Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1923-03-17
Upper House Will Take
Up Bill For Road
Work Monday
ALSO JEFFREYS BILL
Both Houses Rest From
Task For Today and
Are Visiting Newport
News as City's Guests

BY l.. f.. COOPER
RRichmond, Va, March II
The real fight of the special ses-
son is expected to open in the
upper House Monday morning
when the Senators will take up
the Vaughan bills, providing for
the issuance of 100000 in in
debtedness certificates and a gas
tax of not more than two cents,
along with the Jeffreys bill call
ing for a three cent gas tax.
A vote on the measures will
not be taken until Wednesday.
The measure for the repeal of
the Robertson act also will be con-
sidered Monday. Today both
Houses arc resting from their la
bors and are visiting Newport
News as the guests of the city.
Two special cars took the assem-
bly, party from Richmond this
morning.
After two roll calls the Sen
ate late yesterday concur ed IN
the Brewer bill appropriating
S35O,OOO for the enlargement OF
the state Office building.
The senatorial redistricting act,
passed by both branches, at last
became a law, when the governor
today signed the measure
Richmond, Va, March H.
The O,OOO,OOO bond issue bill of
Mr.. Willis, of Roanoke was re-
stored yesterday afternoon to its
regular place on the house calen-
dar, to await the action OF. the
senate on the Brown-Horsley re-
ferendum bill.
This change in schedule was
brought when the house moved
to abolish the special order un-
der which highway T. measures
were being considered, and was
the result of Mr.. Willis with
drawal of his bill calling for the
issuance of S6O,000,OO0 in certifi-
Gates of indebtedness for high
way financing and the associate
measure providing for a l-cent
gasoline tax.
Delegate Willis pointed out that
with these bills withdrawn, the
referendum measure may be taken
up Immediately after the SEN
ATE has acted on the Brown
Horsley bill.
The Senate now has little be-
fore it except the highway mea-
sures and the bill for the ap-
preparation of S35O,OO0 for ad-
ditions to the state Office build
ing. The members of the upper
house will begin discussion of
the referendum bills early next
Thursday, as they are scheduled
to vote on these bills not later
than II o'clock Thursday night.
Debate on the other highway
bills in the senate will start Mon
day, and probably will continue
through to Wednesday, when
vote is to be taken, not before
2 P. NJ. or later than II P. NJ.
of that day.
A ioint committee of the house
and senate will take up the mat
ter of cooperating with the state
highway commission for the pur-
pose of reducing the cost to the
state of bonds required of con-
tractors in highway work, the
cost of such bonds being reflected
in bids presented. The resolu.
ton to this effect was offered
by Delegate DcFriece, of Bris-
tol City.
Henry Shirley, chairman of the
state highway commission, stated
yesterday that as conditions now
prevail, a great hardship is i'm
posed on the small contractor un-
der the premium rate charged by
bonding companies for guarantee
ing the work of highway build
ers.
Neither the senate nor the
house will be in session today,
both branches having accepted
the invitation to visit Newport
News and inspect the "Leviathan"
the worlds largest vessel, which
lis undergoing repairs there.
The house recess will last un-
til Tuesday giving the senate an
opportunity to clear away all
minor legislation early Monday.
leaving the road clear for the
highway Hills.