Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-02-16
HOUSE WILL PASS 1T.
Lite Doubt Of the Lower Branch
Adopting The Election Measure
THE STANTON INVESTIGATION
Not Knows When the Committee
VIII Meet Again-Facts as TO RAN
doIph,s Hotel Biil-The Anti-Pool-
Selling Act-TaIk Of the Lobby.

the caucus election bill was listened
to by half the members OF the HOUSE,
who left their seats for that purpose.
Much interest Is manifested In the Dill oy
the delegates, and. II the comment
made by them yesterday In the iopoy
Is any criterion to judge by, the mea-
sure will go through the House as easi-
ly as IL did through the senate. A
majority of the Democratic delegates IL
"a understood. are pledged to support
the bill.
BACK FROM STAUNTON.
Senators Stubs and Buchanan, OF the
Staunton Investigation Committee nave
returned to the city, and the otner tnree
are on a tour Of inspection OF the state
institutions. 1t will be some time be-
fore the committee will resume It's
sessions. as IL will take Secretary owens
several days to transcribe the evidence
he has taken down. Then L the
committee deems IL necessary TO near
any rebuttal testimony 1t will be called
for.
Mr.. Stubs when seen yesterday In re-
ference to the complaint Of John l.. Ran
dolph that he had been badly treated
by the committee. in that they did not
pay his hotel bill, said:
1--WE think that we have done
more than we were called upon
for Randolph. We paid him all
the law allowed, and when speaking
witnesses were examined. the questions
and answers were interpreted 10 him by
my request We have also furnished him
a typewriter copy of all the evidence.
We would have asked the Legislature for
authority to employ counsel for HIN had
he not Withdrawn the request almost I'M
mediateiy after making IL. We did not
tel him to 60 to Ford's. did not care
where he slept and ate, and all We could
do was to pay him what the law al
lowed.
II want II understood that we did not
try to lose Randolph when we went 10
Siaunton. lie accompanied me on the
train, and | invited him to the session of
the committee. He was even allowed TO
remain in the room while the ladies' were
tesI.fy.ng, all otneis beng excluded"
Members Of the House who sympa-
th.ze with Randolph are going TO get up
a purse for him. He is still in Staunton.
PROPERTY FOR TERMINALS.
Following is the text of "a bill which
has Just received the Governors approval
and around which much interest centres:
An act to permit any railroad or trans
portation company which Is or shall be
authorized to use or lease any line of
any other railroad or transportation
company. or with which II shall have
lawfully established connection, TO ac-
quire and hold real estate upon and near
any such line, or at or near any termi-
nus.
BE IL enacted by the General Assembly
of Virginia, That any railroad or trans
portation company which Is authorized
10 acquire, unite with, use. or lease any
line of any other railroad or transporta-
ton company, or with which II shall law
fully have established connection. shall
have the authority to acquire and hold
by gift. purchase, or in the manner pro-
vided for in chapter 46 of the Code OF
Virginia, DIT any point or points upon or
near any such line so acquired, united
with, used, leased, or connected with, or
at or within five miles OF any terminus
thereof. so much real estate for Its de-
pos, shops. yards. and other pur-
poses as may be necessary and proper
for the conduct of the business of said
company, not exceeding any limta
previously prescribed by the Commits
soner of Railroads, TO whom shall
be given notice Of any proceeding to ac-
quire any such lands
This act shall be in force from its pas
sage.
THE MAUPIN BILL.
The Maupin bill will be considered by
the Senate Committee for Courts OF JUS
tice tomorrow at 10 o'clock. 1t is un-
derstood that the subcommittee will re-
port bill similar to the Pitcher bill. but
Ii Is also believed that the General Com.
mittee viii disapprove OF It, and will re-
port the Maup.n bill.
The Bland Sunday-law bill was consider
ed yesterday morning by the House Com.
mittee on Roads and Internal NAVIGATION
and perfect avalanche of argument was
made against 1t by the delegation of
railroad-men and truckers who appeared
before the committee. 1t was finally de-
cided to let the bill sleep In committee.
The House Committee on Propositions
and Grievances will meet next Thursday
morning to consider the Insurance COM
mission bill.
The bill TO create a bureau of labor
statistics was referred to the Finance
Committee by the House for a report az
to the appropriation.
Mr.. Eugene W.thers's speech Friday in
the Senate on the election question. when
he kicked to pieces the measure known
as the Petersburg bill. and showed that
II enacted into law II would have been
monstrous piece Of legislation was de-
clared by the members of that body to he
the most forcible argument made In the
upper branch OF the Legislature at this
session.