Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1894-03-03
LEGISLATIVE


appropriations bill. Very few changes
were made in the bill as it came from
the committee.
An effort was made to reduce the ap-
preparation to the medical college OF
Virginia from $1,000 to $1,000, but the
Senate refused to make the change. A
few unimportant amendments were
made and the bill passed.
The House substitute for Senate bill
making husband and wife competent
witnesses for or against each other in
certain case came up in the Senate and
provoked q lively discussion. A very
spicy colloquy occurred between sever
al Senators in which Mr.. Little, q bach
elor, argued that every married wom-
an was under the influence of her hus-
band and Mr.. Hay, a married man, as
sured the Senator from Fredericksburg
that ne was entirely mistaken. The
substitute was finally adopted. 1t does
not differ materially from the Senate
bill and under it husband and wife can
be compelled to testify for or against
each other in civil cases with certain
eXceptions) and may at their option
testify in criminal cases.
Mr.. Stubs in a graceful speech an
pounced that a delegation from the
Maryland legislature were present and
moved that the courtesics of the Senate
be extended to them. The motion was
adopted, the chair was vacated for five
minutes and the Maryland solons were
introduced and mingled with their Vir-
| ginia brethren and chatted as pleasantly
as though wal had not been declared
The Australian ballot bill, Endorsed
by the democratic caucus, came up IN
the Senate. The patron of this meas
ure is Senator Walton, Of Shenandoah
An important feature is that no EN-.
blems are provided in the ticket to en-
able the illiterate to select that of his
party. In place of that feature the
Walton bill says that there shall be 8
reader at each precinct. This officia
is to read the ballot for those who can.
not do so themselves. This is the
most important and, the shrewd poll
ticians argued, Il of the most signif
cam features OF the whole plan. The
bill was Endorsed by the caucus Thurs
day night, but no n vas committed
to vote for it in the Assembly. AS ap
proved, it applies to all of the State
Several of the Senators attempted tt
amend it so as to exclude their countie:
from its operation.
Senators Mushbach, of Alexandria
| Parrish, of Goochland, Echols, O
Staunton, and Jones. of Highland, ask
ed that the counties and cities of theil
| districts be excluded from the opera
tons of the bill. The proposition wa:
rejected, and the Senate adjourned
while the bill was pending.
Last night the Senate, after a discus
sion of nearly three hours, engrosset
the Walton bill ENGRAVING the Aus
tralian ballot system upon the Ander
son-McCormick election law OF The
State. a vigorous effort was made tt
reconsider the vote by which the
amendment %exempting the %countie:
represented by Senators Mushbach
Parrish. Echols and Jones was defeat
Ell, but the Senate adhered to its deci
sion. The motion to reconsider tn,
vote by which the amendment vas de
feated was lost by a vote of Is to II
The bill was then ordered to its en-
grossment by q vote OF 22 to II.
In the House Mr.. Nicol by request
offered O bill to limit the expenses o
candidates for public Office and to pro
vide for the publication Of such ex
penses. 1t was introduced at the re
quest OF Prof. r. E. Blackwell, of Ran
dolph Macon college. 1t provides tina
candidates for Congress or any othe.
public Office subject to popular cleo
tons shall not pay out money to Sc
cure their nomination or election eXcep
on the following basis: For5,000 voter
or less, 800; for each 100 voters ovel
5000 and under $4,000, 80; for eacf
100 voters over 25, 900 and under 10000
81; and for each 100 owe $4,000, fifty
cents, the total number of voters to be
ascertained by the total number o
votes cast for all the candidates for sucf
office at the last preceding election
New York has a law SIMILAR to thai
sought to be enacted by this bill.
The general appropriation bill wa;
taken up and Mr.. Shelley secured ar
amendment increasing from SAT, 500 tc
$50, 900 the amount for the Southwest
ern Lunatic Asylum. The bill was
amended so as to increase the amount
for charging the oyster navy from SS,'
600 to SO, 500. A few other amend.
ments were made and the bill passed.
In the House after the appropria'
tons bill had been disposed Of, Speaker
Cardwell called Mr.. Nicol to the chair
and in a few remarks rendered his re-
signation as the presiding officer of the
House.
Clerk Bigger requested that no ac-
ton be taken on the resignation for a
few minutes. He left the room and
soon returned with a splendid solid
silver service, which he placed on his
desk and requested Mr.. Downing to
present it on behalf of the House to
Mr.. Cardwell.
Mr.. Downing alluded in glowing
terms to Judge Cardwell's impartiality
while in the chair. Among other things
he said that, though the Speaker must
have had frequently to choose between
friends, and though it would have been
unpatriotic not to have decided pre-
ference among measures, yet it had
always been impossible to tell by the
tap of the gravel whether he had been
for or against a measure or a man.
When Mr.. Downing concluded the
Clerk Of the House, Colonel John Bell
Bigger, claimed attention, apologizing