Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-12-14
THE WICKnAM BILL.
SUBSTITUTE FOR THE CONSTABLE.
An, ausIiaca Eleetor May Help pre-
r.re the ballot Of one voter. Bwt
N Observation-Disclosures to the Me-
chanics' Lien Laws-Other business


cb.rIcs, Lien Laws-Othcr Business
The wickham election bill. which was
Anticipated by the Dispatch. several days
ago. was introduced In both branches OK
the General Assembly yesterday. II was
-vrcscnted In the Senate by Mr.. Wickham'
Of Hanover, and In the House by Mr..
Winston, of the same county.
The bill, which IL quite lengthy, repeais
the Walton law In toto hut at the same
lime adopts many Of It's provisions. and IN
The original form. The distinctive feature
OF the new measure is the. entire abolition
Of the special constable, and the subsu-
tuition therefor OF this provision:
ANY voter may call to his aid any
Qualified elector In the same district, VINO
+. may retire TO one Of the booths with him.
and there mark his ballot for him; Out
no such person shall so mark the paiio's
II more than one such voter at any one
election. and the Judges of election snail
keep upon the poll-books memorandum
In writing sfter the names OF each anu
every one of sNich persons so assisted
specifying the name OF the -elector so as
sisting"
LAW IN OTHER STATES.
IL is understood that the Wickham bill
has been prepared and IS offered as a
compromise measure with view 10 har-
monizing the conflicting views held by
those who think the existing statute
should be changed. Some OF It's pro-
visions. like those of Mr.. Hays bill
,presented on Tuesday,. are shaped after
the Maryland and New York laws, but
the paragraph quoted above is believed
10 be adopted from the Minnesota law,
which allows an elector TO assist in the
preparation of the ballots of not exceed
ing five voters.
other features of the bill are the re-
Quirement for the ballots TO be uniform.
requiring the same size OF type To be
used for all candidates; prescribing in
detail how the ballots shall be printed;
making special provisions for the presi-
Dental electors. and for the cases
wherein constitutional amendments are
submitted 10 the popular vote: making il
the duty of the judge OF the county,
when the Electoral Board meets, 10
stamp the ballots with the seal: TO cause
TO be deliv4ed 10 the Clerk OF the county
sample ballot. which shall be placed
IT being made the duty of the Clerk TO
attend 10 this
HOW TO MARK NAMES.
The bill provides that opposite the
name of eacn candidate there shall be a
square three eighths OF an inch i'm size
ana the voter must put a cioss-mark
t--i-) in the square opposite the name OF
the candidate OF his choice. The bill re-
quires that the ballot in presidential
elections shall be headed presidential"
and that the presidential electors of each
party shall be grouped together with
small square for the O. mark opposite
each name. The name of the party shall
be printed opposite each group and the
name of the presidential candidate repre-
scented shall be printed in bold type be-
Meath. The groups of presidential electors
shall be separated from each other by a
blank space at least one half an inch
in width.
There is to be one booth for every loo
registered voters. An error in marking. a
portion OF a ticket will not yitiate the
entire ticket but only that portion which
is imperfectly marked will be thrown out.
JUDGES MAY HELP THEM.
\ person who is physically disabled can
request the judge TO mark his ballot for
him. and that official may do so, pro-
vlded no one objects thereto and in event
OF an objection, the elector shall be chal-
lenged. Intoxication shall not be re-
garded as physical disability. and no in
toxicated person shall be entitled TO as
sistance in marking his ballot.
. peace officer IL provided for by the
bill. whose duty II shall be TO conserve
the peace and keep the crowd at least
forty feet away from the booths. He
shall, however. not be allowed to prepare
any ballot riotous person may be
arrested without warrant. but he shall
not be deprived of his privilege to vote
II he Ia disposed TO do so in quiet
and orderly manner
nj nf a
are made misdemeanors. and are punish
able by both fine and imprisonment
The senate Proceedings.
The proceedings of the Senate were OF
a purely routine character. Lieutenant
Governor Kent presided. and DIR. Cooper
)ffered the opening prayer.
Mr.. Keezell Introduced a bill TO amend
the general law in regard 10 mechanics
lien, so that contractors and artisans
or any person furnishing material ol
performing work for a railroad corpora
ton shall have lien upon the rails
road-bed. and other such property OF th'
company, where the line Is not in opera
zion and has no gross receipts or othe
property which can be attached.
Mfr. Williams introduced bill 10 amen'
and re-enact section 2416 of the Cod
relative TO PROJECTIONS OF lien by con
tractor. The bill provides that any con
tractor wishing 10 make "A claim 10
work done or material furnished for an.
. building. SHALL before the expiration o
ninety days from the time such buildin
was completed file In the clerks once o
the county or corporation court a state
ment giving description OF the wor
done, materials furnished, and the amour
which he claims is due him for same
and after he has made oath. TO the ac
cufacy of the statement, IT shall be IN
duty OF the clerk 20 record the sam
I'm book to be kept by him for tina
purpose. called the Mechanics Lien re
cord" and from the time OF such MN
ali persons shall be deemed 10 have motto
thereof.
Mr. Jackson introduced a bill to amen
section 5, chapter pa, OF Acts or 1Ss'-
providing for the assessment OF taxes o
persons. property. and income. This bi
provides for few unimportant amend
mefits to the present law.
MUST APPEAL DIRECT.
amend men and rrea.snact'l SECTIONS so52. 4O5
tOJ7. and 400 of the Code OF virginia.
reference TO writs of error In crimins
cases. The bill provides that In appeal
from county courts In criminal cases. sue
eases should be certified direct to III
Court OF Appeals. without first going
the Circuit Court and that II shall
discretionary with the judge OF the count
eeonrt whether the accused shall be a
lowed bail
The resolution OF Mr. Stubs in regar
10 requesting the Governor to wait upo
President Cleveland and see IL acces
could not be gotten TO the fnuster-ro
of the armies OF Virginia, was upo
motion OF the Senator. laid over unit
to-day. in order that he might have a
interview with the Executive on III
subject.
PRESENTED AND REFERRED.
The following bills were introduced an
referred 10 the proper committees:
Nv Mr. Morris: To prevent the G,