The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-03-01
HOUSE REJECTED
G0RDON'S MOTION
Little Hope Now of Fee Reform
| legislation at Hands of
Present Session.
LONG DEBATE AND WRANGLE
Louisa Member Fails to Discharge
Finance Committee From
Further Consideration.

Tho prospect for foo reform legisla
ton In the remaining twelve days or
this session is becoming exceedingly
remote. Notwithstanding campaign
pledges. and the protestations OF many
members on the floor Mr. Gordon. Of
Louisa, yesterday moved again 10 dis
charge the House Finance Committee
from further consideration of his fee
till In order that IL nigh; bs placed
On the House calendar, and after nn
hours debate tho motion was rejected.
81 to 81. MIR. Gordon explained that
his bill. when frs; Introduced, had been
referred 10 tho Committee for Courts
of Justice, since IL referred to the
lees of court CLERKS. sherifs and other
court onicors. IT was reported fav-
orabjy. and TOOK its place on tho House
calendar az Iouse bill No, 1911
Ncportcd m Amended nm.
Later Il motion was made TO refer 81
10 the Finance Co,nmittee. and IL was
80 referred. Meanwhile, the Finance
Committee has reported ia amended
form what has been deecribed as n
'deneturcd" and entirely harmless bin.
introduced by COLONEL Browcr. of Suf-
folk, but modified by committee
amendments
me Brewer bin. rs amended. is on
the House calendar as House bill No.
III. and II IL regarded as improbable
that IL VIII be reached H. Time for
final action during tho remaining
twelve days. Mr.. Gordon said that all
DC wanted WAS q fair ncid and no
tavorr. lie would 40, object TO tho
committee reporting his bill adverse
IL. but he did obJcc. TO having ii
smothercd IN committee In such n way
50 to give tho House an opportunity TO
dodge voting on IL.
Tho Brewer bill, no wont on. al
lowed $1,000 year IN fees with an
unlimited allowance for deputies and
expenses a fee officer under 4, could
have nil Of mis- work done for him by
paid deputies. ana draw his $4,000 for
doing nothing. II would enable him
to employ deputies for electiouecriug
purposes. and would give to men who
dd nothing to cnrn 1t higher salaries
thnn the state paid TO tie Governor
or Judges Of tho Court OF Appeals.
Weaver Defends Measure.
Chairman Weaver launched into mn
extended defense or tho Finance Com.
mittec, and was getting on we'll with
II. when Mr.. Myers asked: Is i; tho
duty OF the Finance Committee 10 pro-
tect tho oaiccholdera or the tA1pay-
ers7'' Mr., Weaver said that WAS n
'claptrap" argument tina, he would
not attempt 10 answer. Mr.. Woodward
OF NOTiGlk, wanted To- Know why the
chairman Of the Finance Committee. 30
strenuously objected to the House vot-
ttsg on one III It's own bills Mr.
Weaver answered that no was fgntiug
TO protect tho calendar from a glut
OF bills
MIR. Chalkley asked rs point Of
parliamentary inquiry whether II the
committee were discharged. the bill
would take its numerical place on the
calendar as No lgl, given II when iirst
reported. or whether II would go NJ the
bottom OF tho calendar. Tho chat,
ruled that II would take its numcr-
cal place. md 80 would BE reached
nearly 100 bills ahead OF tho Brewer
bill Mr Oliver spoke vchcmently
sgains; the discharge OF tho commit
tee. ana after m hour OF debate when
there was pending q storm Of motions
! and protests. Mr.. Baker moved the
previous question. IIa withdrew II TO
allow the chair TO recognize Colonel
Brewer. patron Of the only fec bin on
the calendar-No. I'll.
Colonel Brewer said that that bill
as amended was not what he wanted.
but that under present conditions IL
was tho only bin that could become
law before this LeGislaturc. lie called
tho attention Of the House To tho fact
that In former sessions iin was the
nrst member 10 Introduce a bin re-
forming the fee system. and while the
Dill WIS not altogether satisfactory, Ee
WAS anxious 10 make start toward
acme legislation 1t this session
wouldn't Dismiss Committee.
The motion TO dismiss the commit
tee was rejected ~ 10 81. as follows.
Ayes-Messrs Branscomb. Brown.
Browning. cawthorn. Chall.ley. Com
nina. Dalton, t.arman. Ferebee. Frank
lin. Gordon. Harrison. Harver. former.
Massie. Mcetzc. Miller. Myers holland,
Norris. Philpott, Pitts. Powell. Price.
Rev, Robertson. Rolston, Francis W.
Smith. Stcck. Stephenson Stubbs, Tny-
to-, Tiffany. Walton. II. =. Weaver.
Winston. Woodward--37.
Noes-Messrs. Baker. Barley, nirrell,
Ponifant, Brewer. Chapman, Clement,
Crockett. John Orr Daniel. ] William
Daniel, Dodson. Easlcy. Field. Flan-
Hartley, fIobson. Houston, Hun.
Hughes. Johnson. Jordan, Kent. Land.
IIeedy, lincoln. Love. Lowry, Malbon,
hlllstead. Montague, Nelson. oliver,
Owen. Pennington, Powers, Radford,
Reed. Harry y. Smith. Stcarnes. Toney.
l.t1i. Weaver. Williams. Speaker Cox
III.
Lccdy Rcsenfs Hictntion.
Holding in his hand an afternoon
paper of Friday, in which was printed
copies of certain kilograms sent by of
flcers OF the State Federation of Labor
to Senators Martin and Swanson and
the Virginia delegation In Congress,
urging them to sid In the passage. OF
certain bills now pending before the
State Legislature. Colonel I.ecdy Of
Page. rose to question OF personal
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