Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-08-24
NEW-0LD ELECTION LAW.
1T GOES NOW TO THE GOVERNOR.
Disagreement OF the Two Houses on the
Amended Riddleberssr Bill-Nsw Oysser
Law-PsrsouaI.


Disagreement OF the Two Hoases on the
Amended Riddleberssr BiiI-New Oysser
Law-PsrsonaI.
In the Senate yesterday the bill came
over from the House restoring the election
law to exactly what 1t was prior TO the
passage oil the Mccormick bill, which was
pronounced void by the Supreme Court on
account OF the word Jreeholders appearing
In II. Mr.. Turner (Republican) said that
he was not lawyer, but 1t really seemed
TO him that an unconstitutional law could
not repeal constitutional one. Mr.. Nc
Cormick thought the matter was in such
grave doubt that q prudent Legislature
would not leave here before removing all
uncertainty. Mr.. Wickham was pretty
much Of MIR. Turner'S opinion, but to do
awsy with all question about Il he would
vote for the bill. Mr.. Powell said he
would vote for the bill, but did not wish
to be understood as endorsing any retiec-
iioD. on the Supreme Court Of Appeals
contained in the report Of the committee; (;
but thought that any remark OF that
court that the old law was In force was
outside Of the case. Inasmuch as the word
.freeholderS appears in the old law, II 10
very safe TO say that upon q proper case
the Supreme Court would also declare that
unconstitutional.
The bill was placed upon the calendar by
unanimous c0nsent-that II, IL was not re.
ferred.
Mr.. Mccormick stated that upon sug-
gestion contained in paper publisncd IN
Richmond [the Dispatch the old law had
been compiled from the Acts OF Assembly,
not from the Code, which latter has never
been adopted as ,aw.
There is no change in the old election
law except to strike out the word "free-
holders" where IL appears once, and to
confirm and ratify the elections and regis
tralions that have been had since the Nc
Cormck bill was passed.
Mr.. IIeaton hoped that some extra
efforts would be made to prevent such
errors appearing in this bill-clerica. typo
graphical, or other-as disfigured some OF
the legislation OF last session.
Mr.. Mccormick explained that special
arrangements had been made TO that end.
The bill was passed without objection
from any quarter.
LEAVES.
Leave OF absence was granted TO Mr..
KOiner for one day. to Mr. Lybrook for
three days, to Mr.. Mcdonald two lays, and
TO AIR. Bailey two days from Monday.
THEY DISAGREE.
The Senate was informed that the House
refused to agree 10 its amendment 10 the
amended Ridlleberger bill.
On motion Of Mr.. Wickham. the Senate
A.. 4 H.. In,
formed Of that action.
A committee of conference representing
the two houses was subsequently, ap-
pointed.
IThe following Is the view General
Wickham takes OF this controversy. and
which was adopted by the Finance Com
mittee and then by the Senate:
House bill No. 2 and the substitute there.
for. adopted by the Senate, both provide
that no coupons maturing hter July, 1882.
shall be funded under the act OF February
II, 1882. House bill No. 3prOvides that no
bond shall be funded unless all the coupons
maturing after july |. 1882, are attached
(or interest on registered bonds follows the
bonds) This IL an impossible condition,
for at least S3.0O0,0O0 OF the bonds and pro
f1ntO prohibits the funding OF these
ther legislation upon the subject OF
the debt, for coupons belonging to
at least SS,000,0O0 Of bonds have
been paid into the Treasury and
cancelled. The bill, therefore. is unjust
to the holders OF portion Of the bonds,
inasmuch as they would be estopped from
funding under the Riddleberger bill, and
Is unuISe and contrary TO the whole spirit
OF the legislation upon the debt question
and OF the sentiments OF the people OF the
State. lnasmuch as II makes the legislation
ANYTHING but final. which is what the people
demand and what the universal sentiment
OF the General Assembly has assumed TO be
proper-namely. finality Of legislation upon
the debt question, so as to briEg il Ibso-
lutely out Of the political arena in the state.
Lastly, it leaves the bondholders at hb-
erty. without penalty OF any description,
10 hold on to their bonds for an indefinite
period before offering them to fund, taking
the chances for some change for their
advantage in public sentiment and Ill lsgis-
lation. placing them in position in which
at some future day they may make corner
upon the state by presenting bonds at one
time for funding, with an accumulation OF
interest, TO be paid in cash at the time OF
presentation, that would utterly swamp
the State.
On the other hand the Ser ate substitute,
whilst It prohibits the funding OF coupons
accru;ng after July |, 1852, declares, and
thus gives notice, that any person failing
TO fund before any other coupon or cOu-
nom mature shall forfeit such coupons as
do mature between the 18th Of August,
1854. and the date at which such bond i
funded. and declares that no bond shall
hereafter be issued with coupons or inter
est maturing before the date OF exchange
and surrender OF such bonds.
The effect Of this is to make it against
the interest OF the bondholder 10 delay III
| funding.
1t further provides that the coupons OF
| each class which have already matured be
| tween July /, 1882, and July l, 1854. shal
| be paid for at exactly what the state woull
| have paid on them had the bond been fund
ed july !, 1882.
This is lust aud fair and is 4 wise ar
| rangement for the State. 1t adds the add
tional inducements to the bOndholders L
| fund. Of a continuing and increasing for
| lcIture should they delay funding, and /
Dlace- the law and the proposition TO tn
| creditors in position OF complete iinality-
thus putting an end TO all questions tha
| would require any re0pening Of the ques
| tion, any further agitation OF II before th
people. or any other legislation upon th
suLiect.l
| Personal.
| Mr.. Thurman rose to question OF priv
lege, and sent to the Clerks desk and ha'
| read the following extract from the U,
match report OF the remarks OF Mr.. Gil
son made in the House OF Delegates Fri
day I'm reference TO the Eastern Lunati
| ASYLUM: Furthermore. he had under
stood that under the present management
there were almost a. many Officers a. ther
were lunatics. and besides, he understoo
that negro officials had been placed owe
white inmates"
Mr.. Thurman said that the remarks 0
Mr.. Gibson referred 10 the Eastern Ilinstl
Asylum, and were made upon the bill AZ
propriating surplus fund to erect resi-
denee for the superintendent. 81 desir
TO say," remarked Mr.. Thurman. "thn
the statement purportingto have been mad
that there are as many officials as inmate
(. not true. nor is there any negro ol
fetal exercising authority over white IN
mates. so far as that authority existed
was promptly removed by the present man
agement. know OF no negro official en-
ployed, except in menial service whicl
no white man would perform. | desire L
say this much in reference to the reporte,
remarks OF Mr.. Gibson, which, II uttered
reflect upon the present management
Therefore make this statement"
Mr.. Bailey [who was member OF W
| old Roardl The remarks are wholly gra