No. 24. House bill to amend and re-enact section 3242 of the Code of Virginia, in relation to oyster ground. No. 25. House bill to amend and re-enact section 3224 of the Code of Virginia, in relation to oyster ground. No. 26. House bill to amend and re-enact sections 3281, 3282, 3283, 3284, 3285, 3286, 3287 and 3289 of the Code of Virginia, in relation to oysters and clams. On motion of MR. JONES, of Richmond, the House adjourned. JOHN W. WILLIAMS, THOS. W. OZLIN, Speaker of the House of Delegates. Clerk of the House of Delegates TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 1927 Prayer by Rev. J. N. Latham, D.D., Pastor, Centenary Methodist Episcopal Church, South, Richmond, Virginia. On motion of MR. WILLIAMS, the reading of the journal was dispensed with. THE SPEAKER and Clerk signed the journal as provided by rule 3. A communication from the Senate by their Clerk was read as follows: In Senate, March 28, 1927. The Senate has agreed to Senate joint resolution for permission for the introduction and consideration of a bill to clearly define the exemption of building and loan associations of companies from the payment of any State income tax under the provisions of section 10 of the Tax Bill as heretofore amended. And they have passed Senate bills entitled, an act to reorganize the administration of the State government in order to secure better service, and through co-ordination and consolidation, to promote economy and efficiency in the work of the government; to create and establish or continue certain departments, divisions, officers, and other agencies, and to prescribe their powers and duties; to abolish certain offices, boards, commissions and other agencies, and to repeal all acts and parts of acts inconsistent with this act to the extent of such inconsistency, No. 1; and an act to amend and re-enact section 7 of an act entitled an act to create a State Highway Commission; to provide for a chairman thereof; and to prescribe the powers, duties and the compensation of the commission and chairman; and to provide for a State Highway Commissioner; to create road construction districts; to provide for the apportionment among them of road construction funds, and to provide for road construction, improvement, maintenance and preservation, also to repeal sections 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1974 and 1975 of the Code of Virginia, and to repeal an act entitled an act to amend and re-enact an act entitled an act to establish a State Highway Commission; to define its powers and duties; the term of office, salary and qualifications of the Commissioner; to authorize the commission to call into consultation the professors of engineering in certain State institutions, and appropriating money to carry the provisions of this act into effect, approved March 6, 1906; to provide for the appointment of a commission, and fixing their term of office; to give to said commission the power of eminent domain, the power to make and enforce rules and regulations governing the traffic and use of the State highway system, not in conflict with the laws of this State and to prescribe penalties for the violation of such rules and regulations, approved September 5, 1919, and to repeal all other sections of the Code and acts or parts of acts inconsistent with this act, approved March 24, 1922, as heretofore amended and re-enacted by an act approved March 21, 1924, No. 17; in which they request the concurrence of the House of Delegates. No. 1. Senate bill was referred to the Committee on Finance. Senate bill was referred to the Committee on Roads and Internal Navigation. The following House bills having been considered by the Committee in session were reported from the Committee on Schools and Colleges: No. 29. House bill to authorize the board of supervisors of York county to lay an additional levy of forty cents on the one hundred dollars of the assessed valuation of all property subject to local taxation for school purposes in Nelson district of said county; and to authorize the said board to forego or refrain from laying a road levy in the said district for any year the board may deem advisable. No. 30. House bill to authorize the board of supervisors of Pittsylvania county, Virginia, to borrow money, not in excess of $200,000.00, and to issue its bonds therefor, the proceeds to be applied in funding and discharging valid outstanding indebtedness of said county incurred by the school board of said county, and to provide for payment of interest thereon and principal thereof at maturity. House bill to amend and re-enact section 9 of an act of the General Assembly, entitled an act to provide a charter for the city of Winchester, approved April 2, 1874, as amended by an act approved April 30, 1874, as amended by an act approved February 26, 1896, as amended in section 9 and section 11 thereof by an act approved March 5, 1900, as amended in section 9 thereof by an act approved March 9, 1910, as amended by an act approved March 21, 1923; having been considered by the Joint Committee on Special, Private and Local Legislation was returned to the House with the following report: The Joint Committee on Special, Private and Local Legislation respectfully reports that in their opinion the object of the within bill cannot be reached by general law or court proceedings. SAMUEL R. CARTER, Chairman. The bill was referred to the Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns. House bill to authorize the town of Chincoteague in the county. of Accomac to cross and maintain across certain lowlands, marshes, meadows, and waters in Accomac county, Virginia, certain pipe lines and electric lines; having been considered by the Joint Committee on Special, Private and Local Legislation, was returned to the House with the following report: The Joint Committee on Special, Private and Local Legislation respectfully reports that in their opinion the object of the within bill cannot be reached by general law or court proceedings. SAMUEL R. CARTER, Chairman. The bill was referred to the Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns. House bill to amend and re-enact sections five and six of an act approved March 12, 1908, entitled an act to incorporate the town of Branchville, Southampton county, Virginia, section 6 of which was amended by an act approved March 14, 1912; having been considered by the Joint Committee on Special, Private and Local Legislation, was returned to the House with the following report: The Joint Committee on Special, Private and Local Legislation respectfully reports that in their opinion the object of the within bill. cannot be reached by general law or court proceedings. SAMUEL R. CARTER. Chairman. The bill was referred to the Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns. House bill to amend and re-enact an act entitled “An act to amend and re-enact section one of an act entitled an act to authorize the county of Franklin to levy a tax not exceeding fifty cents on every one hundred dollars in value, on the property, real and personal, assessed for taxation in said county, including that within the corporate limits of any incorporated town in said county, to be used for construction of roads in the county system of roads of said county, approved March 14, 1924, and to provide compensation for supervisors acting as road foreman;" approved March 18, 1926; having been considered by the Joint Committee on Special, Private and Local Legislation was returned to the House with the following report: The Joint Committee on Special, Private and Local Legislation respectfully reports that in their opinion the object of the within bill cannot be reached by general law or court proceedings. SAMUEL R. CARTER, Chairman. The bill was referred to the Committee on Roads and Internal Navigation. THE SPEAKER laid before the House the following communication: Gentlemen of the General Assembly: COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, RICHMOND, March 29, 1927. I have appointed the following judges of courts of this Commonwealth since the last session of your honorable body: Frank T. Sutton, Jr., of Richmond, to be judge of the Law and Equity Court of the city of Richmond, Part Two, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Joseph Crenshaw Taylor, effective May 1, 1926, and to expire thirty days after the commencement of the next session of the General Assembly. Herbert B. Gregory, of Roanoke, to be judge of the Court of Law and Chancery of the city of Roanoke, to fill the vacancy caused by the expiration of the term for which he was appointed upon the death of W. W. Moffett, effective February 1, 1927, and to expire thirty days after the commencement of the next session of the General Assembly. T. L. Keister, of Salem, to be judge of the Twentieth Judicial Circuit, to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Herbert B. Gregory, effective September 21, 1926, and to expire thirty days after the commencement of the next session of the General Assembly. Hiram W. Bertram, of Harrisonburg, to be judge of the Twenty-fifth Judicial Circuit, to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of T. N. Haas, effective March 1, 1927, and to expire thirty days after the commencement of the next session of the General Assembly. I desire also to call your attention to the vacancy in Twenty-second Judicial Circuit caused by the death of Judge Fulton Kegley on March 20, 1927. HARRY F. BYRD, Governor. A message was received from the Senate by MR. VAUGHAN, who informed the House that the Senate had agreed to House joint resolution allowing the introduction of a bill to amend and re-enact subsection (e) of section 29 of an act entitled: "An act to continue the office of Motor Vehicle Commissioner; to provide for his election; to prescribe his powers and duties; to protect the title of motor vehicles; to provide for the registration of titles thereto and the issuance of certificates of titles; to prescribe the effect of such registration; to provide for the licensing of motor vehicles and chauffeurs; to provide penalties; and to repeal all acts and parts of acts in conflict herewith," approved March 17, 1926. A message was received from the Senate by MR. BALL, who informed the House that the Senate had agreed to House joint resolution allowing the introduction of "A bill to amend and re-enact section 5111 of the Code of Virginia, as amended by an act approved March 6, 1926, relating to divorces." A message was received from the Senate by MR. BALL, who informed the House that the Senate had agreed to a joint resolution for the introduction and consideration of a bill" to amend and re-enact section 98 of the Code of Virginia, in relation to registration of voters; in which they request the concurrence of the house. A message was received from the Senate by MR. BARRON, who informed the House that the Senate had agreed to a joint resolution for the introduction and consideration of the following bills: A bill to amend and re-enact section twenty-seven (27) and section twenty-eight (28) of an act entitled "An act to raise revenue for the support of the government and public free schools, and to pay the interest on the public debt, and to provide a special tax for pensions as authorized by section 189 of the Constitution," approved April 16, 1903, commonly designated as the "Tax Bill," as heretofore amended. A bill to empower the State Corporation Commission to make review and correction of its assessments of the value of the property of any transportation company, transmission company, or other public service corporation, and of its assessments of any tax upon such companies or their property. A bill to amend and re-enact an act entitled "An act to authorize the councils of cities and towns to provide by ordinance for the collection of city or town taxes or levies on property in equal semiannual installments," approved March 24, 1926. In which they request the concurrence of the House. A message was received from the Senate by MR. HOLLADAY, who informed the House that the Senate had agreed to the following resolution: Whereas, the heart of the civilized world still goes out in loving pity to the 35,000 Christian orphans in institutions under the protection of the Near-East Relief, and Whereas, the strong necessity for a continuation of this protection is still urgent, and Whereas, the part played and being played by Virginia in this philanthropic and humantarian activity has been such as to attract most favorable comment and to commend itself to all, and Whereas, the necessity for continuing the spiritual as well as the purely physical salvation of this little army of helpless children is apparent, and Whereas, there is in charge of the Virginia Division of Near-East Relief a colony of orphans located in what is known as the Virginia Industrial Training School on the Isle of Syra, in the Aegean sea, over the heads of whom floats the flag of the United States and the banner of the Old Dominion, and Whereas, those in charge of this work among the children have the unqualified commendation of the General Assembly of Virginia for their earnest and effective efforts in the near orient, and Whereas, the Near East Relief is incorporated by the Congress of the United States of America, Therefore, resolved by the Senate of Virginia, the House concurring, That the General Assembly go on record as very strongly approving the activities of the national organization of the Near East Relief of America, with especial emphasis on that part of these efforts put forth by the Virginia Branch. THE SPEAKER laid the resolution before the House. The resolution was agreed to. MR. SMITH, of Alexandria, offered the following resolution: Resolved that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet tomorrow at 10 o'clock A. M., and that the special order be resumed at 10:15 o'clock A. M., which was agreed to. The following were presented and referred under rule 37: To the Committee for Courts of Justice: By MR. SHRADER: A bill to amend and re-enact section 5111 of the Code of Virginia, as amended by an act approved March 6, 1926, relating to divorces. |