Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-02-22
analysis as provided for in the first bill
shall be stamped on the bags.
Adjourned at 300.
EEouse Of Delegates.

ANALYSIS as provided for in the first bill
shall be stamped on the bags.
Adjourned at 300.
House Of Delegates.
The House met at noon-Speaker
Cardwell in the chair. No prayer.
INVITATION.
The following telegram was read by
the Clerk :
ALEXANDRIA, Va, Fobiuary21, 1888.
Hon. r.. H. CqrdwcH, House Of Dote-
gates:
| am authorized to respectfully invite
Won and tho Delegates OF Virginia to be
present on the ODD instant to participate
with rs in celebrating Washingtons
birthday. Il. T.. DowNHAN,
Mayor.
CONvICTs ONCE MORE.
Mr.. Pedigo offered a joint resolution
that a committee Of competent archl-
tects and manufacturers he appointed
bv the Governor to examine the penl-
Tertiary grounds and buildings and as
certain what additional buildings will he
necessary to give employment to all the
convicts now in the penltentlary, or
likely TO be shortly confined there also.
the probable cost to the State OF SAID
buildings and machinery.
As soon as the buildings are com
pleted all convcts shall be employed
within the penitentiary, and as fast as
existing contracts expire the convicts
now employed outside the penitentiary
shall be returned to the same and en-
ployed in said shops
The raw material used in said shops
shall. as far as practicable, be the pro
ducts of Virginia mines, forests, and
fields.
All articles so manufactured shdH nc
DIaccd upon the markets Qffhe ~orla
oufsidc Of the THjtcd suites.
The resolution was placed on the cal
endar and ordered to be printed.
WHO CAN BE GARNGsHEED.
Mr.. Huffman moved to take up the
bill amending section 1857 Of the Code.
This section is amended so as to read
The word householder used in this
chapter shall be equivalent to the eX-
preston householder or head OF u
family" and the term laboring man
shall be construed to include all house.
holders who receive wages for their SER
wees.
The bill was ordered to its engross-
ment, and afterwards passed.
There has heretofore been much va
rance Of opinion among judges as to
who could be garnisheed under the law.
This law defines clearly what has been
in doubt.
INTRODUCED AND REFERRED.
Bv. Mr.. Williams: For the relief of
Frank Howe from the payment Of fine
By Mr.. Coleman: Petition Of citizens
of Dauville and North Danville in favor
Of Senate bill amending the mechanics
lien law.
BY Mr.. Spencer For the relief OF B..
W. l.. Kitchen.
BY same: For the relief Of Mrs. b.
W. L. Kitchen.
BY Mr.. Hunter: To amend the Code
in relation to sending children in the
county to free schools in the city.
BY Mr.. Mustain To amend the act
authorizing the Mayor and Common
Council of the town of Chatham, in the
county OF Pittsylyania to borrow money.
TESTIMONY.
Mr.. Echols in the chair.
The bill to amend the Code 50 as to
provide that husband and wife shall be
competent to testify for or against each
other in all civil cases came up as the
special order at / o'clock. Mr.. Hay, the
patron, spoke in favor OF the bill, and
said thatit was recommended by the he
yisers of the Code.
Mr.. Elan rose to oppose it, He could
not let such q shocking measure pass
without raising his voice i'll protest.
Such laws as this virtually abolished
matrimony, in its original sense, or broke
the sacred ties which should exist be-
tween man and wife.
Mr.. Saunders, of Franklin, heartily
agreed with all that was said by the
member from Louisa. He had heard it
said that the present law was q relic of
barbarism. He thought it would be 60
ing back to harbarism to enact such a
measure as was proposed. This bill
pulls down the barrier Of privacy be-
tween the husband and wife, but yet no
move was made to do away with the con
fdential relations of lawyer and client.
Mr.. Saunders also believed the law
wonld give rise to many cases Of perjury,
and he saw no special instances where
hardship would arse under the present
law. The Legislature. hethought, could
do no more unwise thing than pass this
bill.
Mr. Buford expressed his extreme alb
horrence of the proposed legislation.
Such legislation was contrary to the Viz
ginia estimate of the privacy and sancti
tv of the home and family. The law Of
God was opposed to such a bill HC
boped the House would unanimously
vote it down, and he wished it could be
done with such an emphasis that would
keep it from ever coming up again.
Mr.. Flood, of Appomattox, said this
matter was a delicate one, and such bill
held ont temptations to women to com
nit perjury which not all would be able
| to resist. He desired it understood that
he was strongly opposed to the bill, and
he gave his several reasons in detail.
Mr.. Hay said all the objections raised
have been merely sentimental. He re-
pudiated the idea that the women could
be taken down from their high position
by any law passed. The sanctity OF
home will not be endangered by the pas
sage of this bill. he was opposed to all
the married women's laws, but knew they
would never be repealed. and hence he
advocated this as a necessary conse
quence. He proposed to amend by
adding at the end of the first section
Provided that no admission nor com
munications made by husband and wife
to each other shall be given in eyi'
dence."
The amendment was agreed to.
The House then refused to engross the
bill-ayes, 10; noes, o..
RELIEF.
The Senate bill for the relief of Hughes
billiard, Jr., from the payment Of fine
of s25, imposed by the County Court Of
Pittsylvania in December, 1886, Wa:
called up and produced much discuss
sion and the development of much hui
NOR. The man had been fined fol
striking a man who had called him lar
a l.