Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-03-02

The House convened at II A. NJ, and
remained IN session until ESQ o'clock.
Mr.. Cardwell presided. There was no
prayer
the Manassas and Richmond railroad
bin from the operation OF the rules
governing at the afternoon session. 1he
resolution was lost.
AIR. McRaes bill 10 make husband ana
wife competent Witnesses for and agaihs,
eacn other IN certain civil cases. ana
20 permit them 10 testify IN penai y.
each other In criminal cases, came up
as unfinished business. -,
Mr. Bryan; favored the measure, anu
said: Il am loath TO make changes IN
the existing laws, but all laws are iound-
ed on reason and when the reason ceases
the law should be abrogated. The reason
on which the existing law IS iouhuca
has failed. and the law should go WIN
H." ,,,,
Mr.. Bryant had read from the clerks
desk extracts from the addresses OF
Judges Burks and Rely. delivered before
the Virginia Bar Association. s'rohsi!
advocating the proposed chanse'
OBJECTIONS RAISED
NJ Saunders said that successive legis-
latures, beg,nnlng with the extra session
of 1851. had rejected bills OF TINS char-
acter. that a committee Of lawyers from
both bodies appointed at the extra sns-
sion Of 1887 20 examine the Worh Vi .le
. ffNlNUtS
husband and wife TO TESTIFY; tnat Judge
Hucbauau was one OF the members or
his committee. Mr.. Saunders said 1ur-
Their that the patron and iriends OF the
bill did not oner measure III nad
mony with Cncir argument; that accord
ing TO their argument husband ana vic
should testify in all cases. but according
10 their bill. there would still be many
cases in which they would be preciuded
from testifylng He said such bill
N
not pass.
WHY IT SHOULD PASS.
Mr.. Murren said: The objections 10 al
lowing husband and wife TO TESTIFY ior
{ and against each other are the same
/ that have been repeatedly urged against
/ all laws doing away with the ola hcIoh
! that husband and wife are one. inc
! whole policy of the law in Virginia since
! tn passage OF the Smith married Wo-
mans law 1871. has run in the direction
/ Indicated by this law. A married WO-
man can now go on her husbands bond
can endorse his note. and can BRING a
suit without joining him with her, ana
there is no good reason why she should
/ not be allowed TO testify for her hus-
/ band or even against him. II 1t be TO
protect her separate estate. The amend
Z ment Of the gentleman from Franklin
! that this law should not apply TO cases
now pending is wrong. because 1t con-
veys an imputation on the patrons OF
b the bill That they are urging its passage
/ for selfish reasons, and not for the pub
! lie good"
| Mr.. Moon favored the passage Of the
| bill. and Mr.. Gibson closed the debate in
humorous speech. in which he referred
70 the sphere Of woman. and by num-
Der OF references, which evoked much
laughter. exploded the theory that hus-
band and wife are one.
The bill was ordered to its engrossment,
and shortly after was passed.
WEST vIRGINIA's DEBT.
! The West Virginia debt-settlement
question was next taken up. Mr. Down
ing opened the debate. and reiterated
his views on the subjec' as outlined by
him in his speech Tuesday. lie took the
stand that Virginia was under a moral
obligation to assume the responsibility
for the settlement Of West Virginia's
portion of the debt of the original State.
Mr.. Boykn said: when this matter
was first agitated all of my preconceiyed
\ Views on the subject were against re-
/ opening the question. In common with
other members. ! feared the result of
reopening or agitatng the matter. But
after examining the bill, / was forced
TO the conclusion that II WAS a wise
measure. and in the Interest of the State
Of Virginia"
Mr.. Randolph Harrison answered Mr.
Downing. and de1Ied that Virginia was
under any obligation to assume West
Nirginia's responsibility. He said the
resolution committed Virginia by impli-
cation o liability for the entire one third
of ~ West Nirginians' part of this
dejt, which liability it seeks to avoid by
appointing this commission 10 set on
/ foot settlement which proposed set
Element Is authorized when bare ma
Jority OF the creditors assent. leaving
the rest of the liability to settle itself
He warned the House that If 1t embarked
on iris speculative scheme II would
surely leiurn to plague 1t, and he de-
nounced 1t as fraught with greater evil
to Virginia than any legislation proposed
within twenty-five years.
Mr.. Catlett Gibson favored the substi-
tute resolution. but was against the
measure as originally introduced.
Mr.. Bendheim here called the previous
question.
Mr.. Patteson's amendments were voted
down, as was also the substitute offered
by Mr.. Harrison. A vote was then taken
on the Senate resolution as amended,
and resulted In its defeat by vote Of
3S ayes and "a noes. The announcement
of the vote was received with loud APP
plause.
PLACED ON THE CALENDAR.
The following bills were. under sus-
pension of the rules. placed on the cal
endar:
TO regulate the holding Of city and
ward primary elections in the city of
Norfolk
To provide for the working and keep
ing In repair the public roads of Nelson
county.
! To incorporate the Saltville and Men,
dota COMPANY
For the relief OF b. F. Coleman, Of
Appomattox county, disabled Confede-
rate soldier.
10 amend and re-enact sections "a and
AZ OF an act 10 change the name of the
town OF Goodson TO the city of Bristol.
To incorporate the Howe Investment
Company.
n aath mic he al %
! or Appomattox county TO borrow 5000.
SENATE BILLS PASSED.
| To establish State Board of Embalm-
ing. to provide for the better protection
OF life ana health, to prevent the spread
OF contagious diseases, and to regulate
the practice OF embalming and the care
and disposition of the dead
To incorporate the town Of Saltville
In Smyth and Washington counties.
For the relief of Charles II. Pyle and
Robert w. Dehaven. of Petersburg.
Mr. Downing offered n resolution. which
! was adopted with only two dissenting
voices. that the Clerk of the House Of
Delegates be directed to issue his war
rant on the Auditor of Public Accounts,
: 20 the assistant clerk. the committee
clerks, the Enrolling Clerk the Sergeant
alarms. and the DoorSeepers. and Jani-
tor and Assistant Jantor for $50 each.
and TO the pages S25 each extra compen-
sation for this session.
GENERAL APPROPRIATIONS.
The appropriations bill was called up
/ by Mr.. Moon chairman of the Finance
/ Committee and engaged the attention
/ OF the House until $50 o'clock. wnen the
| chair was vacated for two hours.
! Mr.. HARDWOOD proposed an allowance
| OF $50 for the purpose OF binding books
( in the office OF the Register OF the Land
/ Office. Many Of the items were dis
cussei. but no important changes were
made
| Afternoon Session.
| At i30 o'clock the House reconvened.
| Mr. Bufords election bill was called up
and Mr.. Cabel favored II. The measure
was passed by in order TO continue the
| consideration OF the general appropriation
ball.
! Mr. Campbell offered an amendment
| striking out the claus in the section APP
| propriating $4,000 10 the Agricultural Blu
/ reau. which provides that all taxes on
| fertilizers and fertilizer companies be
| included In and counted os part Of the
sum After some discussion the amend
ment was rejected. Mr.. Withers then Of
1 fered an amendment which fell like a
bombshell on the House and caused a
heated debate which at times became
| very personal In its character and seri-