Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-02-15
TO RESIGN THE SPEAKERSHIP
Mr. Cardwell to Go On the Virginia Su
preme Bench.
Question Of Resident Judge at Rich.
mond-NicOl Primary Election Bt,l-
II. and ID. Reorganization Bill.


Special Correspondence of The Evening Star
RICHMOND. Va. Feb. IA, 1874.
r. II. Cardwell who vas recently chosen
one of the supreme court judges. will re-
sign his position speaker Of the house of
delegates about the 1st of March. a few
days before that body adjourns, so that his
successor can be chosen by the present
body in order that he may perform certain
duties prescribed by law during vacation
MrJohn F.Ryan of Loudoun will undoubt-
eddy be chosen speaker TO succeed Mr.. Card
well. Mr.. Ryan is now chairman of the
committee on roads. chairman of the de n
ocratc caucus. and is one of the Oldest
members in point OF service in the body.
He usually presides over the house In the
absence OF Speaker Cardweii and discharges
the duties of such with ability and ease.
1t was expected that Mr.. Cardwell would re-
sign the speakership imm adia tely after his
election early in January, but to the surprise
OF many he has held on and will continue
to do so until the LIST of March.
Mr. CaTuwell is prominently mentioned
Tor the place OF resident Judge" OF the
supreme court; the law providing that one
of the members of the court shall reside ia
Richmond city, and allows him one thotls-
ana dollars per annum additional sal
airy. Mr.. Cardweil has been mentioned
unity TO the city, his residence be-
ing at Hanover Court House. a short dis
lance out. HIS friends say however that
he would not accept the position IL he IL
required to move his residence to the city
and give up his fine country seat II he
were chosen, they say, with the understand
ing that he could continue to live i'm the
county and come to the city daily as f.
now his custom, he would be glad TO accep;
the place. The law. however, specifically
provides that the resident judge shall live
I'm the city of Richmond"
Mr.. Cardwell is a man of considerable
ha fry
home for the sake of one thousand dollars
a year additional This being the case. IL is
quite probable that Judge James Keith of
Fauquier will receive this POSITION.
Two members of the present court Judge
Lewis, the president. and Judge Fauntleroy.
the resident judge. have their homes in this
city; and Judge Hinton. who lives in Peters
burg, is within one hours ride of the court
Maj. John tW Rely, who was first men,
TONED in this correspondence for president
of the new court, is most likely to be chosen.
1t is generally conceded now that he is the
man for the place.
The NicOl Primary Election Bill.
The Nicol primary election bill is exciting
much interest throughout the state gener-
ally. The bill ''legaiizes" primary elections
and conventions whether state or county
In other words. il places the operations and
conduct of primary elections and nominat-
ing conventions under the general election
law of the state, and any violations are
subject TO the penalties of the act regulat-
ing elections. This measure is the out
growth Of much dissatisfaction over the old
primary plan by which, some of the news
papers claim, IL gives the control of nomi-
nations TO the political ''heelers" and loaf
ers In both cities and towns. 1t has been
the subject of much discussion for some
time past, and IL being a matter of gra We
political Importance the assembly is adopt
ing the mode of ''festina lente" in the mat
ter. The bill. however is being ibe-ally
discussed. The members from the rural
districts with few exceptions are oppos-
ing the measure, because they claim that
such law would prove bothe-some and in
convenient TO the country people. ma or-
ity of the members of the house are dis
posed to advocate some sort of a primary
bill. and il is thought that the pending
measure with material amendments viii get
through the assembly at this session. Mr.
Charles E. Nicol of Prince William the au-
thor of the bill, is ably defending IL. but
says he hardly believes IL will pass in its
present shape.
X. and ID. REORGANIZATION.
The Richmond and Danville reorganiza-
ton bill now before the legislature is enc
of the most important measures which has
appeared during the present session OF the
assembly. The BILL which contains about
1900 words, bears this simple and harmless
title: AN act authorizing the purchasers
of the Richmond and Danville railroad
their assigns and successors TO become ard
be corporation, to adopt a name therefor
and to possess and exercise general powers:
and authorizing the consolidat ton therewith
of other corporations"
in short. the Richmond and Danville peo-
pie want legislative authority TO effect conn
binations with other railroads in contunc-
ton with which they are now operating
and to acquire their stock, ETC. and empIoy
various beneficiary methods of railroatling
through legislative protection, which they
now employ without H. and by compli.ated
ways and means.
In view OF the fact that the lower branch
OF the assembly is composed Of a large
agrartan representation, imbued with IL;
undiminished prejudices against railroad
corporations, ii is believed that the bill will
be fought desperately, il not successfully.
The few insignificant bills involving rail.
road interests which have already appear
60 IA inc mouse have been carefully watch.
ed by the rural representatives and Can't
Commander Patterson Of Buckingham thr,s
header. has invariably demanded that rhe
full text of the measures be read ana ip
some instances, seconded by j. +. Withrow
OF bath' mas secured amendments TO them
Gen. Lee Not a Candidate.
II private letter from Gen. Fitzhuyh
Lee to a friend in Lynchburg. Va. counts
for anything, that gentleman will not h.. a
candidate for Congress in the tenth con.
gress:onal district, now represented bv
Henry St @. Tucker The general. in this
letter, declared that he would not oppose
Mr.. Tucker for the democratic nomination
who is his personal and political friend
In fact IT seems that Gen. Lee has
settied down TO business in real earnest,
being the president of several large manu-
featuring and speculative concerns. ana
has for the present, at least given up an
idea of political preferment