The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-03-06
YET BAD BILLS
BECOME LAWS.
Opportunities Legislators Have to
Consider Measures.
WHARTON ACT TELLS ITS STORY
IL FxuIains How It Was Introduced
and Describes It's Course Until
II Got Upon the statute
Books.

7 came into being about the time the
Genera ,sso,rbrv convened. Professor
George W. Miles Of 81. Alpans ATau-
envy. near Radf0rd. gave me lie. Pro-
fessor Miles, s. a most amiapie sen,le.
man, and he Is endowed with talents that
not many men possess. rom VIVA.
could learn in ms young days, the Pro-
fessor was dissatisfied win the INSURANCE
rates on his school buildings
Az soon as 1 became a living thlng;
Professor Miles gave me To General
Wharton. the delegate from Montgomery
comfy. was at once the Ieaerlls
net. lie carried me I'm the inside pocket
OF his coat. often did he take me out
ana fondlo me one night In his room
az Nluruhv's Hotel I was laid upon the
table. ana the General had some or ms
friends 90 inspect me. Ihey sala / w.
a good thing and should ne p9sngu u'ois'
DEBUT IN THE HOUSE.
Novt mornino the General pressed me
close ~ his heart as he walked over 10
the Capitol realized my importance
ana vas nroud During the morning
hour I'm the House General Wharton pull
ga me ont of his pocket. nd / was placed
In the hands Of boy. who carried me 10
Colonel John Bel Bigger. That lovable
old gentleman referred me to the COM
mittee on Propositions ana bileFahcts'
for a week or more 1 was filed away with
common. everyday bills. Then the com
mittee met TO consider me. was pralseu
and denounced. Hut my friends were IN
he majority. and they pushed me
along, After having been tendefly careu
for bv the committee clerk for two or
three weeks. | was reported back 10 the
House and was placed on the calendar.
Colonel Bigger sent me TO the printer, ana
T came hack in "a much more presentaDle
form than 1 was before Each member
Of the House received copy OF me ana
my enemies came up 10 the Caillol anu
carried away copies. -.,r.
PASSED THE HOUSE.
General Wharton had me made me
special order for certain Day men
that time arrived I was taken up and de-
bated. Much to my surprise my enemies
wore not very numerous nor were they
AGGRESSIVE. was passed. General Whar-
ton moved TO reconsider the vote ana TINS
was agreed 20. He diT this to keep me
from living ON the table three days.
Next morning Clerk Bigger sent me
over 20 the Senate Clerk Button re-
ferred me TO the Committee on General
Laws. There my troubles began. ] was
kept in a bundle OF papers until about
two weeks before the session was 20 eX-
Di-,. Then. the committee met. I shall
never forget how Major Stringfellow
kicked and cuffed me. Knowing my oo-
ice and what I would DO II / had
chance. ] naturally felt guilty Mt
.CrJko's praise did not serve 10 bolster mp
nv dropping spirits. The committee re-
norfcd me adversely, and by a very de-
ciied vote. I went on the calendar In the
Senate next day with the recommends
ton tfat I be not allowed 20 pass. nm
ally. ! was made the special order for
certain day. Several times ] was passed
by Yet the day came when friends ana
foas were willing TO test me. Friends
knew their strength and called the pre-
vious question. while my foes did not
oppose %. 7 was passed.
Az EXCITING TIME.
Then n was that the most exciting Pc
Rod In my life arrived. Ny enemies
mlveG 10 recoT slider the vote by when l
was raseed. They talked and talked end
talic,l until. believing they had enough
votes 20 carry treir point. they stopped
talking When the vote was being taken
an absent friend came IN and the VIC
tory was won. Tho Senate would not re-
coug'der. Had trey done so. my enemies
we're prepared TO talk me 70 death. /
was scut un 20 tho enrolling clerk and
placed uDon the finest quality Of paner
Co hold. reau.iful handwriting and sign
cd by the Lieutenant Governor. the
Speaker q the House. and the chairman
of the enrolling committee Judge GoOch,
the enrolling clerk. took me 10 the Cow
o~nor Ny enemies had been there. but
the Governor admired me and approved
OF me-.
7 am now law and viii go on the
statute books. NV trials have been the
same ms tf07e Of other bills with bad
features When ] was voted on I knew
that great many Senators and Dele
gate lid not see me I'm my true light
Ting did not inspect me as closely as 1
feared they would do The truth is. 7 must
confess. that " bile the way Of o oil IS
circuitous il is by no means difficult.
and M YOU have TO do is 90 keep a sun
upper lip. soy you are an innocent little
creature. and YOU will be nermittcd 10
rass. WHARTON BILL.