The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-01-18
House Committee IMAM
lmously Favors Byrd
Bill.
NEW AMENDMENT
TO CONSTITUTION
Change Allowing City Treasures
to Succeed Themselves to Be
Submitted This Year-Tax
Commission Bill Reported
by Committce-Care for
Feeble Minded.

without dissenting vote the House
Committee on Privileges and E,ec-
'ohs last night decided TO repor, tho
nEro'feathcrston bill. lcguiizing all
urinary elections. with IA recommen-
oat"n that Il become u lu,Y. obiec.
t'oi;s were made TO some OF the iea-
lures and several minor amcnunents
we're offered and accepted by Mr.
DJTa' but the sentiment was Unanimous
Nhat primary bin should be enacted
te Is believed 10 lie no DOUBT that
'nc Heasure Will pass the House on
whose calendar 1t will go this morning
i"t action within few days. 1t may
NC amended I'm the Senate, but th.
.eherai conviction IL that the SESSION
Oh isi: VIII witness the enactment OF
stringent primary law
Inc provisions OF the measuro an,
generally known 10 the p,,tlIc s,,co
~ ~ practically the same as the Bvrd
pi!i OF Two years ago. The time for
hoidinS primaries In advance of aut-
uHht elections was fixed for the four,h
lucsoay In July. and for spring cleo
lions Tor the first Tuesday In April.
lheFc WAS some discussion over tho
iuaI'lcatlons OF votcrs In prln,nrieE
the fear being expressed that sons.
hehubilcaiE would slip in In spite or
INC bars erected. but the Sneaker said
ti!at some general rule must be adopt
ca and he believed his TO he the ocat.
EHpcnrcn of Candidates..
lac expenses of candidates were
limited TO 10 cents for each voter. on
the objection Of Air. Cox thai in Rich
inond this would leave too high n
maximum. change was made cover
ing this city only. where no candidate
Tor thr General Assembly may spend
more than siO0.
n a.,
vision for permanent rancillsement
OF II candidate who spends more than
the allowance. or who falls to reElster
his account, was changed 10 dlsfran-
chlseHlent and disdua l!hca ton for Office
for five years. Mr.. Byrd accepted this,
rs he did provision suggested by Mr..
Moncurc. which will release fricnds OF
candidates who spend less than 81 for
their favor!te. from rendering tho
sworn statement.
The Speaker feels that the end OF
his long fight for primary legislation
is in sight.
Trcnsurcrs Arc Saved.
After listening for more than three
hours 10 profound constitutional nrgu-
ments, the same committee late in tho
afternoon voted to report favorably 10
the House the resolution for an
amendment 10 the Constitution per-
uniting trcasurers of cities TO succeed
Exceedingly interesting points were
raised during this debate. II will be
recalled that the Legislatures of 1908
and 1910 submitted to the voters
amendments permitting treasurers and
commissioners OF the revenue In coun-
ties. and the same officers In cities.
To- succeed themselves. The one in
relation TO counties was carried by a
small majority, while the other was
defeated Tho point is now raised
that the submission OF 1910 was IL
legal. inasmuch as II did not separate
the two Offices OF treasurer and COM
missioner, and the people were Obliged
to vote for both or none. while voting
separately as 10 city or county Offices.
II this contention be correct. II might
affect the validity of the vote allowing
county officers to succeed themselves.
validity of Election.
This naturally raised a contention
between these classes OF officers. Fred
w. Harper. OF Lynchburg, In an OK
haustivs argument, contended that the
Legislature had right to tic tho
amendments together, and quoted
many presidents He argued that had
the Assembly of 1910 not submitted.
the favorable action of that of 1908
Void have been void. The effect o2
his argument was TO uphold the cleo
ton as 10 county officers. and to require
that an amendment as to city officers
would have 10 be started over again,
to go through two Legislatures. Then
the present city treasurers would go
out OF office before the people get
another chance.
o. II. Leuke took the opposite view
that tho people did not get full
chance TO vote As between the officers
and that therefore the amendment had
been improperly submitted in 1910. He
said this Legislature could resubmit
at once, on the basis of the original
action in 1908.
Randolph Harrison, OF Lynchburg,
CLOSED the argument. He said that the
people had never really voted on the
proposition. and 1t Is as IL the cleo
ton on the subject had never been
held. His point was that trcasurers
and commissioners in cltias are treated
In separate articles, which should have
been submitted separately. AS TO the.
election on county officers, the Consti-
tItion has placed them In the same
article. and, whila he considered the
principle of loading one amendment
with another as bad, he thought that
election probably legal
This. as will be seen. save all the
treasurers at one swoop. and will. 1t
Is expected, bind them together again.
If the Legislature approves the amend-
ment. 1t will be submitted to the peo-
pie next November.
Tax Dill Reported.
The House Committee on Finance
acted favorably on the bill for the
establishment of permanent State
Tax Commission. and IT is on the House
calendar
1t was amended by allowing appeals
from equalization decisions In local
courts. instead OF requiring those ags
Fricved to come to Richmond. On mo-
ton Of Mr. Byrd himself the Speaker
of the House and the President OF tho
CONTINUED on Sixth Page0