Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-01-11

] ADJODhNMENI.
Mr. Hav, OF Madison, offered n con-
current resolution providing that the Lee
Qislature adjourn on Wednesday, Feb
rIary 1t, siRe die.
NIr. Figgat, of Finclstle. hoped the
resolution would go to a committee.
The patron hoped it would not but it
did (by vote of-ayes 80, noes 26), go to
the Committee on Propositions aud
Grievances, the Republicans mainly
voting No.
MUCH ADO.
Senate bill for the relief Of John Col
Inns from the payment Of fine OF $50
and costs imposed by the County Court
OF Grayson county came up on its pass
age.
MIR. Buford, of Richmond, favored the
bill.
Mr.. Fircat, of Fincastle, did not think
the Legislature the proper body TO dis
pense charity.
Mr.. Elan, of Louisa, thought it sim
pie Justice, not charity. This is a case
which should be given a ear.
Mr.. Buiord said the beneficiary OF the
bill was very poor.
Tn the prolonged discussion which fol-
lowed the fact that time hangs heavily
on the hands Of the General Assembly
was powerfully illustrated. There were
( half a dozen or more speeches made,
several Of them OF unusual merit, and
the galleries were crowded with interest
ed spectators.
The facts developed were that the citi-
zen to whom relief was proposed to be
granted was the father Of nine children
| and the husband of a lunatic wife, whom
he supports in his little cabin IN the
mountains rather than send her 70
lunatic asylum, where she would
| be q charge upon the State Treasury.
he is very poor, his sole possessions
being one COW and n few household
goods. His character is exemplary, but
/ in an evil moment he was led into con
/ spiracy by which he committed crlml-
nal offence, though III 50 doing he re-
lievel the county of a great nuisance.
| Details not given For this he was IN
dicted and pleaded guilty, and was given
the lowest penaity-a fine ~ $40. AS
he has no goods liable to seizure it Is ut
terly impossible that the Commonwealth
! ever can make the fine out OF HIM, but
to save him from harassment 10y the
officers Of the law this relief was asked.
1t was not contended that the officers
were pursuing him with any severity,
but it seemed were simply doing their
duty with oil the mlldness which the
faithful discharge Of their duties per
mitted.
Mr. Figgat, while deeply sympathizing
with the man, opposed the bill. because
the law OF lSS)-'Sl had not been com
piled with that is, the petitioner had
not gone before the Circuit Court and
gotten it to certify the state OF facts.
He insisted that it was a bad precedent,
and he urged that all the information the
House had was in the way OF an erpdrte
statement. where. he had no doubt, the
gentleman stated all the facts he knew,
but he doubted if that gentleman knew
all the facts
Mr.. Buford said if ever there was a
case which appealed to the General As
sembly and justified it in waving the
statementrequired by the law of lSSO-'ol,
this was that case. His description Of
this mans poverty and misery, and how
costly and inconvenient it would be for
him to seek relief through the courts,
was quite eloquent.
Mr.. Elan urged that the lawof 1SS0-'8l
abridged the right of petition AT any
rate. III a ease like this, 1t was so costly
and troublesome that it afforded no re-
lief at all. He said that If tue General
Assembly refused to hearken to this pc
tition it might as well say that 1t would
never consent to hear the cry Of the
poor and distressed.
Mr.. Figgat Mr.. Buford, and Mr..
Elan each spoke two or more times, and
then Mr.. Martin, Of Norfolk county,
took the floor in advocacy of the bill, de-
claring that it came to the House as the
Judgment Of forty senator's, one of whom
was Judge Cornett, the former Judge Of
Cravson county, who knew all about the
petitioner, land who had appeared before
the House Finance Committee In ex-
PLANTATION Of it
Mr.. Martin said that it is a pity that
the secrets OF the committee-roOm cannot
be unfoIded. Mr.. Liam, too, said some
thing of the kind when he was on the
floor.
The bill was then passed-ayes, sc /;
noes, Is.
SENATE BILL PASSED.
To amend the act authorizing the coun-
ty of Chesterfield to subscrlbe TO the
capital stock of the Petersburg and Ches-
terfeld Railroad Company was passed.
SPECIAL ORDER.
At / O'Clock the special order-House
bill to provide for n reforlnatOry for
youthful criminals in Virginia-came up
on its engrossment.
The bill provides for the appointment
of W. O. Fry, of Albemarle j. S.
Marye, of fredericksburg Meade I.
White, of Augusta; S. W. Venable, of
Petersburg, and PeterJ. Otey, of Lynch
burg, as board of commissioners for
the purpose of selecting a site for the
proposed institution, having reference in
such selection to eligibility OF site,
healthfulness of location, and facility of
COuSlIuCllOu, piONlhth t4lab iAC tDuhIy
or corporation in which such site is Sc
lected shall donate to the Commonwealth
sufficient lands or lots for the purpose Of
such reformatory.
Mr.. Waddill, Of Henrico, moved TO
amend by adding to the list of Board OF
Commissioners ID. &. Richardson, Henry
Hudnall, and DR.. w. W. Parker, of Rich
mond DR.. T. l.. Deitrick, Major John
Page, General George W. Randall, and
G. p. Snead.
Mr. Hay, of Madison, patron of the
bill, hoped the amendment would fail.
The measure in its present form COM
mended itself to all and would be a most
advantageous step. The bill provided
for only the first step-to appoint COM
missioners to select site, &c, and at
the next session OF the Legislature plans
and specifications may be presented and
an appropriation asked for sufficient to
build the institution.
Mr.. Carter, OF Richmond city, also
favored tire bill, and proposed a slight
amendment-to change the appropria-
ton for architects fees, &c, to 81, go
instead of $1,000.
Mr. Waddll moved further TO amend
by adding the name Of J. l.. Tredway, Of
Pittsyivania.