The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-02-26

WorkInen's pensation and the
adoption % the code. with the i'm
postant grada crossing amendment as
agreed to by the senate. were the two
important matters dealt with by the
general assembly yesterday,
The compensation bill was amended
in the senate by Governor Davis df-
rect request by eliminating the COM
mission as provided for in the bill as
reported by the senate committee, and
placing the naturalization of the law
In the hands OF the heads OF existing
departments. This change In the pro-
visions of the bill viii be strenuously
opposed.
Senators took sharp issue with the
governor on this question. and his
recommendation was adopted hy q ma
Sority OF one. Those supporting the
governor maintained that hs was
within his rights IA making known
MS wishes 60 the legislative branch.
and those opposed maintained that
they. no lsss than the governor, were
responsible direct TO their conatltu-
snts for their votes on measures be-
FORE the senate, and that in IA question
OF policy such as involved In the COM
pensation bill they could not be in
fuenesd entirely by the governors
wishes.
When the bill reaches the house
there will be lively fight over the
proposition TO eliminate the commits
klon as recommended by the governor
Further effort will be made in the
house 10 amend tho bill by increasing
the proposition of the compensation
as figured on the wage earned by BEN
e4ciar'es of the act. There IL aIao
o desire TO discuss Ehe desirahiitty OF
providing for g state fund insurance
instead Of permitting the liability in
saranoe companies alone 10 write the
risks.
The attitude of Delegate Price and
she other house patrons OF the meas
are is that they desire to obtain the
beat compensation bill possible at this
session. in order to establish the prfn-
ciple of and TO AFFORD as large a meas
ure Of relief as possible. They will
argue that II Is much better to have
some form Of compensation for which
there lie concededly an urgent demand,
than to attempt too much at this
time and teopardixe the success of the
bill.
Grade Crossing In the House.
The house concurred in the senate
amendments TO the code revision bill.
including the much debated grade
crossing measure.
Stephenson. of Bath. explained the
senate amendments. and concurrence
was advocated by Willis. Gilner ana
Easley. Delegates Lindsay Gordon
and q. G. Davis opposed adoption on
the ground OF general opposition to
the code as revised until there had
heen time to study the various changes
involved
Delegate Rnssall. In whose county
there are more grade crossings than
In any county in the state, and who
was the frst member of the house to
point out the gravity OF the amend
ment as proposed by the railroad In
tsrssts. called attention to the fact
that as brought out in the senate de-
bate millions of dollars were involved.
While he was unaiterably opposed to
the original proposition to relieve the
railroads OF this burden by saddling
It on the counties. he was disposed
TO concur in the senate compr omise
because II seemed to embody all that
could be obtained. although he con-
tended 1t did not go far enough. by
any means.
As finally accepted by the house.
considerable victory was won for the
counties, as we'll as for the cities
There was a. sharp debate over the
advancement 10 third reading of the
MO institute to issue bonds up to
s40o. 900. interest TO be paid by the
state and the bonds 90 be guaranteed
by the state Delegate willis accused
Gordon. of Louisa. of trying TO kill
the bill by diiatory tactics. Mr.. Ste
phenson opposed the bin because 1t
involved violation of the constitu-
tion. indirectly, he said
Willis informed the house that tha
Encouragement had given an opinion
that the bill did not violate the con-
stitution. On division and roll call
the bill was advanced to engrossnent
by a vote Of 4s to 81. II will be neces.
sary to obtain ave more votes for the
measure to send II through on Anal
passage. Musgrave and Flanagan are
the patrons of the bill
The house advanced to engrossment |
bills on their second reading covering
thirty pages Of the printed calendar.
Under the special rule by which ffve
members 30 voting could pass a bill
by. several important measures were
temporarily set aside, among them he
in~ the Hudgins-Dilia Anti-trust