Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1924-11-28

ance. His services as President OF
this road caused him to give much
attention to the general road prob
lens of the State.
Mr.. Byrd's public service in poll
tical office began with his election
to the State Senate in 1915. He was
nominated without opposition and
carried his district over Republican
opposition by large majority, being
the only Democrat to then receive
a majority from the county Of Shen-
andoah, which is normally Repub-
lican.
He was reelected in 1919 and
1928 without opposition either in
the primary or in the election. He
was one of two patrons Of a bill to
appoint commission of several
members to establish a state high
way system and served as a member
of this commission. Senator Cool
rick was chairman of this COM
mission and the report was favorab-
ly acted upon by the General As
sembly without change. Mr.. Byrd
was one of the patrons Of the bill
establishing the State Highway
Commission. In 1922 Mr.. Byrd,
and Mr.. Ozlin, were patrons of the
bill Ito reorganize the State High.
way Commission, which became a
law. In 1929 he was the patron Of
resolution to investigate the at
fairs OF the State Highway Depart
ment and served as chairman of the
committee OF investigation. At pres
ent ne Is chairman of the Senate
committee on Roads and a member
OF the Finance Committee, the steer
ing Committee and Committee of
Privileges and Elections. Until last
session he was member of TIT
committee of Schools and Colleges.
He advocated the gasoline tax as a
fair method of supplementing other
revenues for road construction. He
was the patron Of other important
legislation.
Won Against Contractors
On February End, 1923. Mr.. BYRD
was sued by the Virginia Highway
contractors Association for 100000
because he said that their activities
by combinations and agreements
might be very detrimental to ths
State. The Court held that the crit
icism was entirely legal and dis
missed the suit, imposing all cost.
upon the association. The Highwa,
Contractors Association then CAV,
up their charter and dissolved tn,
| corporation.
| During the world war, withou
knowledge on his part, he was rec
commended by the State Council o
Defense, of which General e. w
Nichols, of Lexington was chairman
to the post Of Fuel Commissioner 10
the State of Virginia. He was an
pointed by President Wilson an,
served for one year without com
pensation. During the critical win
ter OF 1918 his duties were of grea
importance because of the seriou
shortage Of coal and the necessit
not only of supplying the customar
needs of Virginia but also the larg
Il number of war industries located /
/ Virginia because Of export faciltie,
Planned to Join Army
His second tender of resfgnatio
| in order to enter the Army was az
cepted in the early fall Of 1918.
4 Early in 1922 Mr.. Byrd was ur
animously elected chairman Of tn
/ State Democratic Committee to So,
coed his uncle, the late H. D. Floo,
He at once started to aid in the o.
ganization of the Ninth District. !
that year the Ninth District electe
. Democratic Congressman for tt
: first time in twenty years. He W,
, agan unanimously elected chairma
! by the Democratic Committee whic
i met in Norfolk last June. At IL
last election the Ninth District r
elected Congressman Perry by a
increased majority. the first time
Democrat has been elected in
: presidential year for twenty-fi,
years. In the Seventh District Il
Democratic majority of 45s in 10:
was increased to 5.200.in 1879, n
!, $500 In 1924.