Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-02-15
Here and There
in the Legislature

| III tllC Legislature
Believing the convicts in the State
prison camps are not humanely treated
under the present system, Delegates
Wills. Sproul and Taylor are working
Tor the passage Of a bill designed for
their relief. The bill provides that
prisoners shall he paid 10 cents day,
that they shall be allowed fifteen days
communication out OF each year of SER
vice for good behavior. that corporal
punishment shall be restricted and adj
ministered only In the presence OF
prison physicians or chaDlains. and that
greater care shall be taken in protect
Ing their health. Mr.. Sproul says that
under existing conditions no effort Is
made TO guard the men against In
fictitious diseases suffered by those with
whom they are imprisoned, that they
are all chained together and sleep
side by side. lie says, TOO. that after
prisoners have worked for five years as
they are now compelled TO work they
are worn out and unfit for any duty.
He believes work hours should be resu-
lated and that the men SHOULD be treat
cd with view TO their reformation
rather than to their punishment. Be-
cause so few people seem 10 be inter-
ested in prison reform the patrons OF
the measure are afraid il will not be
disposed of by this session. They con-
tend, however, that Virginia is far be-
hind other States in humane treatment
Of prisoners, and that IL true conditions
were known TO citizens. the Legislature
would he flooded with petitions to
have their bill passed.
A resolution submitted by Thomas
LomaX Hunter TO arrange for the un-
yelling OF the Daniel Boone tablet pre-
scented to the State by J. Ham Rich OF
North Carolina. was yesterday adopted
b. the House.
Speaker Houston has introduced a
bill TO provide for further encourage
ment OF deep water oysterinG in Vir
glnia waters.
House bill 26o, taken up out of it's
order yesterday and passed. to engross-
IneNt. is designed to make Virginia d
haven OF refuge for corpcra lions im-
posed upon by less liberal States. It's
passage would mean that corporations
that do no business in Virginia would
be permitted to incorporate here for a
mammal fee and not then be compelled
to pay taxes on its stocks arI bonds.
The law would place the State il
position similar to that occupied by
New Jersey several years ago, when
ali one had to do was 10 run up to
chise. and proceed to print as much
stock as he could sell. An effort is
made, however. TO shear all harmful
features from the law proposed by Vir-
sinia. 1t Is designed primarily to yield
4 large revenue TO the state from
sources now closed &c it.
The Senate Committee on Fish and
Game has been discussing during COM
mi;tee meetings OF late the general
game bill introduced in the Scrate by
Senat tors Robertson and Goolrick. The
I..It II.
numerous amendments. The primary
object of the bill is to discharge Boards
OF Supervisors from the duty of open
ing and closing the game seasons and
10 empower the Gamc Commissioner to
control the State IN that respect. The
bill was drawn. 1t is said. without con-
sultinE the Virginia Game end Game
Fish Association. And it is predicted
,has the bill! will be amended so rs TO
allow the commissioner 10 close the
season In any given county with The
consent OF the Governor and the Board
OF Supervisors.
The bill offered by Senator JeGreys
to .>erm:t the town of Lawrcaceville
TO use money left over from the road
building bond issue was the object OF
great interest in the meeting OF the
Committee on Roads and Internal Nav
isation yesterday when about thirty
citiEeHS OIL brunSWlck County appeared
10 thrash out the right OF the move
The men were about equally divided
on the subject. The committee took no
action on the bill.
Sorrow came tG two members of the
House OF Delegates yesterday. Robert
Q. Norris was notified that his sister
Miss Ellen Norris. aged sixteen. had
died Wednesday night. She had been
i'll for several weeks, but Mr.. Norris
had no idea that her illness was scri-
Gus. Almost simultaneous with the
arrival OF the telegram TO Mr. Norris
came one to Delegate w. ~ Tiffany, OF
Fauquier, informing him Of the death
of his brother, Frank Tiffany. Both
delegates departed Immediately for
their homes. Resolutions of sympathy
were adopted BY the House.
Lieutenant Charles NJ. Commins. a
son OF Delegate I. c. Co minis. Of King
William County. who was seriously in
jured when he fell with his airplane
at jennings, La, early this week, is
we'll on the road TO complete recoy-
cry, according TO a message received
yesterday by his father. Lieutenant
Commins fell 100 feet. His companion
was killed by the fall.
Delegates Rev, Deans. J. n. Stubs.
Snow and Cherry and Senators Walker,
Mapp and Drewry were yesterday ap-
pointed by the Speaker OF the House
and the President of the Senate to
form the joint food commission to visit
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