The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-02-02
s CAPITOL GOSSIP

At the close of yesterdays House
session Delegate Browning, of Orange,
mounted the Speakers chair and call
ed the body to order to hear Miss
Lucy J. Price, of Cleveland, Ohio, who
spoke in the interest of the Associa-
ton Opposed TO Woman's Suffrage.
Miss Price spoke for an hour. present.
ing argument against equal suffrage
to that made at the meeting in
jefferson Hotel auditorium Monday
night. Miss Eudora Ramsey, formerly
of this city, now of Greenville, s. c.,
who Is here in the interest of the
equal suffrage resolution to change the
of Virginia, after a refer
endum, to extend the franchise to wo-
men. Miss Ramsey took up the argyll
ments of Miss Price and replied to
them one by one. Miss Price and her
friends left the hall Immediately after
she concluded, not waiting to hear
Miss Ramsey's talk. Miss Ramsey
was presented by Delegate Norris, or
Lancaster. one OF the patrons of the
resolution in the House.
The General Assembly will shortly
receive a report from the State ONCE
building commission. which is now re-
ceiving plans for the proposed struc-
ture for the accommodation of offices
of State departments which are now
scattered about the city in buildings
outside the Capitol. Up 60 yesterday
afternoon four sets OF plans for the
building had been received at the Of
fee the Governor. Senator Nunn,
OF Henrico, Is chairman of the COM
mission. It is probable meeting will
be held the latter part of the week
for consideration Of the plans. The
tuss4r xx-s1J "a yYSa nd a
at as early date as practicable.
Delegates Myers and Price. of Rich
mond, enlivened yesterdays House
session by opposing the Walton-Con-
Minis bill repeating hundred-year-old
act which chartered the company
operating the turnpike across the
Chickahominy from Richmond to the
Swamp Road The act was approved
February 81, 1917, amended in 1895,
/ SOL and 1866. The repeal, revoking
the ancient charter, was carried by
vote of 50 to IT.
One of the iiveliest contests that
win he seen during the earlier part of
the 1915 General Assembly Is due for
precipitation on the floor OF the House
tomorrow, when. on special order. the
resolutions relating co preparedness
reported yesterday from the Federal
Relations Committee, are taken up.
These resolutions are the Ieady rese-
luton Yavoring national preparedness
and calling for uniforms. rifles and IN
structors to be furnished by the Fed
eral government TO States in whose
public schools cadet companies or
battalions are organized. This the
committee reported favorably. the
anti preparedness resolution OF Dele
gate Gordon, OF Louisa. was adverse ~
reported. but Mr.. Gordon promises TO
make a fight for it on the floor.
HONEYWELL bills-one providing tenn
porary charter. another permanent
charter and a third for a loan or
$4,000 by the State for the perfect
ing of municipal organizatfon-nao
the call in House committee meetings
Yesterday afternoon. The charter bills
were reported favorably. with numer-
Gus minor amendments, mono of which
affects the general strength OF the Dill.
These were in the Committee on Coun-
ties. Cities and Towns The bill APP
propriating $4,000 to be loaned by
the State to Hopewell without inter
est is in the Appropriations Commit
tee. It was considered at lensth yes
terday. and argument in Its favor was
presented by Delegate Harrison. OF
Prince George and Surry, and ny 81
Gordon Cumming. of Hampton. The
committee deferred action on this bill
until its next meeting. Thursday after
noon.
No mayor, member of council
treasurer or other Official Of city,
county or town will be eligible to hold
ofice as division superintendent OF
public instruction, except In very
small cities and towns, should bill
presented yesterday by Delegate Hen
ley, of Williamsburg, become law. The
only towns and cities to which the
ing populations OF less than 1.00o and
OF less than 5000, respectively.
A bill was introduced in the House
by DIR. Winston, of Farmville. yester-
day to abolish the dispensaries for the
sale of intoxicating liquors at Farm
Vile and at Meherrin. In Prince Ed
ward County. The measure declares
an emergency exists and that the bill
shall be in force from May l.
The House yesterday passed the
Richmond charter change bill, putting
the Police Department under the
Mayor and the Health Department I'M
der the Administrative Board. The
bill now goes to the Senate. Messrs.
Myers, Fuller, Price and Jones. of
Richmond, are patrons Of the meas
ure.
A bill amending the present laws
prohibiting the carrying Of concealed
deadly weapons. including knives.
razors, dirks and slungshots, was pro-
scented by Delegate III. c. Lowry, of
Bedford. Mr.. Lowry would make pun
ishment for first offense a fine of not
less than $50 nor more than $3.50, or
Jail sentence OF not more than six
months, or both. On second convic-
ton. Imprisonment in penitentiary is
to be from one to Ave years
Delegates Sproul and Taylor, of Au-
gusta, would increase the compensa-
ton for justices Of the peace when
they are compelled to go distance of
five miles or more in the issuing of
warrants or the trying Of cases. To