Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1882-02-03

committee to report the names or Senators
who shall constitute the committee to in
vcstigate las directed by the Riddleberger
rssolution) the report ''that certain per-
sons have been making attempts to influ-
ence members of this General Assembly
by corrupt means" This was adopted,
yes IS, noes 12, the effect being to take
from President pro tenn, Wyatt M. Elliott,
the appointment of the committee. Mr..
Riddleberger who, had the committee been
appointed by the President instead of cleo
ted by the Senate, would have been it's
chairman was very indignant, and refused
In advance to go before the committee and
tell all he knew about the corrupt
means" He also threatened to 60 before
the House of Delegates and ask that
branch to make the investigation. Mr..
Berry, (Dem.) insisted that Mr.. Riddle
berger should be the chairman Of the in
vestigating committee. As for himself he
would not have voted for Mr.. Newberry's
resolution except with the understanding
that Mr.. Riddleberger would be chairman
AS to Mr.. RS threat not to 60 before the
committee and testify, The Senate would
have to see that he should do SO, and that.
he told all he knew
PRESIDENT PRO TEN ELLIOTT FEELS
HURT AND RESIGNS.
President Elliott after some remarks to.
the effect that he regarded the adoption Of
the Newberry resolution as an evidence
that the majority of the Senate could not
so lar trust him as presiding officer as to-
entrust him with the appointment of a.
committee, rendered his resignation of
his position. Mr.. Elliott, personally, is a
general favorite with all parties in the
Senate and any number of disclaimers,
highly complimentary in their character,
were made by members of all parties of
any intention to reflect on him and urging.
him to withdraw his resignation.
Mr.. Koiner made kind and conciliato--
~ speech, saying that he had voted for
the resolution without much thought. He,
did not deny that perhaps lie thought it
was an opportunity to give them dose of
their own medicine. He referred to the
fact that the resolution came from mem
Der, of the dominant party, and that the
same course had been pursued by the DOM
lnant party towards Lieutenant Governor
Walker, and he regretted the mortifica-
ton to which that gentleman had been
| subjected. Mr.. Koiner went on to speak
most kindly of Mr.. Elliott, and to regret
| that anything they had done, had wounded
his feelings.
| The matter to which Mr.. Koiner allud-
ed is this: On December Sth, Mr.. Bal
| Low (Paa 1i,,ctar Como torl offorad q roool,,
ti"n appointing Senators Elliott, EsKridge,
Wood, Bliss and RaWles special COM
mittee TO report standing committees for
| the session, thus taking it out of the
| hands of 1t. Gov. Walker, then the pre-
siding officer. On Dec. 18th Mr.. Elliott
from that committee reported the stand
ing committee.
RIDDLEBERGER LOW SPIRITED.
Mr.. Ri1dleberger urged Mr.. Elliott to
persist in his resignation and Lev the ina
jority' elect a President pro tenn. He add
ed that he should resign the chairman
ships of his own committees.
Mr.. Walker (Mahone-R eadjuster) differ
ed with Mr.. Riddleberger, He thought
the Reaojusters were not IN minority in
the Senate. He did not think MIR, Mas
sey's four friends had deserted to the enc
my. They were with the party on al
| points except that of Auditor. This was
still Readjuster body. He cited the fact
that yesterday the Riddleberger debt bill,
which was the great question before, the
people last fall, was passed by this body.
Mr.. Walker regretted the precedent So, in
taking the appointment of commit tees
| from Lieutenant-Governor Walker, fol he
was one OF the fairest presiding officers he
| ever knew. In 1879 he gave the ReaAi u.s.
| tiers majority on the committees, and
during his entire service there never was
Whimper against the justice of his rulings.
| Mr.. Walker was glad that his vote wa not
| recorded against Lleutenant-Gov error
| Walker. So he did not blame Mr.. E lliott
| for offering his resignation; but i t is
| good opportunity for every senator he re to
| vote confidence in him Mr.. Elliott, 'hich
| Mr.. Walker had no doubt would be
promptly done.
Mr.. Thurman (Dem.) after disclain aing
| any imputation on the presiding office by
his vote for the Newberry resolution, cad
from the rules of the U. S. Senate show ing
that there was standing rule that the
| Committees should be elected by ballot n
less otherwise ordered. l say therefore
that this body has done precisely accord
ing to the custom of appointing a special
committee in the Senate of the United
States L therefore protest that the pre-
siding officer, even without this declaimer
| of senators, is not treating those gentle
men right who voted for this resolution,
| l suppose my friend from Shenandoah is
proceeding upon the idea of making trea-
son odious, and proposes to shower down
| designations upon us until there is a flood.
He has resigned the Craftsmanship of his
committees; he has resigned his position
| On Ave or SIX other committees, and
almost expected to hear him resign his
| place as United States Senator. Laugh
| ter When that resignation comes, and
he is ready to go, I shall be very sorry, and
will bid him an affectionate farewell, and
assure him that the days of the years of
| the Riddleberger rule will ever be with me
/ a green spot in memory's waste. Laugh
| ter.
NO INsINUATIONS, IF YOU PLEASE.
| Mr. Newberry said that be did not like
the 1nsinuation of Mr.. Riddleberger that
| he had gone over to the Funder party. IT
is not so. When the gentleman speaks he
ought to give facts and not insinuations.
Mr.. NeWDerry supposed Jna6 Wnen MI.
| Riddleberger uttered his shibboleth on
this floor he expected every Readjuster to
rise up and cry out, Great is Diana of the
Ephesiaus." Laughter
WE FOUR.
Mr.. Lybrook good-humoredly said that
eve FOUR never could be changed, but
that he would stand by 1.-THE old man down
yonder'' fin the basement to the end. In
everything else he was with the ReadjuSt- |
ers.
ALL ABOUT THE CHARGES WILL BE
PUBLISHED.
Mr. Lybrook said something which led |
Mr.. Riddleberger to remark that as soon as |
he could get through with the work the |
Senator should know through the pub