Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-02-13
TIE COMMITTEE BY A UNANIMOUS
VOTE REPORT IT ADVERSELY.
The Military Code and Criminal Expense
Bills to- Be Considered In the
Senate To-Day.

Xork. and opposed by Professor Nor
ton. of stevens Institute, and Captain
Garden. OF New York, formerly of this
State. when the committee, after three
hours sitting, rose 10 meet yesterday
morning MIR. Theodore Garnett. of Nor
foik. had taken the floor and gotten as far
A. 10 SOY that the passage Of the bill would
certainly cause the Virginia ElectrIc-Light
company Of Norfolk either 10 suspend OF
10 lose 81. 900.
JUDGE oARSrTT's SPEECH.
When the committee reasscmblcd in the
geuate chamber Yesterday morning Judge
Garnett proceeded 10 address them. He
argued that though purporting TO be intro
5uced IS a safeguard TO the interests of the
ucoplc Of Virginia, it was in reality IA con-
inuation Of the struggle for supremacy OF
two great electrical companies; that II had
not been called for by public opinion in
'hs State: that no petition recommending
tic adOptiOn of such a law had been pre-
souied 10 the General Assembly by any
one. and that on the contrary every practi-
cal man was opposed to its passage.
II. -a ne, the promoters of the bill were
actuatod by purely philanthropic motives.
vhy should they come here from New
York and New Jersey. whore persons had
la-i their lives by pure carelcssnoSs, and
cudeavor 70 induce the Legislature of VIr-
GINA 20 pass such law. though but sim
rle case could he brought forward where
sny one had boon injured by electricity in
tb- Staie>
Why did they not endeavOr 10 have such
laws passed bv tho Legislatures of New
York and New Jersey now in session?
RICHMOND HEARD FROM.
Navor Fllyson. who spoke next. said he
rohsidored the matter entirely within the
g.pc Il supervision 10y the municipal
authorities. who now controlled the hand
h,r and storage OF kerosene, gunpowder,
a. $50,
i,e believed il unwse that such q bill
should be- passed by the General Assembly
anI was convinced that the city authorl-
tos were entirely competent to deal with
O., subject.
ln new Of the bill now pending TO per-
ni., the city Of Richmond TO own and ope-
r,,. IT'S own electric-light plant. the Mayor
ul4 decidedly opposed 10 the passage of
t,- measure. which would only impose
Increased expense upon our people.
Ho showed bv reference to the Gas
Tlrd, Jo'Vnni, published IN Massachusetts,
that l0s persons lost their lives during the
wear 1859 by gas alone throughout the
United States. while the supporters and
ur.lYutcr- of this measure could not show
a. many deaths caused by electricity
durms the last decade of years.
nrpoErrD ADVERSELY.
TIE hin was further opposed 10y Hon. W.
". Berry. oi Liberty; Mr.. Bell, of Lynch
lg-r. Nr. Chamberlain. of the Norfolk CON-
p,n,. tr. President Of the Piedmont Elec-
-rcnumiuating COMPANY, and representa-
tiyc- from other cities of the state.
Several senators also said their people
were opposed 10 the proposed measure.
Nlr s. J.. HouiNare, who opened the dis
,u.,i0u oi thr suhjcct. closed it, speaking
maiv.cacy of tAe scheme. which he was
fully convinced would result IN great bene-
ftfothe people of the State III protecting
both person, and property.
80 1880. AFTER having given nearly hye
hDr. o. bearing persons Interested, the
.mmmitice retired for private conference.
lll after "a short consultation decided by
unanimous vote to report the bill with
'nr recommendation that II do not pass.
tine committee being OF the opinion that
flI~ De- matter for the municipal authOrl-
Ties 90 decide for themselves.
This report was made by Chairman
Sirhbs soon after the Senate met.
Professor Morton and Mr.. II. W. Pope,
secretary of the American Institute OF
Electrical Engineers. spent tho afternoon
Vith Nh NJ. r.. Leonard, the superlntend-
sat of telegraph of the Chesapeake and
ohio railway IN visiting the power-sta-
t.rs of the Electric railway and the Elec-
t.'-Light and Power Company.
Criminal Expenses.
TIE nine bulls prepared bv the Senate
Committees on Finance and Courts looking
fts ,artailmeut of the criminal expenses
.. flo state and the three that have since
...n presented by the Finance Committee
ai'h The same end IN view will come up III
f.. senate AT o'clock to-day "a special
..i,r. Al Of the bill, will be considered
41l- ~ batch.
The Military Code.
Ono # the most important bills before
i.. General Assembly, and one III which
.r-e class Of the people of the state are
Interested is that to provide for the en-
io.mrnt oi the militia, for the organization
Hnl government of the National Guard of
f. State oI Virginia, and for the public
defence. and entitled the Military Code, "
which VIII come up III the Senate at
lock on Tuesday next as IA special order.
il,s measure was introduced some
weeks ago 10y Mr.. Harrison at the re-
la.-, of certain military officers of the
State. at whose instance and under whose
direction IL was prepared. The bill was
referred 10 the Committee on General
Laws, before which several leading mill
tre men appeared in connection with the
subject, and was reported back 10 the
senate with numerous amendments, but
ia, since been TecOmmltted, so that the
uit4ry officers might consider the pro-
posed amendments. all Of which were
iand acceptable. ~
lhe general provisions of the hill have
been published in substance, but there are
come features in II OF special interest.
STAFF DEpAETMENTs.
Sections IS and 1G of Article read:
1te staF OF the commander-ln-chlet
fh4,l consist of acknowledgement, with
tlc rank OF major-general. who shall be
c..ti Of stall l inspector-gencral; COM
Miss .,-4rv-general, who shall be chief OF ord
.r-t: / iudge-advocate-ge general, who
f.al bo a counsellor at law of supreme
Court Of at least five years standing; l
iurtcon-ceneral. who shall be graduate
oi some Incorporated school of medicine
All of AZ least five years practice; ] chief
of engineers. who shall have been educated
a- an engineer; chief OF artillery. quar-
termasteI-general. l paymaster-general, l
comuis-ary-cc of subsistence, gene
III Inspector Of rife practice, each with
the rank of brigadieT-generai; aldes-de-
camp. each with the rank of colonel Upon
fhv recommendation of the chiefs OF stan
departments the commander-ln-chiet may
appoint such assistants of such rank (not
O. exceed that OF ooloneD as IN his
judgment may be necessary. 1he oihcers
composing the staff of conmandcr-in-
emri their assistants. and the stan oincers
tlr general stat OF the State.
lu the staa departments there shall De-
g. zach division. assistant adlutant-gene-
-. with the rank Of colonel. who shall he
ct,i Of the diyision-stGn: l inspector, !
engineer, ! judge-adyocate. 1 surgeon, l
chief Of artillery, ordnance officer,
lulftermaster, / commissary OF subsist-
eDce. Inspector Of rifle practice, and
Chaplain. each with the rank of lieutenant
colonel; and. as the personal stah OF the
DIVISION general, aides-de-camp. with the
rank Of major. To each brigade there
shall be assistant adjutant-Renera', with
tie rank Of lieutenant-colonel, who shali
be chief Of the brigade stat. inspector, !
engineer, ! judge-adyocate, ] surgeon,
ordnance officer. chaplain. quartermas-
Ger, commissary Of subsistence, inspec;;
Tor Of u He practice. each with the rank OF
inaiors and, az the personal stan OF the
brlgader-gencral, aides-de-camp, Win
The rank Of captain.
REQUIREMENTS.
bection 26 Of Article V. which treats OF the
election and appointment Of commission
td aud nOn-cOm mnisSionsd officers provides