Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-02-16


Mr.. Wlthcrs offered bill to amend
the Code In relation To the nghung OF
dogs and cocks In Alexandria ana flt,,
svlvspia counties, so that violntorS shaii
be fined not less than 500 nor mere than
$500 for each offence.
Senate BILLS PASSED.
To amend the charter Of the town OF
Bond Town.
To amend an act in relation to the
power OF courts TO order SUIT Ia eau''s'
etc. to abate, etc.
10 amend an act in relation to the
control OF prisoners In JAN:
In relation to the fraudulent sale. ETC.,
or licensed warehouse receipts.
To amend an act to provide Tor tne
payment OF debts due by commission mer-
chants.
To amend the charter Of the town Of
Ashland.
House of Delegates.
A lively discussion arose IN the House,
when Mr.. Bland, OF Portsmouth, onereu
a motion 10 have the Committee on Roads
and Internal Navigation discharged from
the further consideration Of his bill, IN
tended to stop tho traffic OF railroad
trains on Sundays. He had once peiore
offered a similar motion, but withoIe"
1t at the time, when the chairman OF tne
committee stated that that oody had
desired to have further time for the con-
alteration OF the measure. Since then
he rad agreed to several amendments
as To the transportation OF live stock
and perishable goods but the committee
had seen fl to postpone Its consideration
indefinitely.
Mr.. Bryant said that he had offered the
motion in the committee, because large
interests were concerned In the measure,
and he thought the final disposition could
be made on the floor Of the House.
Mr.. Saunders, Of Franklin. asked per-
mission OF Mr.. Bryant TO ask him ques-
ton. Permission having been given, Mr..
Saunders asked II the House must under
stand from the statement made by the
gentleman from Richmond that he had
moved TO postpone the Bland bin in the
committee In order to give the opportunity
20 have the same taken up in the House.
and II, therefore. 1t was his desire TO
nave the House consider the bill and dis
pose OF 1t?
DISAGREED WITH THE CHAIR.
Before AIr. Bryant made any reply Mr..
Pitcher, of Fauquier, asked and obtained
the recognition Of the Chair. He started
to make a personal explanation, and al
luded to the discussion during the early
part OF the week. but Mr.. Saunders. who
apparently knew what was to follow.
raised the point Of order that the gentle
man from Fauquier could not reopen the
discussion after the time OF two minutes
allowed to each side under the rules had
elapsed.
The Chair held that the gentleman from
Fauquier was entitled to the floor, and
Mr.. Saunders appealed from his decision.
In doing so he made lengthy argument.
taking the ground that even II the gentle
man from Portsmouth had referred to
tho chairman OF the Committee on Roads
In his remarks. the gentleman from
Fauquier had no ground for the high
privilege he was asking for. While Mr..
Saunders held the floor, Mr.. Bland an
nounced that he would withdraw his mo-
ton, but he was not recognized by the
Chair.
The Chair, In putting the appeal OF
Mr.. Saunders TO the House, explained
that Mr.. Bland had moved to discharge
the committee from further consideration
Of the bill. and. under the rule, each side
was entitled to two minutes for dis
cussion. This time had been taken up
by Mr.. Bland and Mr.. Bryant and Mr..
Saunders. who. in his usually ingenious
manner, mad added TO the consumption OF
the time allotted. Mr.. Bland had dlvulged
what had happened In the committee,
which was against the rules Of the House.
Under these circumstances Mr. Pitcher
had been recognized by the Chair.
Mr.. Saunders again spoke at length on
his appeal, and finally yieidd The floor
to Mr.. BLAND for the purpozs Of with
drawing his motion to have the committee
discharged from further consideration Of
his bill. Mr. Saunders then withdrew his
appeal from the decision Of the Chair
The Chair expressed his regret at the
action OF the gentleman from Franklin.
and said he would have been glad II the
decision of the question had been left
to the House.
MR.. PITCHERS PLAIN WORDS.
Mr.. Pitcher was then recognized. He
referred to the publication OF what had
occurred In the House in reference to
the matter few days ago. The state
ment published In various papers In this
city and In other sections Of the State
had been dictated by the gentleman from
Portsmouth. and the only paper that did
not publish his dictation was the Rich
mond Dispatch. The other publications
did not contain all that the gentleman
from Portsmouth mad said on the floor
OF the House on that measure, and his
own statement had been misrepresented.
when the gentleman from Portsmouth
undertakes to impeach me through the
press" continued Mr.. Pitcher, ''he COM
mits the act OF q hlghwayman by stab
bling me In the back I have been a
member of the Legislature for three ses-
sions. but ] have never before seen a
member OF the General Assembly take
such an advantage over a fellow-mem-
Der. The gentleman from Portsmouth Is
unworthy of any notice. as far as the
harm Is concerned which he can do me
In this body. He deserves. and will
meet with, the condemnation Of every
honest member in this body"
RETORT OF MR.. BLAND.
Replying to Mr.. Pitcher. Mr.. Bland said;
Every member on this floor has
heard my words on the subject. i
cut down my statement for publication,
because I desired to be perfectly fair.
l wrote the statement in question be-
cause two newspaper-men asked me TO
do so. i am glad 10 hear the gentleman
from Fauquier say that am unworthy
OF his notice, for / always pick my COM
pany; and / don't want any one TO ac-
cuse me OF selecting the gentleman from
fauquier as my associate. l have stu
diously avoided having anything what
ever to DO with him since our last talk
on the subject. because OF his dis
courteous and unmanly treatment of the
Bland Sunday-law bill.' 1t has been the
custom. and is now. for members to
give copy OF their remarks when
asked for them by the newspaper-men.
IL Is true, as the gentleman admits
that did not speak OF all either OF
us said. from the fact that I did
not remember the remarks verbatim.
That should be proof positive that /
desired TO be fair In what / told the re-
porters, and they are present on this
moor, and are ready and willing to tes-
tify that what l say is true. l must
be man OF wonderful influence 10
be able to dictate to the press Of the
state OF Virginia what to say. / know
as newspaper-man. that the press OF