Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-02-21
GRADE CROSSINGS
AGAIN DEBATED
Senate Finally Adopts Allen
Trinkle Amendment to
New Code.
CODE ITSELF is UNDER FIRE
Proposal Made to Submit 1t to
Joint Committee for Fur
ther Study.
CODE ITSELF is UNDER FIRE

The State Senate yesterday adopted
the Allen -Trinkle amendment TO the
new Code. whereby the existing law as
to grade crossings" continues in eff
feet as to all crossings existing in 1904
and questions OF apportionment Of cx-
penses to improving those construct
ed since l904-thc year in which tho
State changed it's policy to disfavor
surface crossings-and as TO all future
crossings are left with the State Cor
poration Commission.
It passed House bill relating to
pensions for Confederate veterans at
the request of State Auditor Moore. as
1t changes the payment from once tC
twice a year. as the Auditor desires 10
prepare for the spring payment at once;
adopted Governor Daviss amendment
to the West bill closing to public in
spection. preceding the trial, records
pertaining to such case in the office OF
the Bureau of Insurance.; and spent
the balance of the first session in dis
cussing the Royal resolution to sub
nit the Code TO a joirt communicative
Senators and seven Delegates--to sit
in session with the reviSCrs and report
to the Governor of the State not later
than November !, 1918. The Senate
adjourned and spent the second after
noon session in discussion of uncon-
tested bills. The Code and other spe-
cial orders will come up again to-day.
The Senate refused by vote OF
IS to 3 to discharge the Finance Com
mittee from further consideration OF
Senate bill No. .. which is known as
the "schoolbook bill" The bill will
be reported out en- Friday, said Senator
.hn
moved 20 have the COMMITTEES DIS
charged. The Committee on Public In
stitutions has reported the bill to the
Finance Committee unanimously.
ACTS OF THIS SESSION TO
HAVE PREFERENCE OVER CODE
The Senate adopted an amendment
to the Code TO the effect that all laws
passed by the present Assembly and
also UP to the time of the effective
ness OF the new Code. in cas-, 1t is
adopted. shall take effect and have
supersedence over anything in tho re-
visors' report. This change was due TO
the change of the date Of effectiveness.
The Senate then proceeded with the
discussion of phases of the Code. Both
Senator Allen and Senator Trinkle cN-
planned the effect of the grade cross
ings" substitute. If a railroad desires
change of crossing built before
1904 it must bear all the expense; IL
the county, city or town desires the
change it must pay half. This is be-
cause up to that year the State had
favored surface crossings.
AS to crossings constructed since
1904, the same rule applies il the
railroad desires the change. but where
the community desires the improve
mcnt the question is to be submitted,
in absence of agreement. to the State
Corporation Commission for an cQuit-
able division This rule applies To all
future crossings E'it TO crossings
built between 1904 and the present time
this law does not apply in the cases of
the railroads having developed con-
dition which the law would define as
a menace, and i'm such a case the rail-
road must pay all the expenses OF the
alteration. The amendment passed was
substituted for all other amendments
on that subject.
ROiALL WANTS JOINT COMMITTEE
TO EXAMINE NEW CODE
When Senator Royal offered his
resolution to submit the code TO the
joint committee. as was dccn in 1887.
Senator Walker objected on a point
of order. Senator Strobe then remind
ed the Senate that this objection had
been raised every time the Senator
from Tazewell had offered the rcsolu-
ton. Thcreupon, TO prove that il was
no. intention on his part to torestall
Senator Royal, Senator Walker with
drew the objection, and the resolution
precipitatcd IL discussion that continued
until tho adjourninE hour. Senator
Royal said he would be willing to
accept the report Of such a committee.
but that he could not vote for the
Code without more thorough nvcs-
tigation of the contents. though he
was not rejecting upon the rcvisors.
The resolution elected words OF sup
port for the Code from Seantors
Trinkle. Gum. Early, Robertson. Cool
rick and others.
This was the first time during the
session that Senator Early had spoken.
and he said that he for one was will
ing TO swallow the Code whole, let
come what may. and spoke lightly Of
the conjured up fears that seem to
be disturbing several members of the
Senate. Senators Trnklc and Gunn
showed Senator Royall that a rumor
no narrated was untrue with refer
ence TO allowing probatcd wills to be-
taken from the courthouse in way
different from the present. Senator
Robertson's speech resolved itself into
a game of questions and answers.
Senator Allen also spoke at length in
defense of the adoption of tho Code.
SENATE PASSES SERIES
OF LOCAL MEASURES
The Senate yesterday passed the fcl-
lowing bills in Il late afternoon session
TO advance local and uncontested bills:
To amend section 80 Of the charter
of the city of Portsmouth.
TO authorize issuance OF bends and
borrowing Of money by tho town OF
Williamsburg for street and sewer pur-
poses.
To add to tho charter of Portsmouth
Il chapter relating 10 initiative. refer
cndum and recall.
Allowing in liens relating to crops
that the term year may not coincide