The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-02-03
Committee Gives Cities
40 and Counties 60
Per Cent.
THREE COUNTIES
TO LEAVE NINTH
Giles, Bland and Tazewell Go to
Sixth and Halifax to Fifth.
Thomas Speaks for Initiative,
Referendum and Recall.
Agree on Milk
Bill.

TO yesterday afternoon by the Senate
Committee on Roads and Internal Nav
.gation. the rolling stock taxes on Vir-
Einia railroads. which now go entire
TO tho cities where are the home
Offices. will be divided-40 per cent
to DO retained by the cities and 60 per
cent. to be divided among the other
cities and the counties through which
tho roads run. 1t Is understood :h1t
this agreement will be acceptable.
While Senator Saxon w. Holt and
Delegate Martin Williams. the patrons
OF the bills, provided for division
according to proportionate value of
al. railway property. 1t was fult that
this would be unfair to cities. which
perforcc have little mileage within
their borders when compared with
counties. BY the compromise, neither
side gets all 1t wants. but IL was I.lt
last night that the proposition will
go through
Ninth Dintrict Reduced.
Coming officially from the .S.nth
District Democratic Committee. a re-
quest was made yesterday afternoon
of the House Committee on Privileges
and Elections that the counties Of
Giles, Bland and Tazeweli be taken
from the Ninth and put in the Sixth
District. Although this was opposed
by some Of the representatives from
the Sixth. IT seems morally certain
that II will be done. Halifax is appa-
rently as sure 10 be taken from the
Sixth and put in the Fifth.
II was limited that the changes in
volvo a good deal OF politics. The
Lynchburgers present wanted the
sixth left alone. but the delegate from
Roanoke. Mr.. Watts, suggested that
LyncnburS should be taught that 1t
is not the only place of Importance IN
that section. Possibly the roiistrtcr-
ing will! give Roanoke the supremacy
In the affairs OF the Sixth.
The hearing was held for the -pu..
pose OF reopcning the case as II the
Fifth. Sixth and Ninth Districts. It
Is now closed deGnitely, and the ,oin-
mittee Will prepare a bill and report
81 as committee substitute for the
Bowman bill
Halifax docs not want to go into
the Fifth. but it will probably be re-
Earded as best FOR the party that this
change be made.
For Modern Doctrines.
1t is interesting to note that twice
within tho short space OF the pres .nt
session has new demand and i vita.
change in political polity been heard
in the Capitol of Virginia, with her
traditions OF conservatism. Before
t!iS t1ouSc on PRIVILEGES
and Elections yesterday afternoon for
mcr Senator a. F. Thomas. OF Lynch
burg. made for the first time in this
state an official plea for the tntro luz
lion of the doctrines OF the initiative
the referendum and the recall.
Taking somewhat the line of arsu-
ment pursued by Governor Woodrow
Wilson on the preceding night, Mr..
Thomas said that Virginia Is not i'm
N hn lnr No.,
10 other States. and may not always
continue TO have satisfactory form
OF representative government His
generally admitted forcefuiness and
ability as speaker secured for his
argument the closest attention. He
did not, he said, expect that this Leg
islature would approve The amend
ments to tho Constitution which he
advocated. nor possibly would the
next, hut that the time would come
His appearance at this time. he frank
ly admitted. was entirely missionary
in Its nature.
Judges Arc Elected.
Important committee hearings made
the features of yesterdays session,
and but little business OF real mpor-
lance was transacted in the actual SEES
sioHs OF the Senate and House. The
bodies cleared away necessary piece
OF work by electing ths judge OF the
Supreme Court for the term beginning
February /, 1913. and the judges of
-FOUR corpora ton courts for the same
terms. 1t would have been illegal to
elect these prior to February l.
The votes were unanimous. the nom
;nations having been previously made
In caucus. Judge Stafford G. Whittle
was named TO succeed himself as a
member OF the Supreme Court of Ap-
pcals; Judge Samuel Is. Witt to the
Hastings Court of the city OF Rich
mond; Judge L. c. Barley to the Cor
poration Court OF Alexandria,; Judge
II. w. Pcatross to the Corporation
Court OF Danvllle. and Judge 4. D.
Dabney to the Corporation Cour. OF
Charlottesville.
In the House. most of the time was
consumed in debate over bill to re-
uuirc the Commissioner Of Insurance
TO have charge of the placing OF fire
insurance on state property. This was
objected to on the ground OF cen.
tralization of power in n bureau. Tho
matter was not disposed Of.
Woman Suffrage Next Thursday.
Tho House agreed to make woman
suffrage Il special and continuing
order for next Thursday at 1890,
when it will be disposed of after a
hearing which Mr. Montague, the pa
iron of the proposed amendment TO
tho Constitution, promised to make
short.
Argument over the Jordan bill en-
Aiding the people by petition TO call
an election on the subject of State
vide prohibition. was concluded last
night before the committee. Two hours
were given to the opponents and one
hour to the advocates of he bill. As
previously announced. tho committee
Will consider the matter III executive
session on Monday morGing. 1t is