Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-01-13

in lawful money of the United States
and NOT liz coupons.
4. This act shall be in force from its
passage.
Referred.
HOUSE BILLS PASSED.
The following House bills which, I'M
der a suspension of the rules, we're
placed on the calendar, were advanced
! to their passage
To enable the Board OF Supervisors of
Roanoke county TO borrow money for
the purpose Of enlarging the clerks Of
flee OF said county and for other pur-
poses.
To provide for the payment of ex-
penses of the Circuit Court for Frederick
county.
ELLIS-HOUSToN CONTEST.
At | o'clock the Ellis-Houston con-
tested case, which bad engaged the at
tentiou of the Senate for the three days
previous, came up for further considera-
ton. The question pending was whether
the resolution proposed by Mr.. Berry
directing the Committee on Privileges
and Elections to proceed with an investi-
cation OF Mr.. Fllis's right to seat on
the floor should be adopted.
Mr.. Jones offered a resolution pro-
viding that a vote should be taken not
later than 2 o'clock. Adopted.
Mr.. Read said he certainly desired to
vote inteligently on the subject, but
there were two points on which he was
not quite Observation-Disclosures the statu-
tory provision for service Of notice of
contest was mandatory as regarded its
application to the Senate, and whether
the incumbent (Houston) had suffered
injury by the failure of the memoraist
TO serve notice as required 10y the statute.
This reminded Nr. Houston that there
were several points to which he had
failed to address himself on Wednesday
owing to the frequent Interruptions to
which he was called upon to submit. He
therefore desired the indulgence of the
Senate for a few minutes to supple
ment what he had said
Here followed much talk as TO how
many speeches should be made, whether
Mr Berry should be followed by any
one after he made what WAS to be re-
garded as the closing speech, &c The
matter was finally solved by postponing
the time OF voting, and it was tacitly I'M
derstood that no one should follow Mr..
Berry.
ARGUMENT.
Mr. Houston was given fifteen minutes,
and he continued to oppose the resolu-
ton and TO point out what be considered
good reasons why Major Ellis had for
feited all rights IN the premises. He
claimed that Ellis as we'll as he had
"slips" with his name on them to be
pasted over his (Houston's) name. A
large part of MIR. Houston's speech was
personal testimony. TO which objection
vas raised but which the Chair sir.
WicKham) ruled was admissible. Some
points were denied by friends of Mr..
Ellis, but they were not such as TO have
any special bearing on the case.
Mr. Rhea spoke next after Mr.. Hous-
ton in the same line OF thought that he
had hitherto followed, holding that the
statutory provision WAS valid and man
datory one and as binding upon the SEN
ate as is any other statute upon court.
MR. BERRY CLOSES.
Mr.. Berry, the mover of the resolu-
ton and VINO made the first speech in
its behalf closed the argument His
effort was an able one, and was some
what recapitulation OF the argument
advanced by bis opponents, with an eff
fort on his part to refute it. He held
that the constitutional provision that the
Senate should be the sole Judge OF the
election, qualifications, and returns
OF its members gave the body
full power to act in this ease, and that
the statutory provision was without any
power OF enforcement that presidents
amounted to nauGht. He severelYcrlti-
cised the use of sticker ballots and said
that the Senate should place the seamp
of its unmeasured condemnation upon
their use. He quoted from the law to
show that they are unlawful in that they
consist OF two pieces OF paper, whereas
but one is provided for.
The chamber was crowded, and Mr..
Berry was listened to with profound at
tention.
THE VOTE.
At the close of his speech the vote was
taken, and it resulted as follows:
AYEs.-Messrs Arthur. Barnes, Berry, Dalton,
Dudley, EGmunds, EllysOn, Foxes, Harrison,
heatoD, koiner. Loyens.ein, staples, Stubs,
and Twyman-l5.
Nogs-Mossrs Ackar, Blackstone. Cornett,
Duane, Gee. GriRgs, Hodges, HUBBARD, Jones.
Lloyd, Mcdonald. Nance, Rawlings, Read, Rhea.
Wickhsm, and Williams-lf
Messrs Gordon, Moore, and Smoot
were pared with absent senators, and
therefore could not vote. Mr.. Hurt did
not vote.
Mr.. Williams first voted Aye, but
CHANGED that he might make the motion
to reconsider.
RECONSIDERATION.
as soon as the vote was announced
Mr.. Williams moved to reconsider.
Messrs. Blackstone and Rhea we're
anxious to call the previous question,
but they could not obtain the floor.
Mr.. Williams argued in favor of re-
and Mr.. Rhea against it,
and finally, when not less than three re-
corded votes had been taken on the mo-
ton to adjourn, the Senate adjourned /.
until II o'clock to-day, leaving tine mo-
ton to reconsider still pending
Should the vote not be reconsidered |
to-day and the resolution adopted, one
will be presented aud no doubt carried |
a special committee to inVes.
tlgate whether Mr.. Houston is entitled to |
his seat.
House OF Delegates.
The House met at noon.-Speaker |
Cardwell in the chair.
HOUSE BILLS REPORTED.
To provide just compensation for per-
sonal service or labor when exacted for
public uses adverse report ; for work
ing and repairing tine public roads in
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