The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-02-14
that SPECIAL CONSTABLE.
Senate Caucus Decides 10 Abolish This
FtaiuFe Of The Walton Law.
iRs JUDGES TO ASSIST The VOTER.
All of the Ballots Are to be Precisely sii"f
lar. the Type l. To be the same, and
Names of ofCandidates Are to be Print
ed In Same Order ON Each Ticket.

The Democratic members of the Senate
held second secret caucus last night.
and after a session OF three hours dura-
tion and impassioned speeches from every
member present, agreed upon an election
bill which will be reported to the senate
this morning.
SPECIAL CONSTABLE ABOLISHED
The measure aRreed upon IL a perfection
OF the Walton law, but the changes made
are radical ones. The special constable
feature Is entirely eliminated from the
law; any voter who is for any reason In.
capacitated from voting wlthou, assis-
tance, may apply TO and receive help from
any one OF the three judges of election.
the voter himself to select the Judge to
whom he shall apply.
The ballots are all TO be printed upon
tickets exactly alike, and the type used
Is to be uniform.
There is 20 be no alternating OF names,
those upon each and every ticket 20 be
printed in precisly the same order
These are the only changes ia the law
as IL now exists
This action OF the caucus Is understood
10 be satisfactory 10 majority OF the
Democratic members OF the Senate. and
those who do not heartily endorse Il are
willing to accept IL as The very hes, that
they can secure at this ;, ssion of the Gem
eral Assembly.
ABANDONED THEIR VIEWS.
There are several members Of the Senate
VINO are OutspOken In their belief that the
Walton law without amendment Is the
best election law thar Virginia ever had.
but they have been compelled To abandon
their own particular views in response 10
the clamor of the people for new law
anu for the revision or entire abolition of
the old law.
As has been stated. the meeting last
night was of a most lively character,
and floods OF eloquence were poured forth
by the various senator's. The length OF
the meeting indicated pretty clearly how
hard II was 10 whip into line the re-
fractory members. who are said 10 have
depended their positions with much ear
nastncss. Finally, however. The victory
was won. and the modified Walton law
was agreed TO with only "a few dissenting
votes.
There IL now only one obstacle in tho
way of the new measure, and thA WILL
De but temporary one. IL Is tks Hale
Coles bill, which comes up as 10 special
order at | o'clock to-day and Its patron
in tie Senate, Mr.. Hale, will Roubtless be-
extended the courtesy OF the Senate TO
speak TO his measure. II Is conceded thar
tins bill will only secure at most SIX votes
probably only five. The coast will then
be clear for the bill adopted last night, and
there seems no reason why Il should not
at once 20 through and be communicated
to the House in short rime What It's
fate will be In that body remains 10 bs
seen.
HOUSE MEMBERS COMPLAIN.
There was soyne complaint last night
among the eDmocratic members Of the
House that thsY were not permitted 10
participate i'm tho deliberations Of the
Senate caucus, and \ threat to rstaliate
when an election Iieasure was considered
by the House was heard. The object Of
the Senate evidently was, however. TO
get through It's work as quickly al pos
sible by having only a small body present.
The indications are that the result they
arrived at will meet with general approx.
al