Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-02-21
FINANCE THE TOPIC.
THE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS DISCUSSES
THE CONDITION OF THE TREASURY
Many Questions Considered But NO Action
Tsken-Saie OF Unclaimed To-
baeco-Otber Measures.
&" We have done nothing"

1--WE have done nothing"
This was the very unanimous sentiment
of the members Of the General Assembly
who attended the Democratic conference
last night.
The caucus was held in the hall OF the
House Of Delegates and lasted Tor t"o
hours and quarter. Mr.. Ryan presided
during the greater portion of the evening.
The attendance was quite large, en-
bracing several prominent Democrats not
members of either branch, and the discus
sions were interesting and very generally
indulCed in They took quite wide range,
and nearly all Of the important SUBJECTS pi
legislation now pending were oroushV
under review.
VERY CLOSE SESSION.
The session was a very close and secret
one. ,,.,
Not only were the doors closed as usual
but one Of the Capitol policemen was sta-
toned in the rotunda to see tnat repre-
sentatives Of the press did not get 100 near
the doorway of the. secret chaho9t vi
keeper Haines. of the Senate, was on guai9i
at the door TO see that the reporters dl9
not ease their ears up TO the key-hoie ana
that the unwary members did not disclose
any OF the secrets of the inner courts,
What puzzled the law-makers-and on
this they commented quite freely-was that
the Dispatch has had such full and accurate
reports of the proceedings of the secret
sessions.
In fact, some Of them were ready to de-
clare that the private sessions have peeh
reported better than the open ones attend
ed by the reporters. This they could not
at all understand, and there was dispos,-
tion 10 even suspect some of the lesser ofil-
cials Of divulging what they were not e1-
pccted TO.
The result was that before the session
opened we'll the absolute necessity, OF Keep
ing a still tongue was impressed, on the
members and they were given to understand
that the injunction of secrecy was not 70
be broken. The speakers, 0s rule, wouId
not even raise their voices TO the ordinary
pitch. though some few forgot themselves
and gave full vent to their opinions In high-
sounding flights of oratory.
JUDGE SELECTED.
The first business of the evening was the
nomination of Judge for the County
Court Of Wise TO fill the vacancy occa-
stoned by the resignation OF Hon. L. G.
Wells. ,
For this Office Mr.. William Miller was
unanimously chosen, and he will probably
be elected to-day or tomorrow.
Mr.. Miller is rising young lawyer Oh
Southwest Virginia, and was the Demo
cratic nominee for the House last fall, but
was defeated by his brother. who ran on
the Republican ticket.
TIE PENSION BILL.
II was not deemed expedient to settle the
fate of the pension bill in the caucus; 50
its destiny will depend upon the treatment
that 1t receives on the floors of the respec-
tive houses-that is, if it ever gets through
the branch in which it originated.
This bill comes up in the House to-day
on it's passage and the vote in all proba-
bility will not be longer deferred. While9
the caucus has not approved or rdlsapproved
the measure the discussions OF the state
finances that have there been INDUCED IN
will probably influence many IN casting
their votes on subject that involves so
heavy an obligation on the State.
REGISTRATION.
Several Of the members when asked the
direct question whether or not the election
laws were discussed answered that they
were not.
The necessity OF o more perfect method
of registration was commented on by many
of the senators and delegates in private
conversations if not openly dwelt upon
ON the floor of the House. Registration
bills are pending in both branches and
some changes will probably be made. One
very popular idea seems TO be TO break up
the practice of voting on transfers at the
country precincts.
THE TREASURY AND THE DIET.
These, now, are two subjects that were
discussed, and very fully at that.
The ore is so intimately associated with
the other that they were Just considered
along together Nearly all who spoke on
the prospects of settling the latter referred
TO the condition of the former, and the
need of urgent economy in the administra-
tion of the affairs Of the State was often
brought out and forcibly placed before the
peoples representatives.
The consensus Of opinion as regards the
debt appeared to be that there is now no.
thing more to be done except to endorse
the Governors recommendations with re-
ference to the bondholders' letter concern
ing another conference, and to perhaps
mass some one or two more debt measures
now pending.
On the general policy of the Legislature
with reference to the financial affairs OF
the State there was manifested an almost
unanimous sentiment in favor OF reducing
appropriations wherever it Is possible to
do so. Especially is 1t contemplated
to lessen the expenditures on account
of the public institutions wherever
il can possibly be done without very great
| bar1ships. With this end in view, the
Finance Committees have looked with ex-
ceedingly close scrutiny over the appro-
priations for educational and eleemosynary
purposes, and have been in conference wlth
! those under whose management the funds
are expended to see where reductions can
possibly be made.
All az these matters and others were con-
sidered, and there was very general In
! terchance of views, but no definite action
was taken, the Dispatch man was frequent
| ly assured and at 1890 the caucus ad-
| journed without date.
Sale OF Unclaimed Tobacco.
Mr.. Sands introduced a bill in the Sem
| ate Yesterday ito amend and reenact sec
! tion 1842 of the Code of Virginia in rela-
| tion to sale by samplers and others of un-
| claimed tobacco in warehouses OF the city
of Richmond and disposition OF proceeds" "
| The bill provides that when any tobacco
shall have remained in any warehouse in
| the city undemanded for term OF three
wears from the time of its inspection there
| in the warehouscman or other person
having the tobacco in charge or entitled TO
the dues thereon may sell the same after
being duly advertised and the proceeds
shall be paid into the State Treasury after
deductlng all dues and fees.
The bill was placed on the calendar.
That Nuisance Bill.
Tho bill introduced in the Senate on
Wednesday by Mr.. Lovenstein to extend
the sanitary jurisdiction of the city one
mile into the county, as is now the case
with the criminal jurisdiction. was re-
ferred to the Committee on County, ,Clty,
and Town Organizations instead OF beng
placed on the calendar, as was stated yes
! terday.
| This measure has aroused great deal
of feeling among the residents OF the
county within the prescribed limits, ana
hard fight will be made against 1t. 1t is
Mr.. Lovenstein's purpose, and was whien when
the bill was presented, that the opposition
shall be given full and fair hearing oe-
fore the committee, and it is. quite likely
that special session Will be held Tor tnis
purpose. .;.,,
Several enterprises located near the city
limits may be effected If this measure De
comes a law: therefore the fight over the
bill will likely be most interesting one.
The bill was handed to the senior senator
from Richmond few minutes before he
introduced It, and in becoming its patron
he did not obligate hlmself to It's support
Inspection of Fertilizers.
The Uonse having on Yesterday agreed tC