Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-02-13
HOUSE DEBATES
EDUCATION BILL
Advocates Of Compulsory School
Attendance Win Easy
Victory.
"GERMANIZlNG," SAYS GORDON
Opponents Object to What They
Describe as Paternalism-Hud-
gins Wants School Inquiry.

Advocates OF compulsory education
won an easy victory over their op-
Douents In the House of Delegates
yesterday. defeating by an overwhelm-
ing majority Delegate Walton's motion
TO dismiss the Williams bill from the
calendar. At the end Of an hour OF
debate tho House advanced the bill TO
it's third reading. and 1t will come UP
on its passage tomorrow.
On the final vote on the motion 20
dismiss. only Delegate Gordon, OF
Louisa. and Delegate Walton voted in
the Affirmative Several of the members
who voted against dismissing the bill
indicated their intention TO vote
against it when it comes up on its
passage. but were opposed to Htrangl!ng
the measure by parliamentary cXpcdi-
ents on Saturday afternoon, when
many of the members were absent.
Friends Of the bill made the predic-
ton after adjournment that the meas
ure Will be approved by a substantial
majority when II comes UP for final
action tomorrow It's supporters come
from every section of the state. 1t Is
one OF the few measures OF general ap-
plication with regard to which there is
a division of opinion in the closely
knit minority. One OF the ablest
speeches In behalf of the bill was made
yesterday b. Delegate Pence, OF
Shenandoah, one OF the Republican n
members.
SHARP TILT BETWEEN
WILLIS AND WALTON
Delegate Walton's motion TO dismiss
the bill from the calendar called out
a sharp rebuke from Floor Leader
Willis. who deprecated such tactics in
lighting any bill before the House.
While he was not certain that he would
vote for the bill himself. he said. he
did not approve OF striking down a
measure by resort to such motion
In the last hour of Saturdays session.
when many seats were vacant. and
when there was not sufficient time to
discuss II on its merits.
Mr.. Walton replied that the patron
OF tho bill had personally asked him
not to move TO pass IL by. and that, in
view OF this request he had been COM
PEELED to resort TO the motion he had
made. since it was his purpose to pre-
vent -he DILL from going TO its engross-
ment, If possible.
There followed 4 spirited interchange
between Mr.. Willis and Mr. Walton.
which gave way to general discus
sion Of the bill on its merits, the chair
holding that such a debate was in
order on a motion to dismiss Just
Lefore adjournment Delegate Willis
publicly apologiZed for his structures
on the conduct OF Delegate Walton,
having received information from the
friends Of the bill he said, which con-
vinced him that he had done the mem
'rcr from Hanover an injustice. Dele
gate Walton acknowledged the apology
in good hurnor. and tho incident was
closed.
The chair rules that the gentleman
from Roanoke city and the gentleman
from Hanover come forward and shake
hands before the altar" spoke Speaker
Houston. Whereupon the House roared.
DENOUNCE MEASURE
AS "PATERNALISTIC,
Opposition 20 the bill, voiced by Dele
gates Walton. Epes and Gordon de-
nounced tho measure as paternalistic.
and calculated still further TO hedge
about with penalties. rulings and re-
strictions the lives of the free citizens
OF the Commonwealth. Carried TO its
logical conclusion, said Delegate Epes.
the program of regulation should be
extended 10 provide compulsory at
tendance on Sunday school and church,
inS the time when children should be
put to bed and made to arise. Delegate
Gordon characterized it as measure.
In line with other laws. that are re-
ceiving the approval OF The present
General Assembly, all designed to Ger
rnanize" the people of Virginia
Delegate Williams, of Fairfax, patron
of the bill, made stirring speech in
its defense. Ear from being the drastic
law that many members supposed it
was. he said. the present bill was ex-
tremely mild in its provisions, and only
a short step in the right direction. He
asked the House to make the bill law
In the name of the 10000 illiterato
white children In Virginia, many Of
whom arc heinG deprived Of the ele-
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