The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-28
SENDS
PRINTED WARNING
Note at Bottom of House Bill
Comes to Assembly and
Causes Fluttcr.
AFFECTS THE FEE SYSTEM
Many Copies Printed for Private
Distribution Find Their Way
to Official Files.

According to the printed statement
of their lobbyists before the General
Assembly 1t would disturb" certain
county and city treasurers to have the
power lodged In Circuit Courts to have
their books examined. Something OF
a hubbub was created during the re-
cess of tho House OF Delegates yester-
day when many members found In their
files of pending bills, House bill No.
+lS. with this note printed at the end
in brackets:
""irc or write nj once your member
Of House and senator to defeat nbove
bhi' which liz, in my opinion. nm en-
tcrinr wedge tn disturb uIl trensurcrs.o
The OIL was offered by Messrs. Duke
and Ferebec, Of Norfolk County, and,
while general in Its terms. is local in its
appiication. affecting only that county.
1t Is entitled "a bill to provide for
an audit or examination OF financial
transactions OF county or district Of
ncers. boards or commissions, in coun-
ties containing a population Of not
less than 10000"
Mr.. Duke, OF Norfolk County called
the matter to the attention of sneaker
| Con at tho close of the morning sos
immaculate
was ordered
WINS Ordered Privately.
1t developed that the bill was ro
ported by the Committee on Counties.
cities and Towns several DAYS ago.
and was printed properly, copies with
out the added note being found in In,
file OF many members
lobbyist for the trcasurers OF tho
state. who has been here Watching all
COL ,1.,to
disturb such officers. had the bill re-
printed with his own natation: "Wirs
or write at once your member OF House
ana Senator to defeat above bin, which
is, in my opinion, an entering wedge
TO disturb all trcasurers."
Through some accident of the printer,
the copies of Houss bill AIS ordered
privately were delivered with other
state printing. and found their way
Into the files Of many OF the members
and were inadvertently issued Nv thu
PUBIC printer to = number OF Deople
who subscribe for copies OF ali bills
printed by the General Assembly.
IL was stated tina, from all the in
formation gained that there was MOTH
ing criminal in the matter. AS IL re-
suit OF the error of the printer. how
ever. the members have gained some
insight into the methods of the lobby
which is working against any lcgisla-
tion OF this sort. The bill was amended
- q
Duke. to make 1T apply only to such
counties as alone compose a judicial
circuit This makes 1t apply only to
s she rc COUNT ~ IT,. OF Norfolk, and in that
Ing and engroSsment. II will prob
ably come up on It's passage totday
Want Audit In Norfoiis County.
IT VIII be recalled that after n biz
won In Norfolk County last fall,
both OF the present members of the
House from that county being entirely
opposed to the old Fusion regime,
which has been accused OF unholy al
lianccs with Alvah II. Martin, the Re
publican clerk of the county.
The bill provides that whenever n
petition Is filed in the Circuit Court
by at least nifty freeholders, and 1t
is believed by tho judges that the pub
lie interests will be promoted by an
audit or examination OF the whole or
any part of the financial transactions
of any county or district officer, boarS
or commission. the Judge shall hr>s.sau-
thority to appoint one or ,norc certi-
tied public accountar 80 make and
report to the court he result OF such
audit or examination.
III was stated Dy u member of the
House that since the BEGINNING, of this
session n definite lobby had been main
tanned by tho fec officers OF the State
In Richmond. that all bills have been
carefully scrutinized. and that as soon
as one seeming In any way to affect
the local oticehoiders was introduced,
copies were mt once dispatched over
the State. with such notes as that
found on No. 4lS. putting the officials
on notice to stir up an apparent senti-
ment against the bill In their own
localities. and 80 impress the member
from that county that the passage OF
tho bill was not desired This mem
Der said that. as far az he knew, this
work was being conducted In a per-
fectiy open and above board way, and
that no methods were being used be-
yond putting The fee officers on notice
OF anything that might be TO their
detriment.