Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-08-15
SENATORS REFUSE
TO LIMIT SPECIAL
SESSION TO ROADS
By Narrow Margin Upper
House Amends Joint
Resolution.
LEAVES WAY OPEN TO VOTE
AID TO STATE INSTITUTIONS
Schools Operations Embarrassed
by Small Pay to Those
Who Teach.
SENATOR ADDISON MAKES PLEA
Declares Educational V-orlr In T-J,rocS
SENATOR ADDISON MAKES PLEA
Declares Educational Work in Throcs
of Disintegration Because of
designations.

Virginia legislators, seeking to have
enacted by the special session of the
General Assembly. laws pertaining to
issues other than good roads. won
their first victory yesterday in the
Senate by the narrow margin of one
vote.
Consideration of the joint resolution
adopted Wednesday by the House
which provides for exclusion of all
bills except those pertaining to good
ROADS and such matters as may be
presented by the Governor. developed
the night in the Senate yesterday.
Led by Senator Walter f. Addison
OF LHnchburs, and Senator Samuel L.
Ferguson Of Appomatox the advocates
'of immediate enactment of measures
they claim as of equal Importance TO
highway legislation, succeeded in
amending the joint resolution passed
by the House
The joint resolution read:
rz,ss ResolSsd; .ss by the House OF Dele
the present extra session of the Cen
erai Assembly. unless by consent Of
ooth Houses by Joint resolution pre-
t.o9Siy ,roGS agreed to-; no bill shall be in
troouced or considered except such as
pertain to the building or repair Of
the public highways. or the assess
ment or collection of taxes or the an
preparation thereof. for road purposes
and except the necessary bills for con-
tlnEent expenses of the General AS
sembiy. and such matters as may be
specially referred by the Governor"
Vote Follows Long Debate.
me amendment as adopted after
ls. provides that bills and resoIn.
tions relating to the revenue and Joint
resolutions amending the Constitution
and bi!ls relating TO schools and elee-
mosynarE institutions" may be also
considered by this special Assembly.
II the House concurs in the amend
ment the way is opened for considera-
ton OF proposed measures providing
propriattons for the relief of various
State charitable institutions in addi-
ton to other similar matters
schools Emergency Exists.
During the debate on the amendment
TO the joint resolution Senator Addi-
son conte nded that the State eleemosy-
nary institutions and the situation as
regards schools created an emergency
equal to that OF providing funds for
good roads
1T seems that the public school sys-
tenn or Virginia is about disinteErated
he declared. The average annual nav
for Virginia school teachers is S29 per
month. and this is cut in two by the
80 iH the purchasing power OF
the dollar designations are pilins in
to school superintendent everywhere
IN the State and there is great danger
es es many any, schools ,h being abandoned. 7
sents an emergency"
1t was learned later that Senator
,,ia nidGIson is now preparing bill pro-
s1dinS nh for an increased mill tax for
schoolS 70 be presented at this ses-
SION. with the increased tax it is
proposed 10 raised the salaries of Vir-
sinia's educators sufficient to assume
the maintaining of an adequate staff
OF educators
Senator Buchanan. of smyth. started
the hght for amendment of the joint
resolution by Offering an amendment
providing for inclusion OF matters to
be considered of bills relating to the
revenue and joint resolutions amend
ing the Constitution and bills. intro
planned that his purpose was to make
way for measures permitting a change
in poll tax laws for the beneft OF the
soldiers who fought in the last war.
Senator Walker. for the rules commit
tee, came to the support of the Joint
resolution with its limitations but was
opposed by Senator Addison
Many Deficits Exist
senator Addison declared that many
or the state institutions were in dis
tress, stating that deficits were being
incurred and in some instances, the
directors Of these institutions were
operation upon their personal notes.
He also brought up the school question.
asserting the entire system was in
danger of collapse through insufficient
pay for instructors.
These statements brought forth
charges AGAINST Governor Davis
various Senators taking the stand that
sufficient funds had been provided for
these institutions by the last General
Assembly. but that the Governor had
called the legislators back into ses
sion and s.ashcd the appropriations.
Senator Addison's reply was that. IL
what the Governor had declared at
that time was true. namely that the
State would not have sufficient FUND TO
meet the appropriations passed by the
Assembly. then the Legislators would
have been presenting a false pre-
tense" in appropriating money which
they did not have to distribute.
Senator Addison then offered AN
amendment to Senator Buchanan's
amendment. This was defeated hut a
substitute amendment by Senator
Buchanan passed. 10 to Is. and thu
ioint resolution now goes back to the
House where legislators seeking to con
fine activities Of the special Assembly
to good roads measures claim the
amendment Will not be concurred In.
Fearful OF this, those backing the
e6ncatinpal pcfi