The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-02-16
GOVERNOR APPROVES
FIFTEEN MEASURES
ALL BUT ONE ARE OF PURELY
LOCAL APPLICA- =.
TION.
AMENDMENT NO JOKER
TROUBLE WITH sCHOoLBoOK BILL
is SOLELY ONE OF DETAIL.
GOVERNOR STUART MAY

OF the great mass of tax, revenue
and local bills passed by the General
Assembly in its recent thirty-day ses-
sion, but sixteen remain unsigned by
the Governor. Fifteen were signed
yesterday by Governor stuart, which.
together with the batch receiving his
signature last week, constitute all but
the sixteen mentioned.
Of those signed yesterday. four
teen we're bills of purely local appli-
cation, while the other was not strict
ly tax bill, showing one reason why
the thirty days session was insufficient
for the full settlement Of the tax prob
lem In Virginia.
The bills approved were as roll
lows:
Bills Approved.
House Bill s5.-Autnorizlng town
of Gainesville, Wise County, to issue
refunding bonds.
House Bill s2.-Providing rate OF
compensation for land assessors.
Senate Bill 77.-Providng how
cities of more than $4,000 and less
than 100000 population may have
commission from OF government.
Senate Bill 7l.--Providing for bond
issue for streets IN town OF Frank
lin. Southampton County
Senate Bill S4.-Amending charter
of city OF Suffolk.
Senate Bill s3.-Prohibiting killing
of pheasants In Middlesex. County for
two years.
Senate Bill 7s.--Amending charter
of city OF Bristol to provide for bond
issue.
Senate Bill T5.-Prohibiting sale OF
cider within one and one-haif miles
Of free school in town of Strasburg.
House Bill 4s.--Amending law regu-
latinx size OF standard barrel.
House Bill s0.---Appropriaung SCI
900 for debts OF State Normal School
at BEDFORD, after State Accountant
has made examination Of accounts.
Senate Bill s0-Amending charter
of town OF Smithfeid.
House Bill 1ool.-Amending road
law of Pulaski County.
House Bill ss.-Permitting an eIec-
ton in town Of waynesboro on ques-
ton of cattle running at large.
Senate Bill S2.-Reappropriati I'M
expended balance OF $IE5S2s for
identifying Soldiers Home Buryins
Grounds.
House Bill e2.--Amending road law
of I,oudoun County.
Governor. Stuart SO far has vetoed
but one measure. That was local
bill that had been duplicated by mis-
take.
The School Book Bill.
The bilf relating TO contracts for
textbooks and comforting more power
upon the State Board of Education has
not been signed and may not be.
This bill was amended in the House
whom IL came up for passage so as TO
prov!dte for open meetings OF the
board, and for a recorded vote on ali
questions relating to the adoption OF
and contracts for textbooks for use
In the public schools. 1t has been
pointed out to Governor Stuart that
under this provision meetings at which
contracs were discussed and bids
opened might he attended by publish
ers and their agents. While the pub
ficfty feature is regarded as good
one. as is that requiring recorded
vote. the Governor feels that when
contracts are being awarded and bids
discussed. publishers should not be al
lowed to attend If he decides that
these latter can be kept out by re-
ierring these matters TO committees
meeting in executive session. he may
sign the bill. Otherwise he nav
veto Ii.
Neither the Governor nor others IN
terested seek TO create the impression
that the amendment is ''joker." On
the contrary. 1t was accepted by Sup
erint >ndent Stearnes and the general
principle approved by otherss Talk
Of the amendment being a Joker
ifs regarded az that Of irresponsible
persons.