Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-01-18
CONVICT LABOR FIGHT.
Defeat of Total Abolition Measure
Predicted. Work of Senate and
House Yesterday.

State penitentiary - certain. lbsteau,
it is believed that 4 compromise reso-
j luton will be passed by the upper body
which will provide for division IN
the employment OF conVicts, part to be
used in road building and the rest TO
be hired 10 some manufacturing con-
Germ. as at present.
The death knell OF the total abolition
measure came at today's session when
Senator Holt, author oil the origina
abolition resolution, gave up his fight
for its passage and moved that the
slashed and battered resolution sent
back by the committee on pnblic ia.
situations be adopted. This was
promptly done and the matter was
sent 10 Joint committee on roads for
consideration.
1t is tacitly admitted fact that the
committee will recommend that GER
tain number OF convicts be employed
on the road, that another number be
put to work grinding lime for the state
and that the remainder be laased ont
to the firm making the highest bid for
their services.
Ratification OF the gnbernatoliaI ap.
pointment 81 the members If the
state penitentiary board and OF Com
missioner Of labor James B. Doherty,
and the passage Of a number OF "rmer-
gency" hills constructed the major p"r-
ton Of the work done by the state sem
ate at today's session.
The House OF delegates INDUCED in
the longest session Of its present term
today and members entered into more
earnest and prolonged debate, The
lower branch concurred will, the Senate
in setting Jan. - and "A for the cleo
ton OF United States Senators, separate
elections to be held by the two bodies
on the twenty-third and a Joint ballot
cast by the whole legislature the fol-
lowing dav.
Important hearings were carried on
before various house committees this
morning. the most important Of which
was consideration OF the bill intro
iuced by Speaker Byrd creating state
tax commission by the committee on
finance. No one appeared against the
bill and the hearing vas looked upon
as very favorable.
At the suggestion OF Mr.. Byrd it was
determined to cut from the proposed
commission the names OF the president
OF the Senate and the speaker Of the
houses
1t was also decided that appeal from
the discussions OF the commission
should not lie directly to the circuit
court OF Richmond city, bnt to the
circuit court OF all counties and to the
corporation courts OF all cities and
towns. The committee reported fay-
orably on the bill.
The finance committee OF the House
also considered the bill providing for .
state organizer OF libraries, which pill
carries 40 annual appropriation Of
$500.
The rolling stock bill, Judge Martin
Williams, patron, received considera-
ton this morning at the hands OF the
House committee on roads and inland
navigation.
The passage OF this bill was opposed
by delegations representing nearly
every city in Virginia owning railroad
headquarters, Richmond, Lynchburg
and Roanoke. The bill was set for q
further hearing before the committee
next Wednesday at 10 o'clock.
Two bills we're presented in the House
today by Speaker Byrd, the one pro.
viding that the registration books OF
the state be purged OF all names inn
properly thereon, the other providing
the rights OF appeal for any one i'm
properly stricken from tho registration
books.
A resolution from the Senate asking
for concurrence by the House that the
general assembly decline to allow a re-
newal OF the prison contract at tbs pen.
itentiary, was killed IN the lower
branch by Judge Martin Williams,
who had the resolution referred 10 the
committee on asylums and prisons.
A bill providing that The boards OF
supervisors OF all such counties rs pos
sess a population OF more than 300 to
each square mile be vested with the
same powers now conferred upon city
councils was today presented by Robin
son Moncure, OF Alexandria.
c, R. Coleman, Of Spotssylyania. in
troduced bill to empower the boards
OF supervisors OF the counties 10 the
state to levy tax upon the owners OF
all automobiles or other avehicless the
motive power Of which is other than
animal power, operating in their TT
spectiEe communities.
With the purpose in view Of reappor-
tloning the state rs to its representation
in the general assembly, bill was TO-
day offered in the house OF delegates
by John W. Cialklry. Of Wise county.
The bill would revise the code of Eir-
ginia and would provide for 4 total OF
100 members OF the lower branch OF
the legislature, as at present. The num-
Der OF senators is also TO be the same
forty.