Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-12-04
BUTTON To BE CLERK
CONTINUED FROM FIRST PACED

as 10 that measure. and thai theIe was
a greatly diversified opinion. Many mem
beers were opposed 90 any change be'hs
made in the law. while others wouln al
vocate the measure being altered IN many
respects.
"Oe course" continued the Senator
"fhe feature most objected 20 is the
'one-constable' provision" lie thought
however. that nothing would be done
with the measure until the session had
somewhat advanced. and the members
had had time to interchange views IN re-
gard 10 il. and the contested election
cases had been settled in Congress.
In his district the Senator said, the
law had not worked with entire saIls-
faction in the spring elections.
VIEW OF THE OPPOSITION.
Senator w. II. Hale (OpDosition),
Of Franklin. was thoroughly satisfied
that there would be some changes made
in the law. MY impression is the
Senator said, that the constable feature
will be abolished altoge her. see
great mary Of the Democratic members
favor a change but no settled policy has
been arrived at yet, from what / can
hear. / consider one Of the greatest
objections 10 he law is that II viii be
found TO be an imperfec, system In the
national contests. owing 10 the multi
plicity Of names There will be ffty-twO
names on the ticket in the next election.
which will require more time in voting
intelligently than the present law allows.
In the rural districts | don't think there
IS one man out OF five who can properly
vote that ticket. / think ii Is the spirit
OF this body. however. TO arrange a law
tn.t will meet with the wishes Of the
people, and to accomplish this end in
perfectly harmonious manner. In the
last election" concluded Mr.. Hale. There
was great complaint in my district as
to the operation Of the law"
HIS PEOPLE SATISFIED.
Senator Boykin. of Isle OF Wight said
he sincerely hoped the law would remain
unaltered in all it's essen.ia features.
THE people in my section" said the
Senator. "are entirely satisfied with IT..
and consider Il the fairest law we have
ever had Under II every ones rights
seem 20 be projected. and II seems 20
eliminate a very undesirable population.
/ am unaiterably opposed TO interfering
with the feature Of the special constable"
concluded Senator Boykin.
Senator Flood said the law worked
very well in his distric. last year 1T
Is the farest law ever devised" said he,
land the simplest form of the Australian
ballot system that has ever been adopted
IN any State. My people are very well
pleased with g." AR Flood said he
did not think there would Doe any mate
rial changes made in the law. though
the phraseology would probably be alter
cd in some respects. lie thought the
special constable feature would remain
as 10 was.
THE ONE-CONSTABI.E FEATURE.
Senator Tredway said he was in favor
of abolishing the "one-constable" fea-
ure altogether. "The law worked very
badly in my section last year" said he,
land votes were lost by IT, Every one
in my section is more or less opposed
TO it."
Senator Maynard said that. on the
who're. he did not advocate a change
being made in the law. though. If it was
constitutional. he would Ike to see the
constable feature" stricken out alto
gether.
Senator Keezle declined TO express his
opinion i'm regard to the law. though he
said his people didn't like IT a little
pit"
Hon. j. L. Booker. Of Suffolk, when
asked what he thought would be the
changes in the law, said with a few un-
iiilHOt AdNA amendments II MAuiAf III All
probability. be allowed to remain as 1t is.
He is decidedly opposed to any increase
of constables.
Delegate Howard Hathaway, Of Rich
mond and Lancaster, believes the law
TO be a good one as il is but there are
a few features which, he thinks, will be
changed. He said that rather than vote
for an additional constable he would vote
for abolishirg that feature Of the law
altogether II think. however" said he,
that the recent elections show the law
to be fair and to have been properly en-
forced"
no REASON To CONDEMN IT.
Mr.. Charles T. Bland. Of Portsmouth.
said he failed TO see any reason why the
Walton law should be condemned Said
he: 1T is true that there are several
minor clauses which might be improved
upon but as a whole, the measure is
fair and equitable. The only question in
my mind IS the constable feature. and ]
am sure that will be solved at this ses-
sion of the Legislature"
Delegate NJ. S. Newborn, Of Nor
folk county, said he was a fair-elec-
ZIONIST, and thinks the Walton law as
fair as it could possibly be made. lie
doesn't advocate any material changes.
Or. Charles Smith. Of NORTHAMPTON.
said: IL am not for any material chang
in the law. IL suits me very well, and
suits my people l shall vote however
for some few changes in its phraseology
l will certainly oppose the addition OF
another constable in event that that quas-
ton comes up"
Hon. George 9. Bland, Of King and
Queen, said that the sentiment In PTS
county was against an additional con-
stable. 81 think" said he there VIII
be some few changes. but / would rather
not give any expression 10 my views on
that subject as vet IA rather 10 away
with the constable feature altogether"
BEST SINCE THE WAR.
Hon. S c. Stratton. Of Appomattox.
is satisfied with the Jaw as is II, end
says his people think II is the btet cleo
ton law they have had since the war
He will oppose the addition Of i con-
stable.
Hon. T. c. Pitcher. Of Fauquier. is
opposed 10 the addition Of a constable
and thinks the law will be amended
In such particulars as to make II tho
roughly acceptable to the people Of the
State.
GOOD IF CARRIED OUT.
Captain Richard s Parks. of Page.
says he has no objection 10 the law as IT
now stands II properly carri-d out. 1
believe. said he. that II would give more
general satisfaction to have two con-
stables or ticket-holders. one Of each
party If the law remains with one con-
stable, as it now Is. then | favor i'm
posing an oath in addition 10 the one now
prescribed, 10 the effect that the con-
stable will not, by word, sign. gesture,
insinuation. intimation, or in any other
manner directly or idirectly. divulge how
any man votes"
Mr.. j. c. Parker, OF Southampton. said
II am heartily in favor OF the Walton
law as IL now stands. with only such
amendments as are needed to perfect
IL in details ] think the longer IL stays
on the statute-boOks The more the peo-
pie Of Virginia will like it. and eventually
al Will come 70 see that IL IS the beg