The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-02-15
THE SENATE

The Senate met at noon yesterday,
President Ellyson being in the chalr.
The prayer was made by Rabbi +, n.
Callsch, of Beth Ahabah Synagogue
The fact that the end OF the session
Is approaching Is reflected in the way
iu which bills are slowing up. Ihere
are only three days more In which
70 get them introduced unless there
Is a good deal OF loss OF time and
very much doubt as to the outcome
Of a fight to get a bill in
The day was marked for the man
ner in which bills were disposed of,
the most important of which was the
commission merchants bill. That
measure occasioned red hot flght
some weeks ago. and then the two fac
lions got together and framed meas
ure. which, apparently, met the obJec-
tons of each other and IT came up
vest erday as the special order.
Senator Grayatt Explains.
Senator Gravatt explained the pro
visions OF the measure. saying that the
purpose OF the bill was known TO every
member OF the Senate. He said that
the bill under consideration was mat
which had been agreed 20 by the mer-
chants and farmers of tho State, that
while IL was q gantleman's agreement
there was no question that II would
be accepted IN good faith by the farm
ers and by the merchants. The bill
was passed with only two dissenting
votes and will now go to the Governor,
No Longer Sessions.
The Senate rejected the Cannon res
olution. providing for amending the
constitution so that the sessions OF
the General Assembly shall last for
ninety days. instead OF sixty days,
Senator Cannon, at the suggestion of
Senator Mathews, explained what WAS
contained In the bill, saying that all
. that IL meant TO do was TO make the
sessions just thirty days longer. The
matter had been submitted to the peo-
pie one time and had been rejected,
and he believed that It was due TO the
confusing the amending with another
that was voted on at tho same time.
An effort was made to get enough
votes to pass the bill, but they could
not be mustered.
Auditor Moores Salary.
Auditor c. Lee Moore VIII get an in
crease OF $1,000 year in his pay, II
the House agreea TO the action OF the
Senate The Quinn bin to amend the
law in relation to salaries and allow
ances came up and explanation was
asked by one OF the Senators. Sena-
tor Gum said plainly that the bll'
applied only TO the office of the Au-
ditor of Public Accounts. whose pay
was to be Increased from $4,000 &c
IS 900 year.
The hill came within an ace of being
defeated There were only about TWEEN
ty-two members in the Senate at The
time that the bill was taken up, and
Six Of these had voted against the
measure. Things began to. look squally
for the increase. but the supporters o.
the Auditor--whose services to the
State have been recognized for some
time-began to hustle and the mem
bers were dragged from the cloakroon
and registered their votes. The bill
finally mustered the necessary twenty,
three votes and will go to the House
for concurrence.
Wenedenburg's Resolution.
The Wenedenburg resolution j:
slated to come up today, The reso-
luton is that which calls attention
10 the low rate OF taxation on rail.
roads. as he AYERS. saying that the val
uatons placed by the State Corpora
ton Commission IS leAs than ore-third
o. the value of the roads as admitted
by the officers Of the roads. Fl wants
tn see the same valuations placed or
them. he says. that Is placed on rea
estate.
There are several Senators who are
opposed to the position taken by Sena.
tor Wendenhurg. and today they vii
give battle TO the Junior Senator from
the city of Richmond when the reso.