The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-12-15
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
REVIEW OF A WEEK THATtWiLl BE
HISTORICAL.
The Memorials Of EI-President DAVIS
General W. c. Wickham and ID. 4.
Houston-The Oyster Wharf.-The Change
in tho Election Law.

General W. G. Wickham and ID. Z.
Houston-The Oyster Wharf.-The Change
in tho Election Law.
A memorable week in the action OF Nlr-
ginia legislation has just posed. III Will
in the future, be hunted by hungry hlsto-
rians. jefferson Davis death caused the
Assembly TO adopt suitable resolutions OF
respect to his memory. He was known
and beloved i'm Virginia. Perhaps his own
State. Mississippi, did not control more
genuine affection for him than this Old
Dominion. lie died while her General
Assembly was in session. Inc pup,
lie pulse thrObbed with pure ana
deep rooted sorrow. The sons OF the state
representing the Commonwealth IN the halls
Of legislation knew this. They were prompl
TO act. A Joint committee reported at once.
expressive and touching resolutions. lhey
were passed by and made the c0ntinu-
ing order until Wednesday, when the
funeral of Mr.. Davis took place. Then
the resolutions were put upon theif
passage. and while bells tolled and
cannon sent forth solemn sound, the senate
and House of Delegates in session paid
feeling tribute to a loved leader. 1t will be
an historic occasion. The dimness of time,
brought forward by flight Of years, will eff
face details, but the records of the branches
of the Assembly will show how earnestly
Virginia lamented the loss by deathof a
great and good man, and how sincerely she
paid her feeble tribute 10 his worth.
Then came the tribute TO General W H.
Iiams Carter Wickham, a gallant cavalry
! brigadier, a member Of the Confederate
Congress. The speeches in the Senate on
this occasion bore strong attestation OF the
great respect in which he was held by hls
associates. He died a member OF the Senate
of Virginia. His son succeeds him, and The
name of Wickham is still heard in the
Senate. The Generals statue will stand
i'm the Capitol Square, and future
generations will look upon IT, His
name and his generous deeds viii
| live forever. Another occasion was thai
when the Senate passed resolutions OF re-
spect TO the memory Of ID. [. Houston, o
Roanoke. Mr.. Houston was gentleman o.
high order, and greatly respected. lis
death was the result OF an accident, caused
bv his slipping and falling on the street
Senator Mcdonald and Senator johnson
paid fitting tribute TO his memory.
The oyster war came up, also, during the
past week. This is an old she'll OF conten-
ton, to speak metaphorically. and, as usual
| brought the Eastern shore men TO the front
| The mountaineers do not care much about
| this question. To quote Senator Jones, o
| Highland county, they do not "care mucf
about oysters, save on the half SHELF" bul
| this oyster question always comes up, ano
has for 10, these many years puzzled legs
lators. The result this time has been The
passage by the Senate of the repeal o.
| the oyster law concerning Hog island
| Hats, and this troublous ground, where
piratical vessels, so called. were won
| TO sail. is open now to every tOngsman ane
dredger from either Virginia or Maryland
| But the question is by no means settled
Mr.. Lewis, under authority granted him by
the act to be repealed. is lessee Of Hog island
flats. lie may take steps TO recover from
Virginia violation of his privileges; ant
although Senator Blackstone, of Accomac
has volunteered his services in defense o.
the State, the stubborn fact Of litigation still
stares the State in the face. and the OutcOm,
is in doubt.
Many minor points were brought up fol-
consideration, mere matters OF local import
| and these were quickly disposed of.
A paramount question Of considera
| ton is change in the election law of thu
State Great diversity Of opinion prevail.
on this subject, and the best prognostica
| tor can not tell what the result will be. A
| well-pOsted Richmond registrar and judge
| of election has the following idea, which he
thinks would cover the question.
His proposition is for one registrar APP
pointed by the board Of registration, for all
cities and towns of over 1000 inhabitants
who shall be the custodian of all registra-
| tiOn-boOks in said city or town, who shall
| be yearly salaried officer, paid out of the
| treasury of the cities; shall keep an open
Office in a convenient location the yeaI
round. whose duty it shall be to register OF
l fpa, ..fa g.
| another on the personal application Of the
voter. Having all of the books in his Of
| flee il can be done all at the same time
without any inconvenience TO the voter, aud
| at the same time making the registration
more uniform, keeping the books in safer
place and in IA better condition, and
| in measure guarding against dou.
BILE registrations, as the same per
son might be deferred from applying
10 the same registrar TO register the
second time. Ten days. before every cleo
ton registration must be closed (as provided
now. Fifteen deys prior to the closing day
notice Of which must be posted at eacl
voting precinct, and at two other pub
| lie places in the bounds Of each
precinct, the general registration Office
must be kept open from sunrise 10 sun
set Of each day, and five days befor,
the election three lists of the new
ly registered and transferred voter.
must he posted by the registrar al
three places, as above. in each precinct
The day before election day the frst-named
OF the three judges Of each Of the election
precincts in the city shall call at the general
registration office and get the registration
books OF his precinct, receipting to the regis
trar for the same. and the day AFTER the cleo
| ton the said judge is to return the registra.
ton books so taken 10 the registrar in the
peualty 10 be fixed