Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-12-05

IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
A message from the Board Of Education
was delivered by Mr.. Chssterman from
the Governor The Senate went into exc
cutive session to consider this document.
When the executive session had ended
Senator Lovenstein took his seat as vice
| president pro tenn, and made "A short
address. thanking the body for honoring
him with that Office. and expressing his
determination to fulfil its dudes to the
| best Of his ability.
Mr.. Stubbs asked that the use of the
I Senate chamber be rendered the Historical
Committee of the Grand Camp of Con-
federate Veterans. which request was
granted. The Senator, who Is chairman
of the committee. invited the President
and all the members OF the Senate 20
be present at the meeting in the after
noon.
When Mr.. Robert Turnbull, OF Bruins
wick reached his desk yesterday IN the
Senate he found thereon a beautiful
bouquet of flowers, with card attached,
stating that they were preserted TO him
by the citizens OF his county.
The Senate adjourned at l:30 until to-
lay at noon.
The House Gets TO Work.
Long before the House was called 10
order the hall was filled with members
and spectators. and presented a scene OF
busting activity. The new members
busled themselves in looking around and
inspecting their desks. and those who
had served before were kept busy shaking
hands and renewing acquaintances
The hands of the clock had hardly met
over the figure u on the dial when Clerk
John Bell Bigger arose, and. rapping for
silence with his gavel. declared the
House OF Delegates open for the ses-
sion of 1855. He then introduced Rev.
Or. Moses -. HOge, who, he said, would
offer the opening prayer. The distin-
guished divine arose from his seat to
the right Of the Clerk. and a hush Of ST.
lence fell over the body, as all sat with
bowed heads The prayer was one Of
praise and thanksgiving, and invoked Di-
vine guidance for the lawmakers in their
important work.
when Colonel Bigger called the roll Of
the House all OF the members answered
to their names except Messrs. J. Aston
Caben w. a. Rinehart. and f.. w.
Saunders. According TO time-worn GUS
tom. all the members, at Colonel Big
gers invitation, arose. and, raising their
right hands. took the oath of office as
prescribed by statute. which was read by
Colonel Bigger.
GlsE1 lIO-N VI - iA+Ahi-ANs
The FIRST business Of the day was the
election of a Speaker, and Mr.. Randolph
Harrison placed before the body the name
Of Hon. John +. Ryan, of Loudoun,
the Democratic nominee. No opposition
candidate was put up, and Mr.. Ryan re-
ceived the entire Democratic vote, the
Republicans and Populists not voting,
except in the cases of Messrs. Vale and
Stovall. who courteously threw bouquets
at each other. Mr.. StOval voting for
Mr.. VALE and Mr. Vale recprocating.
Mr.. Ryan received eighty-ive votes, and
was duly declared elected, which decla-
ration was received with applause.
Messrs. Randolph Harrison. John s Har-
wood. and Carter II. Harrison were ap-
pointed TO conduct Mr.. Ryan to the chair
and, returning in a few minutes. the
Speaker was presented by Colonel Big
ger.
Il have little TO add" said Mr.
RYAN. ito what I said last night As
Speaker of this House | shall enforce
the rules. and shall expect from one and
all Of you that courtesy which is due me-
and I shall extend the same to you We
are here to enact laws for the govern
ment of this old Commonwealth, and [
trust that II will be our good fortune to
enact them wisely and economically.
now declare the Chair ready for busi-
ness"
The election OF Clerk was next gone
into, and Colonel Bigger made his escape
from the hall Major Foster. OF Nor
folk, arose and presented his name for
the office The Norfolk member charac-
terized Colonel Bigger as a type of the
old Virginia gentleman. seldom met with
nowadays, and paid high tribute to
him, and to his sterling worth both as
n Clerk and a parliamentarian. on mo-
tion of Mr. Carter Harrison, Of the op-
position. Colonel Bigger was elected by
acclamation. Major Foster and Mr. Car
Ter Fl. Harrison were the committee to
escort Colonel Bigger back into the House
He came in looking as grave as though
no were being led to the slaughter. The
outburst of applause which greeted him
had a salutary effect upon him. and his
graveness of countenance soon gave place
10 smiles
THE COLONELS PLEASANT WORDS.
He ascended to his desk and said:
''Nr Speaker and Members Of the House
of egates.-PrOvidence has spared me
TO bow my acknowledge to you for
the honor you have continued. ! have
stood, 10. these many years, and received
the plaudits Of generous constituencies
at the end Of every session, and II atten-
ton TO the varied and OnerOus duties or
the positions / hold will win your COM
mendatioD [ snail receive a certificate or
merit at your hands. Questions or inter-
est will come uD before you. our grand
old university has been the victim OF
merciless flames She will ask for AID.
Our public schools should be well pro-
vided for; our Confederate veterans, he
roes Of a lost cause, dear as the silver
lock OF hair Of departed mother, VIII need
our fostering care. Monuments of granite
which have been reared in cOmmem0ratlon
OF their gallant deeds will crumDle into
dust before the pulsatlons OF the hearts
OF grateful people VIII cease to cherish
their patriotic devotion.
and gentlemen, you must give some
personal attention to the ladies'. Some or
you are doubtless pining away through
the lonely days Of celibacy. II you are
looking for helpmates. you can md no
better or prettier girls than here In our
beautiful capital city. The sparkling
brightness OF their flashing eyes enchant
the vision, and the sweet music Of their
voices hath charms to sooth the states
mans breast.
''The members OF the House who are
styled the opposition have supported me.
i thank them for their confidence, and
shall prove worthy of il officially. ! know
no party, but know that the opposition
know that when a campaign opens and
upon a field of contest the flag OF my
party Is floating on the breeze, there Will
/ be found batting for the principles or
Jeffersonian Democracy-a heritage OF our
forefatheTs."
Colonel Bigger took his seat amid great
applause and much laughter, and the
business was proceeded with.
THE OTHER OFFICERS.
For the other officers the Democratic
nominees were chosen by acclamatiOn, as
follows Mr.. J. w. Johnston, of Rock
briGge, Sergeant-at-Arms: Mr.. A. o. Sui
livan. First DOOrkeeper. and Mr. Z. f.
Lipscomb, Second Doorkeeper.
This concluded the organization OF the
body, and Mr.. Julian Bryant was di-
rected TO notify the Senate that the
House was ready for business
Colonel John 5. Harwood offered a mo-
tion. which was adopted. that the rules
of the last session of the House be adopt
ed for the government of this
Sena TOR Echois entered tne House and