The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1912-03-07
APPROPRIATE MORE
MONEY FOR SCHOOLS
Spessard, of Craig, and White, Of
kockbridge, Lead Warm Battle
in the House This Morning.
Chairman Bowman
Stoutly Opposes.
MON ID. VA.-special.-

~ - II VI " N ~, NA--Specld.-
Attacks from a score OF sources
were made upon the appropriation
bill when ii was called from tho
House calendar at IL o'clock this
morning as a special order OF bust
ness.
House Finance Committee. first sug-
gested that the constitutional reading
be dispensed with. as every member
had copy of the bill on his desk. In
explanation OF the total appropri8-
ton, Colonel Bowman said his COM
mlttee had striven TO keep the ex-
penditure in the neighborhood OF S.
100000 year, that being the limit
fixed by figures of tho Auditor. He
did think, therefore, that the total OF
appropriation should not be added to-
Instead OF considering the bill Item
by item, as they appear in the biH.
Delegate n. +. Spessard. of Craig.
moved that the House skip to page
21 of the bill (the bill is sixty-four
pages long), and consider first OF ala
the school appropriation. so that
when changes are subsequently made
in the bill the schools will not suffer.
Mr.. Spcssard's motion was car
ried by a vote OF 46 to 81.
He then offered an amendment In
creasing the school fund $4,000. He
was unable to tell. however. where
the $4,000 would come from, and
Colonel Bowman emphatically do
clared that II the amendment pre-
vailed the bill would have to be re-
committed, for he. as chairman OF
the House Finance COMMITTEES would
not stand sponsor for IL
Mr.. Spessard replied by making q
patriotic appeal to the House.
Delegate Cox, OF Richmond de-
clared that the appeal TO patriotism
was well made.
He said that a number OF delc-
Nxfa
their districts, had voted To con
slider the school appropriation be-
fore all others.
He, therefore, thought these mem
oers should be willing to relinQutsh,
~ per cent OF their respective ap-
600 might be made up. -
storm or protest greeted Mr.. Cox'R
suggestion and IL was apparent that Ia
Hugh White. OF Rockbridge then.
took the hoor and in an earnest argu-
ment declared that the amendment Of
fered by the delegate from Craig was
nothing more than just. as Il WAS only
designed TO return TO the public schools
what they were by law entitled 20.
frd aubrey Weaver. the young delegate
cudgels @Ftb Mr. Wits S to take up
able to face the battery OF law which
the Rockbridge delegate unloosened
rum STOCK OF car covered rotuE42
Defended Committee Report.
Judge Martin Williams, OF Giles, fol-
Finance Committee. which ne said haS
labored long and faithfully IN It's prepa-
ration OF the bill.
in his tilt with Mr.. Weaver prevailed,
however, and by a majority vote.
The amendment was Ia reality a
compromise, for Mr.. Spessard had to.
IN h4
mary school fund from $3.50 to
s $4,000
In the end. however. the schools
will largely benefit, recefving more
from the capitation tax fund. The bisf
fixed the amount thus 20 be received
stricken out.
Then Back to the BegfnaiIs.
The clerk was then directed to turn
back to the beginning Of the bin aad
read the items in their regular order.
He worked down through the sad
airy list, the House agreeing as the
items were read until the emolunene
Of the Secretary OF the Comm onweasfa1
was reached. There another saey WAS
struck. y
The bill provides for a salary Of 81
500 year, and allows ten per cent. Of
the amount derived from the aaRe cC
publications by his office.
Mr.. Spessard objected to this tan
per cent commission He declared
Il was improperly allowed in 1908. It
was voted out by vote OF 20 to -.
Mr.. Cox then wanted the salary OF
me Auditors tanitor Increased from
$3.50 to $S4O. The House refused It
also refused, on motion or DeIegata
Francis Smith, OF King and Queen. to
reduce the amount to be paid to the
clerks in the Auditors Office from
S17,750 to $15,250.
Several more items were next read
and the hour OF 1 o'clock then having
arrived, the House went into further
of the Byrd tax bill. IL
had completed five and q half paQ,es
Of the appropriation bill.