The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1936-01-28
SLOT MACHINE
BILL STARTS
LOBBY QUIZ
Rx a Staff Correspondent


ings on the slot machine bill
sponsored by Delegate John B.
Spires of Radford county were
scheduled to begin today with
the sponsor threatening to get to
the bottom Of lobbying activities
against the bill.
The bill, one Of the most dras-
tic ever offered according to at
torneys who have examined it,
forbids anything in which the
element of chance or unpredicta-
BILE outcome enters where some
thing Of value is at stake.
Hardly had the bill dropped in
the house hopper when delegates
were stopped by persons who said
they represented owners OF
game machines" The delegates
were told the State would lose
approximately $4,000 annually
in taxes if the bill is enacted.
Mr.. Spires is determined to
learn who these people represent
and what taxes are paid. There
has been a constant fight in north
ern Virginia to keep the slot ma
chimes out Of there and other Sec
lions Of the state are now joining
in the fight.
Puzzled by Secrecy
Delegates are puzzled at the ap-
parent desire to keep under cover
the identity Of the owners Of the
machines. All other lobbies-they
call themselves legislative repre-
notwithstanding here have been
open and above board, in fact,
the representative Of one group,
who once served in the House Of
Delegates, has practically aban-
doned the idea Of giving dance
and buffet supper at a club OF
which he is a member because
some Of the guests might get the
wrong idea"
Virginia soon will be asked to
adopt q law similar to that in a
number Of other states which
would set up a state dry cleaners
board to regulate the industry and
to keep out the racketeers who
have killed scores and ruined
thousands of dollars worth Of gar
mentS in other localities. The bill
is being pushed by Representatives
of the Virginia State Association
Of Cleaners and DyerS.
Memorial services for the late
Senator Samuel L. Ferguson, of
Appomattox, who died in his office
July 80, 1884, were held yesterday
in the Senate. Senator Henry T.
Wickham, Of Hanover, S7-year-old
veteran Of the upper house, con-
Quoted the services.
Tho Senate passed bills yester-
day to provide for the establish
ment Of handcraft and domestic
arts schools by the State; amend
ing the tax code to permit lcalities
to tax carnivalS, shows, circuSeS
and menagerieS. A bill requiring
the State and communities to
give preference to ex-Service men
for appointments was sent back
to committee for further study.
Speed Curb Bill Killed
The House Committee on Fed
eral Relations killed a resolution
which would have memorialized
Congress to enact a law barring
from the highways automobiles
capable of more than IS miles an
hour.
A bill to prohibit the use of
metal hooks or snaps to fasten
tags to bags of feed and fertilizer
was sent back to committee.
The House passed bills revising
the form Of medical papers in the
commitment Of insane persons
and providing that the medical
papers be kept at hospitals in
stead Of with the legal commit
ment in the courthouses.
The law requiring a person to
have herds of cattle tested for
tuberculosis and Bangs disease
was simplified in another bill
passed by the House. Under the
new law the State veterinarian
and a county board Of supervisors
can order the tests.
The bill putting chicken thieves
in the same class with horse and
cattle thieves, introduced by Dele
gate William N. Neff, of Abingdon,
was passed to third reading. The
bill raises the maximum sentence
from five years to 10, but sets no
minimum. It is aimed at gangs
Of chicken thieves which have
been operating over a large area
Of Virginia.