Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-02-15
NEW ELECTION BILL.
The Measure Adopted BY the Senate
Caucus Reported from Committee.
some spicy Speeches Made, md Mr..
wfthers scores the Petersburg Fair
elections COnference-lfouse Re-
fuxes 10 Vote ON silvcr-Routine'

The discussion OF election methops
and proposed changes In the "ar'o"
law engaged the Senate throusho"'
nearly the whole q yesterdays sess'o"
of three and half hours. The oe'a'o
was full OF snap. and was at times quite
ferv. The chamber was crowded. ana
the thrusts made by the different SPEAK
ers were loudly applauded. The hsn'
will 90 on again to-day.
In morning hour just ai'er inc
usual motion 10 dispense with 'he reau-
ing ~ the Journal had been maze MI
Flanagan rose and objected 10 the "'o-
tion. The Clerk continued 10 read ioi
n few moments, when Mr. Hale inter
run,ed the reading and stated that the
motion OF mir. Flanagan had been made
IN order TO ascertain from the journal
the exact wording of the motion inaue
nv the Senator from FREDERICKSBURG on
Thursday. whereby his election Dill mao
been taken from its place rs speciai or
der and consigned 10 the foot OF the
calendar. His understanding OF the mo-
ton. he said and that of several seha-
tors. with whom he had talked. was that
the consideration OF the bill had simply
oeen postponed. and not passed by, and
that il was therefore the special ordeg
Tor l o'clock.
Messre. Little. Flood, and Lovenstein
claimed chat the motion TO pass the Dill
by had broken the special order. ana mat
the bill nov must take It's chances win
the other bills on the calendar.
THE CONTINUING ORDER.
on the other hand. Messrs. Stubs,
wickham. and Flanagan Claimed
that IL the bill had been made
"A special order and continuing order at
first, II was still entitled 10 It's place
upon the calendar. In proof " MS posi-
ton. Mr.. WicKham read an extract from
Barclays Digest, which stated that alttr
the consideration Of bill had been mace
a special and continuing order there could
properly be only one motion, ana That
would be 10 postpone. when "ouid not
break the special order.
In view oil this fact he Senate decided
that although the journal was perfectly
correct, the calendar was wrong ana
that the bill of Mr.. Hale should be con-
sidcrsd at l O'Clock. This decision was
accused in as proper by Mir. Little, VINO
made the motion to pass by GA Ihursda!'
THE CAUCUS BILL.
MIR. Stubs having returned from Staun-
ton. the bill 10 create the FISH
commission, which had been POSTPONED
from time 10 time 10 suit his convenience
was taken up. and Mr.. Stuobs made an
imuassjoned speech against il. Before he
concluded, however the special order.
which was tie consideration OF the Hay
election bill. was called. and Mr.. Little
Offered as a substitute the measure
adopted by the caucus Of Democratic
senators on the previous night
The principal change made In the pre-
scnt law under this bill Is that the
special constable feature IS abolished.
and the following provision ts inserted
in lieu thereof:
At the request Of any elector who may
be physically or Internationally unable to
vote. either of the judges of election
that he may select shall enter the booth
and render him assistance by reading
the names and pointing them out to him,
and otherwise aid him in preparing his
ballot The judge so selected shall not
in any manner divulge or indicate, by
signs or otherwise. the names or names
of the person Or persons for whom any
elector voted. under penalty of coniine-
ment in jail for not less than one or
more than Twelve months.
OTHER CHANGES.
Another important change is that it
provides for the manner in which the
electors for President and Nice-President
shall be voted for. which was omitted
in the Walton law. The provision in
regard 10 this requires that the names of
electors snail be printed under the names
OF the candidates OF the respective
parties and the elect Is shall strike .out
the candidate for President and Vice
President OF the political party or parties
that he does not wish 10 vote for. and the
ballots shall Ice counted as they would
be counted If the names Of the electors
had been scratched.
The other changes In the present law
are as follows:
The type in which the ballots are
printed shall be plain Roman type, not
smaller than plea.
The printer IL required 10 destroy all
perfect and imperfect impressions other
than those required TO be delivered to
the electoral board
In case of the sickness or inability OF
the county or corporation judge to DIS.
charge his duties with the elections board
that some other judge shall perform the
duty.
In case of the inability or sickness OF
the secretary OF the board the electoral
board shall select another OF their
number.
In any county or corporation where nc
political party makes nominations. the
election shall be conducted under the
old law.
The consideration Of this measure was
postponed in order that IL might be
printed
MR. HALE'S DENUNCIATION.
Mr.. Hale offered an amendment to his
hill. which was adopted. providing that
the judges OF election may assist an II.
literate voter.
The question then came up upon the
engrossment of the bill. and Mr.. Hale
addressed the Senate In advocacy of his
measure. In opening his speech. he said
'"Mr. President. ] will pay my respects
to what I consider TO be a most OBJ.
noxious. detestable, and fraudulent elec.
ticn measure-namely, the Walton at.
tac,nert TO the Anderson Nc ormck
Law" He appealed TO the members OF
the Senate not TO vote on the question
with view to saving their seats: to vote
upon IL manfully and consciertiously. Mr.
Hales speech occupied very few min.
utes and he did not undertake to explain
any Of the provisions of his bill, saying
that he would DO SO in closing the debate
when he would probably consume tive
hours time. He went on TO speak CT thu
= frauds perpetrated under the Walton law
In his own county.
do you mean to charge that there
was fraud perpetrated in your county,
. asked Mr.. Flood.
II do" replied Mr. Hale: Il claim that
there were Suspicious circumstances a,
Long Branch and Dickinson precincts
IN Franklin cnunty"