Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-02-17

one Of the most remarkable pieces o
class legislation ever proposed.
MAKES THE CLOSING SPEECH.
Mr. Mushbach followed Mr. Flood. say
4 ing ne had not intended to speak. but ha,
changed his mind. He promised that III
would not refer 10 a single book. He
said he was not Il railway lawyer. he
was not lawyer enough. lie had never
had a railroad for a client. but he hat
won from a railroad the largest sum in
damages ever paid i'm Virginia for killing
an employee.
He praised the railways for what they
had done for the State. he wished Vir-
ginia was gridroned with them like the
| great States Of the North and West. He
| said he would as soon think Of voting for
| bill 10 abolish sewing machines and
| typewriters as to vote for this bill. which
might abolish railroads He then took
up the bill in detail. objecting to every
paragraph, dwelling. upon the. fact that
| the bill put a premium upon negligence.
! He thought the law perfectly we'll set
tied. A statute was not needed to let the
| people know what the law was He could
see no reason on earth why 5000 railway
! men should be protected and 600 men
| in other employments. Just as dangerous
in some cases more dangerous-Were
absolutely unprotected.
THE BILL IS DEFEATED.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Mushbach's
speech the vote was taken on the sub
stitute of Mr.. McIlwaine, and resulted as
follows:
Ayes-N1essrs. Clayton. Clement, Nc
Ilwaine, Turnbull. and Withers-5.
Noes-Alessrs. Barnes. Blakey. Boykin.
Eggleston, Fairfax. Flanagan. Flood,
Foster. Hale. Hartley. Jackson Kane.
LeCato, Letcher. Mason. Massie. May
nard, Morris, Munford, Mushbach, Parr
southall. st. Clair, Steele. Tate, Wick
ham-26
The following pairs were announced,
the first named being in favor of the bill:
Barksdale and McCune Keezell and Wal
lace; Opie and Jeffres.
Mr.. Withers stated that Mr.. James. abb
sent on account of illness desired to have
it entered of record that he would have
voted against the substitute and for the
original bill.
The vote on the original Reddy bill was
then taken, and It was unanimously de-
feated.
Immediately after the vote the chair
was vacated
The Afternoon Session.
Wnen the CHAIR was resumed at
o'clock. Mr.. Flanagan moved to recon-
slider the vote by which Senate Bill No.
l12 was ordered to its engrossment. This
bill amends the bill passed earlier in the
session amending the law compelling ex-
press companies to pay fine of 500 in
all cases of overcharge. changing the law
so as 10 give the companies ten days in
which to make corrections. Senate Bill
No 112 provides that fines shall not be
imposed unless overcharges be wilful.
Mr. Barksdale said that the movement
to repeal the law had been criticised by
a sheet too filthy to be read. hardly to be
mentioned. and he resented the imputa-
ton that the employees of express COM
panes were petty thieves. entaged in
stealing to increase the dividends of the |
cOhipanies Mr.. Barksdale was very |
heated in his remarks. and Mr.. Flanagan !
replied in like manner saying that he |
stood ppbn as high plane as the Senator |
from Halifax, and If the latter thought |
him a man TO be Influenced by irresponsi- |
bic outside criticism, he was greatly mis- |
taken.
Senator Barksdale said he had no in |
tention of making his remarks personal; |
he only wanted to make it plain that he |
denounced the Norfolk Pilot. which had |
made a business of denouncing members |
Of the Legislature in a very indecent man |
ner. and while he was sure its influence |
was not great, yet he thought its con- |
tlnual aspersions should be denounced
The bill was passed.
THE PENITENTIARY BILL.
When the bill for the enlargement Of |
the penitentary came up, Mr. Turnbull /
spoke briefly in opposition to the bill. Mr. |
Foster also opposed ii, and Mr.. Keezell |
and Mr.. Morris advocated it,
the BILL and urged the necessity of i'm
proving the condition of the States crlmi-
nails
Mr.. Mushbach asked II II were proposed
TO spend 100000 TO enlarge and improve
the quarters for the States convicts. and
later on this session vote to cut down APP
preparations TO insane hospitals, the school
for the deaf, dumb, and blind, and other
institutions?
but so far as he was concerned, he would
vote TO reduce appropriations only in
cases where money Is being wasted.
Mr.. Flanagan said ne wanted the con-
diton of criminals relieved. but there was
a better way to accomplish this than the
one proposed. He alluded to the plan to
enlarge the State Farm.
Mr.. Morris asked If he proposed to take
the responsibility of compelling the men
AN tA' P'IhAtiillOlgs iHOSA VI iltin VI illt
coloreC race. TO remain in their terrible
quarters four years longer.
Mr.. Flanagan replied that he did, but
that his plan Of relieving them was tar
better than that proposed.
The bin was passed by a decisive vote.
BILLS INTRODUCED.
BY Mr.. Keezell (No. 4S9): To amend the
act in relation TO the powers Of the dis
trict school boards of Rockingham
BY same CNo 400: To refund to John
W. Burke certain taxes.
BY Mr. Fairfax (No 49l) TO authorize
the construction of telegraph lines with
in the State OF Virginia, and TO provide
for the condemnation Of rights of way
therefor.
BY Mr.. Maynard (No. 493): To amend
the fourth subdivision Of section S34 of
the Code.
BY same (No. 49): 10 incorporate the
and Smithheld Railroad
Company.
SENATE BILLS PASSED
The following Senate bills were taken
up and passed:
TO amend and re-enact section 1920 Of
the Code, In relation TO express compa-
MES.
To amend section 1861 Of the Code in
relation to shooting along county roads,
etc.