Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-02-18
DEMOCRATS CONFER.
MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE cAu-
Gus FOR NEARLY TWO HOURS.
The Pension Bill ana Other financial
Measures Discussed Bus Not De-
cidc,;-Judre Nominated.

The Democratic members Of the General
Assembly spent nearly three hours last
night discussing matters OF legislation
bearing on the States finances.
The conference was held In the hall OF
the House of Delegates and was attended
by about all of the majority party members
who were in the city.
Mr.. Ryan, president of the Joint caucus,
presided during the early part OF the eve
ming, but retired from the hall soon after
0 oo'clock. and the chair was occupied du-
ring the remainder OF the evening by Mr.
Hurt, the President pro tenn. of the Senate.
Senator Lovenstein was at his post as sec
retary, but his duties were extremely light,
as there were noldivided votes to be taken.
As is the usual custom the meeting was
held with closed doors, and the partici-
pants were especially enioined to maintain
secrecy concerning what transpired ID the
hall. They obeyed the injunction very
faithfully, and wore not. only exceed
ingly reticent, but appeared nervous when
news-gatherer cornered or approached
them, as if afraid their fellow-legislators
would think they were unbosoming them
selves too freely.
JUDGE NOMINATED.
The first duty that devolved upon the
body was to nominate a judge for the
County Court of Northampton, to fill the
vacancy created by the death of Hon.
Hamilton S. Neal. For this position Mr.
Gilmor s. Kendall, q well-known member
of the Virginia bar and one of the most
efficient and faithful Democratic workers
on the Eastern Shore. was chosen. Making
the nomination consumed but little time,
it having been practically agreed before
hand that the honor should be conferred
upon Mr. Kendall. The election will oc-
cur to-day.
THE PENSION BILL.
The conference next proceeded with the
real business for which it was called-the
discussion Of important financial mea-
sures-and to this the remainder of the
evening was devoted. Many speeches were
made and on many topics, all bearing on
the one general theme.
The foremost and uppermost subject to
which the lawmakers addressed them
selves was the pension bill now pending in
the House. where it will come up on its
passage to-day. The expressions of opin-
ion on the feasibility of enacting such a
law in the present condition of the States
Treasury were full and so varied that
those who sat and listened de-
clared it was impossible for them to
judge how the assemblage stood on the
proposition. That the bill is one OF merit
all agreed; but whether it is practicable at
this time to incur this heavily ly-increased
liability was the question at issue, and 1t
still remains unanswered. There was no
vote taken. nor was there any expression
of sentiment other than that of the indi-
yidual members.
Everybody is in favor Of aiding the
manned Confederates and their families to
the extent of the States ability. but among
the financial leaders of both houses there
exists the gravest doubt as to the wisdom
Of the passage Of this bill. Some of them
were surprised Mt the unanimlty with
which the House ordered the bill
| to its engrossment, and ever since
then ii has been n matter OF the
most serious consideration. The passage
of the bill will, it is estimated increase the
expenditures of the State in this direction
somewhere from $4,000 to $4,000.
OTHER SUBJECTS.
The pension bill held the floor for some
thing more than an hour, though various
other questions of policy and propriety
were blended with its consideration.
When it had been practically put aside
those who wished to speak sub
mitted their views on other subjects
of general legislation. but chiefly on
! financial branches. Election-laws and
/ OlDer matters Oh lluDolttnct Mcio o'N"-
sionally adverted to, but next to this pension
subject was that of the debt. All, or near
ly all, of measures of the debt legisla-
| ton which have been proposed were
| brought under review and their merits and
| defects were dwelt upon.
The proposition to have boards Of excise
commissioners to pass upon applications
for liquor-licenses: the bill TO remove the
trial OF coupon cases from the corporation
to the circuit courts of the State; Trea-
surer Harman's scheme to keep reserve
fund in the Treasury for debt purposes the
several bills affecting funding and coupon
| legislation-these were all talked over, but
the caucus gave no expression Of opinion
on any of them.
| The object of the conference was to have
an interchange OF views on these subjects
and some night later in the week, .wher
the attendance in both houses is larger
than it was yesterday. perhaps Thursday
night. another caucus will be held, wher
definite action will probably be taken OF
at least few Of the pending measures.