Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-01-30
FREE SCHOOLB0OK
BILL IS ADOPTED
Fuller Measure Makes Supply of
Textbooks Optional With
Community.
OYSTER LAWS ARE IN DOUBT
House Declines to Review Work
OF Supreme Court of Appeals in
Granting Writs of Error.

Z,
Hy vote of sc TO 2S, the House Of
Delegates Yesterday passed Delegate
Fullcrs free schoolbook bill and tho
measure goes now 10 the Senate for
concurrence. The hin was sharply
fought when it was ON tho calendar
on its Hecond reading. but opposition
which has been expected yesterday
failed to materializc
The bill provides that whenever %
per cent OF the electorate of any school
district In the state shall petition the
trustees for the introduction of free
textbooks. then the electoral board Of
*uch district shall call an election on
inc question. and IL q majority OF The
voters vote for free schoolbookS. il
shall become the duty OF the Board OF
Supervisors TO provide them.
In the same manner. il Is provided
AN entire county may as 81 unit vote on
the free sChoolbook issue and bv "A
majority vote OF the electorate direct
the Board Of Supervisors TO carry ont
'he VIII OF the people. The act does
not apply 10 cities and towns. An
amendment provides that the law shall
not apply to districts where the school
term ~ less than seven months long.
and another amendment provides that
tho free schoo!book plan. once adopted.
may he ahandc.,ad ad by the vote Of a ma :
Jori'y OF the electorate
nEAstnE Is OPTIONAL.
WITH EACH tONIMt NIFTY
While the measure is entirely cp-
t!onal. 70 he invoked by The local COM
niunitics Or uo;. as they choose. IL Is
regarded "a a far-rcachiur piece Of
legislation. IN the opinion of it,.
friends. I, viii. II made law. have a
wholesome effect on tn. general school
attendance. making it possible for
many children 10 attend school who
have been debarrcd because Of thci: iu-
ability 10 provide themselves with
books
Delegate Fuller. patron Of the Bill
Introduced in the ciry Council Of Rich
moud tho ordinance under which the
city now provides .'cc textbooks for
tho pupils. According to Mr Fuller
aud local school authorities. the free
tc~thook ordinance has resulted in
large savings TO the patrons OF the
schools Similar benefits are pre-
dicicd II the plan il put into effect by
rural communities
Opponents Of the bill have fought
u on tho ground that II is paternalistic,
and on the further ground that i, Will
b" found impracticab!c to provide for
proper distribution in communities
where tho school population is sparse
and widely scattered.
HOUSE DECLINES TO REVIEW
WORK OF SUPREME COURT
Following a sharp debate. The House
rejected by a vote OF 40 TO 81 "A rcsolu
iion introduced by Delegate Gordon. OF
Louisa. calling upon the clerk OF the
supreme Court OF Appeals 10 furnish
thc House with q statement showing
tho number OF writs OF error granted
and the number denied where corpora
= ,ions were the plaintiffs in error with
IN the last five years: the same in
formation where individuals or part
ucrships were plaintiffs in error; the
number of rcvcrsals in favor OF cor
,oratiuns and in favor OF individuals or
3 partnerships: and the number of writs
ss,f error granted and dcuicd in Grim
NAL eases during the past five years.
y rclc.atc Loedy attacked the rcsoiu-
,ion rs Il reelection on the Court OF
Appeals. and Delegates Browning,
Bowlcs. White ana Jordan joined In
opposing il. The patron replied that
II. had no intention of rejecting on
tho court. but thought that tho informa :
,ion asked for would assist the members
in passing on the advsab bility OF ma ling
tho Judges of the Supreme Court OF
Appeals elective by the people. y rcso-
luton looking TO an amendment of the
Constitution TO this end is now pending
before the House The body defeated
Il motion to refer the resolution to the
committee for Courts OF Justice. and
hy recorded vote rejected il, 40 TO
-.
DOUBT ONSTITUTIONAETrY
OF PROPOSED OYSTER la WS
Misgivings as to the constitutiona.ity
of the substitute bill reported by the
Committee on the Chesapeake and Its
Tributaries, repeating the seed oyster
law, but vcstinE the Commission OF
Fisheries with the power TO declare
IL again in force when conditions Justify
II, led Chairman Rev. OF this commit
tee to introduce resolution yesterday
calling upon the Attorney-General to
advise the House on this point
Lawyer mcmb0rs OF the House have
expressed the fear that the substitute
bill vests the Commission of Fisher; es
siitu;ion provides that the Legislative
mower shall be exercised exclusively by
,hc General Assembly. The same ques-
tion OF constitutionaliiy arises in con-
rection with the bill repeating the
nresent law fixing the Gull line in the
lanes River. which gives the Commits
sion OF Fisheries the power to restore
,he present Gull line when. in its juag-
ment. such a step is demanded. Both
hills have been reported, and are now
on the House calendar. Action on them
will he deferred until the Attorney
General renders his opinion
PROHIBITION BILL IS
SET FOR HEARING
The omnibus prohibition bill intro
duced In tho Senate Friday with the
imprimatur OF the Anti-Saloon League
of virginia was the subject OF lively
discussion In Capitol corridors yester-
day. While its general character has
been anticipated, the stringency OF
many Of Its provisions elected surprise.