Lawyers said such action
was Revolutionary. The committee did
not decide.
Railroads fought the West bill before
the Senate Committee on Roads and
Internal Navigation, requiring the ac-
ccptance by conductors OF mileage
from interchangeable books. No de-
cislon was reached.
Exemption Dill Killed.
1t seems that Senators Folkes and
Wendenburg have succeeded In killing
the bill reducing the wage exemption