The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-02-26
GAME BILL PASSED
BY UPPER BRANCH
SENATE AGREES TO PLACING ROL.
LING STOCK BILL on
CALENDAR.

! CALENDAR.
| Should sharp-shin hawks be given
| the protection of the laws OF the
4 State of Virginia or not? That sub
| ject was interestingly discussed for
some time in the Virginia senate yes
| terday.
| The game bill was being considered
and the mention of the sharp shin
/ predatory bird was mentioned. SEN
! ators began to sit up and take notice.
Many OF them had never before heard
Of the varInint. What was it like? on
what did it prey? Why should that
hawk, or any member of the hawk
I tAniily, be protected. Several of the
senators declared that If a hawk cam q,
to their places they would shoot IT,
! and then discover whether IL was
sharp Skinned or Just a common hawk.
! They would take no chances. They
wanted TO know If they were - De
! arrested II. after winging a sharp
shin bird, the discovery was made that
/ it was one of the protected variety.
The upshot of the matter was that
( tae members of the hawk family are
1 W against II good and hard. Tncf
can be shot, trapped. or in any
manner put to death by any person
at any time.
| That much was accomplished yeater-
! dag wh4n the bin was considered
! And there were many amendments Of
an uninporrant nature that were de-
/ feated after hearink the arguments
! for and against.
| The bill was still under consideration
| ssnen the senate adjourned for the
! DAY after there had been an adoption
7 of q resolution offered by senator Wal
| ker. directing that the sessions sha !
begin each morning at II o'eiocl, TN
further notice.
Rolling stock Bill.
Mr. Holt yesterday moved that tine
/ committee on roads and internal iiGvi-
| sa ron pc discharged from further c7r-
sidefation of the rolling stock bill fhat
| had come from the house some time
i ago. and which had been up for sew
| eral hearings. The committee. he eN-
planned. had several times tried to re-
| port the bil but each time the vote
had been tia. He wanted to have
! TIE measure SO placed that 1t would
! be taken up for consideration.
The senate agreed to this motion
without a dissenting vote, and then
Mr. Holt moved that the bill be placed
on the calendar. He did not press for
a hearing at that time, but the chances
are that he will, in a day or two.
move to have the bill made a special
/ order.
| This Is the bill which takes many
/ thousands of dollars from the cities or
/ the State gives about two-thirds to
! the counties and allows the railroads
! to pocket the difference between the
tax rates of the cities and those of
the counties Very many Of the coun-
( ties have for years been leeching the
State treasury will get some of the
! money, and will be Afforded chance
to reduce their local tax rates just
that much. while the State Will be
called on to continue the annual sup
port for their schools and other costs.
| Richmond at this time pays little
less than one-seyenth OF the total
taxes of the State.
That Tax Communication.
Mr.. Fletcher called attention to the
/ fact that some question exists as 10
the legality Of the proposed joint reso-
luton of the senate finance committee
looking to the naming Of commits
| sion Of seven to revise the tax laws.
as it created a charge on the treasury
! and was possibly necessary 10 be
! framed into a law instead of reso-
| luton, and he, therefore, moved that
4 the resolution, which was reported
Yesterday, be recommitted to the
finance committee In order that the
| provisions OF the resolution might be
| framed into a bill and presented to the
| senate for consideration. This was
| agreed. to- The committee Is expected
to meet this evening to take up the
matter.
Sentiment Is said to be growing
/ RAPIDLY for a commission or small pro-
portion to consider the tax revision
matter. The members OF the house hrst
thought that a large commission would
be best. but they are beginning to take
the view that the costs would pc enor-
nous and that their constituents would
| regard such a large aind unwieldiy
body as useless, when small commits
/ sion could do better work and at one
third OF the expense. Then there Ii
the advantage Of having the governor
name not less than two members. SO
| that the benefit of expert evidence
could be had at a minimum cost
4 Danville'n Charter Bill.
Former Senator Eugene Wfthers and
| others, OF Danvilie. yesterday appeared
| before the senate committee for coun-
i ties cities and towns in opposition to
4 the Greene bill, which seeks to amend
i the charter Of the city of Danviile
4 There was much speechmaklng by
those who opposed the bill. the con-
tention being that there was no de-
mand for such measure ana tna'
there had been no agitation OF ths
4 question before the people. The point
a At issue il to provide for the election
Of the city's business manager. who
has heretofore bean chosen by TINS
/ council. The amendment provides fo'
the election OF such man by the
voters of the city.
I Mr.. Greene, replying TO the opponents
Of the bill, declared that he had dis
4 cusseti the subject during his campaign
i that he had promised the people te
introduce such a resolution or Dill
j and that he had kept his word ne
also said that he had In his possession
many af1idavits from voters OF ths
town saying that he had discussed ms
rnatter and that IL was one of the
most important subjects discussed by
/. him when he was candidate.
/ The committee took no action, ou'
, Meesrs Rison and Garrett were or
hand and supported the proposition ad
yanced by Mr.. Greene, with considera.
HE force. The committee will mee'
arain tomorrow. and the bill will b
fayorably reported by the COMMITTEES
a. hen the senate convenes tomorrow