Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-03-11
RECORD OF OUR FIVE.
PART OF RICHMOND MEMBERS IN THE
WORK OF THE HOUSE.
rhe Committees ON which They Served and
tho Measures to which They Gave
Special Attention.

The Richmond delegation in the House
of Delegates did faithful work In the SEES
sion Of the General Assembly just closed.
Her five members were regular In at
tendance, participated actively In generai
legislation, and were always on the alert.
both in committee and on the floor OF
the House. to protect and advance the IN
terests of the city and her people ana
institutions.
AS will be remembered, In the contest
for United States senator. Messrs CruInp.
Bryant, and Harwood voted for Lee
Messrs. Cabeil and Byrne for Martin.
They were given positions on the most
important committees. and attended to the
work there zeaIously and efficiently.
MIR. CABELLs LINE OF WORK.
Mr.. James Aston Cabell was chairman
Of the Library Committee, and as such
took considerable interest In the ne"
library building. But his most important
work was as member 'of the Commit
tee on Propositions and Grievances
Every charter-except those for raiiroaa
corporations-had TO be inspected by this
committee. and its work was OF n most
important and laborious character III
which Mr.. Cabell bore his fun snare.
Mr.. CabelI also had much 10 do with the
framing of the oyster laws presented at
this session, having been put on SUD
committee with Mr.. Boykin, OF Isle OF
Wight, for that purpose. He took quite
an active part in the debate OF several
matters on the floor Of the House. ana
favored especially increased appropriations
for the educational institutions. He intro
duced and advocated the "Cabell amend
ment" to the Richmond and Danville
charter, requiring the Office OF the rail-
road TO be located in Virginia.
lie was a very active opponent OF the
Wickham resolutions looking to the set
tlement Of West Virginia's debt. and 1t
was largely through his fundamentally
that this measure was defeated in the
House. The Flood resolutions, which were
promptly adopted. were drawn so as to
meet the objections pointed out by Mr..
Cabell and others.
HARDWOOD, THE FINANCIER.
Mr.. Harwood was on several commit
tees, but his chief work was as member
of the Finance Committee. in the delibera-
tons of which he took leading part
Both in that committee and on the floor
of the House he earnestly and effectively
took care OF the appropriations for the
Richmond institutions. and secured the
appropriations for the Medical College
OF Virginia and the Eye and Ear In
Urinary. He was an ardent advocate OF
all measures for the relief OF Confederate
veterans. Mr.. Harwood opposed the Mil
Ter bill, changing the local-option law, and
advocated the bill for the settlement OF
the West Virginia debt. He introduced
q bill 10 abolish the use of convict labor
on the Capitol Square, and his efforts
to have 1t passed were heartily seconded
by the entire Richmond delegation, but
1t finally failed OF passage.
IMPORTANT LABOR BILLS.
Mr.. Byrne was member of several
committees, and was chairman of the
Committee on Manufacturing and Me-
chanics' Arts. This committee, however
had practically nothing to do this session.
Mr.. Byrne voted for the Miller bill. He
introduced in the House two important
measures regarding labor. One was TO
require goods manufactured at the peni-
tertiary to be marked or stamped so as
10 show where they were made The
other had for its object To prevent the
further erection OF State buildings for the
extension of cOnvict-made goods They
were both opposed by outside members
and failed of passage.
IN MIR. CRUMPS CARE.
Mr.. Crrmp was member OF several
important committees. but his duties as
a member of the Committee on Courts OF
Justice required his undivided attention
in the matter Of committee work. All
the members of that committee were
lawyers, and they had TO pass upon every
bin making change in the general laws.
Mr.. Crump was the patron OF a measure
which was passed changing the procedure
for the enforcement Of mechanics liens,
by which all lien-holders are permitted
to unite in one suit, without the neces-
sity OF a separate suit by each. He intro
duced various measures simplifying the
proceedings in courts He was the patron
of the bill to establish a new court in
Richmond. and its passage was largely
due to his persistent efforts before the
committees and in the House. Mr..
Crump had charge. in the House, OF the
bill to incorporate the Manassas and
Richmond railroad, and made a strong
speech for It, He was opposed to charters
granting railroads wide powers. and spoke
vigorously against the Richmond and
Danvlle charter He spoke against the
measures requiring railroads TO grant
passes to members Of the Legislature,
and led the fight on the floor of the
House on the two occasions when the
question was proposed by Mr.. Cooke, Of
Norfolk. The bill failed Of passage.
ALWAYS AT HIS POST
Mr.. Bryant was a member of the Com
mittee for Courts of Justice, and attended
its meetings with regularity. He was
rarely II eve., absent from his seat In
the House. and took lively interest in
all matters OF legislation. he was the
patron Of the bill TO incorporate the Rich
mond and Northern railroad, which Is
supposed to be the successor Of the Rich
mond and Chesapeake railroad, but he
Joined with the other members OF the
Richmond delegation In having II amend
ed SO as 10 protect thoroughly the inte-
rests of the city in the matter of the
Eichth-street tunnel. He was also the
patron of the bill changing the mechanics
lien law so as to better protect the in
terest OF material men. but 1t met with
great opposition from outside members.
and was not reported favorably by the
committee. 49,
All the members of the Richmond ueie-
cation voted for the passage or the Aus
tralian-ballot bill.