The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1898-02-02
BIG BATTLE IN SENATE
HlleTS Constitutional Convention Bill
L0Id Aside Tor Two Weeks.
GENERAL ASSEMBLY WORKING LONG HOURS
Poor Prospect for Reform Agcnsurcs-
Proposed thungc in Election Law
Fight ON IrndinE stamps Trnns>
ferred 10 the scnatc-M NJ cnbers Ads
dictcd TO speech Making.
GENERAL ASSEMBLY WORKING LONG HOURS
Especial Dispatch to The virgintan)

Richmond, Va. Feb. ], 1898.
There was Il big fight DIN the Senate
| to-day over the Withcrs bill TO give the
people anoYhtt opportunity of voting
| upon THE question ,of calling n conven-
ton TO amend and revise the Constitu-
| tioE. After Mr.. IVithcrs had made
| splendid appeal 10 the Senators in be-
| half of the measure. impressdng upon
them Che need Of changes in the organic
| law of THE State, Mr. Wickham moved
to pass by the consideration of the bin
unit. about the 20rll of this month. Mr..
| Wickham spoke at some lcnerh. He
stated riha,t ne was opposed to the Con-
| stitut!onal convention. MIR. Withers
| had said he did not believe the Lagis-
| iature would cut down expenses.
Mr. Wfckharn said 10 adopt the bill
looking 'to calling a convention would
at this time be saying to the psopie
of Virginia that the General Assembly
would not OF could not attend to the
work h. was sent here RIO dlo. He wanted
| action postponed in order t3 give the
Legislature more time in which to pass
reform measures. Mr.. Wickham said
the crisis of Virginia was not yet IL;
hand. 1t would come with the new as
se'ssment in 19O0 and he bslieved II
could he safely stated now that there
would have to be an extra session OF
| 'ahe Legislature in the fall of that year
to enact laws ITO meet the conditions
| that will then confrt5nt the people
Senators Flanagan and McCune OPP
| POSED the Dill; Senator BarkSdalc who
Favored 1T. wanted II passed by; Senat or
hlakey advocated passing Gthc bill by;
SENATOR MuMGrd supported the meas
urs, and so did Senator McIiwaine
After two hours debate the hill was
passed by and made the special and
continuing order for February 18th, II
was puhce evident during ,the discussion
the Senate
The General Assembly is getting down
TO hard work. 1t was 4 O'Clock this nf-
tern'oon before Ithe Senate adjourned.
me HouSe is holding two sessions
daily. AT 2:30 THE chair is vacated nm
I'll O'Clock. More time is being con
Sumed by speech making than usual,
especially in t!he House None of tho
retonm measures have as vet mass II
bolh NJu5eS. few have been adiiated
ny me Senate bWt have not beer, acr1yl
upon IN the lower branch Each day
II appears that tho outlook for any ma
tsT.a reduction in expenses is becon-
ing less encouraging. This week tho
special joint committee will make It's
rtl'Ht regarding expenditures cr money
at the public Institutions. Cuts ar-
sresEuring 100000 will be recommend
ca, ana one of the greatest fights of
'he session will be commenced.
The Senate to-day killed the bill 10
aooilsh the Tenth Judicial Circuit
ihefe was considerable debate over
the measure. MIR. KeeZell supported II
ana Mr. ODie opposed It, The vote
Was was = 10 In opposition to engrossing
The bill making reductions In the fees
OF sheriffs and city sergcants was de-
bated at some length in the House.
numerous amendments proposed were
rejected and the bill was finally passed
by.
MT. keeZell offered bill making one
material change in the election law. 1t
amends sections and 10. OF the act
approved March 4, 1896, by providing
mat there shall be three ballots for
each precinct which shall not bear the
seal or the Electoral Board On the
morning of the election scaled pack
ages containing the tickets are broken
and the ballots carefully counted. Here
is the way the amendment reads: "And
the three unstamped ballots contained
IN said package shall be securely
posted by the judges of election In
three conspicuous places without the
polling place. where they shall be omen
10 the inspection of the voters and IL
shall be the duty OF the judges to pre-
vent the destruction, removal OF de-
facing Of said ballots as long as The
polls are open. Any person who shall
unlawfully remove, deface or destroy
any Of said ballots as long as the polls
are open shall be deemed guilty of q
misdemeanOr and upon conviction
thereof shall be punished by a fine of
$40 and imprisoned for thirty days In
the county jail" This is the onlv
change proposed
The fight ngainst the use of trading
stamps was transferred to the Senate
this morning. This measure was
passed by the House yesterday. When
1t came over to the Senate it was re-
ferred to the Committee on General
Laws without objection. The com
mittee will be hardly able to give con-
siderat:on to the act this week, as IT
hns much other work to do which has
already been mapped out. The trading
stamp and trading check people will
make big fight to defeat the meas
ure, but 1t is claimed by the advocates
Of the bill that 1t will certainly pass
the Senate.
The Maupin bill, requiring a license
tax on all clubs that sell or give away
liquor, which recently passed the
House. will be considered by the Sen
ate Committee on Finance Thursday
morning. About fifty petitions numer-
ously signed, have been presented to