The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-03-02


Mr.. Parks. of Page. offered resolution
providing an extra appropriation Of go
| each 90 the clerks ana other employees or
the House. and So 20 each OF the pages.
| Mr.. Upton ID. Jennings. OF Lynchburg,
| opposed the measure. but said he was
! ready TO contribute himself five dollars
Cor such a purpose. The resolution was
advocated by Mr.. Withrow OF Bath. and
] Mr. Parks. of rage
Mr.. Bcrrey. OF King George. said II
was wrong to take this money out OF
the State treasury. II the members con-
scented TO give an extra compensation
| they should 80 down in their pockets.
Mr.. Stubs, of Gloucester. informed the
| House that the Senate had just passed
| similar resolution for their clerks and
! pages. Mr. Saunders. OF Franklin, moved
that the resolution be passed by. but the
/ motion was lost
The resolution was finally adopted by a
! vote OF 60 TO T. the members voting In the
negative were tho following: Messrs.
{ Allen. OF Pittsylvania: Berrey. OF King
| George; Carter. Of Scott: Garrett. or
| Henry: Hale. Of Grayson: Upton ID. Jen-
nings. of Lynchburg LOvelace. of Pitt
sylvauia: Minter. of Bedford: SwitZer. OF
! Rockingham: Slower. Of BotetOurt. Tur-
| pin. of Bedford: Watson. of Pittsylvania.
Senator Flood informed the House tina,
the Senate had passed a Joint resolution
| appointing electoral boards for the va
riOJs couniies ard cities in The state
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.
Mr. Parker. Of Southampton. then called
up Senate bill No. 292 providing that the
| question Of holding n constitutional con-
vention be submitted 10 the vote of the
people Of Virginia. lie explained that the
bill provided 10 have this question sub
mittod at the election on the fourth Tues
day I'm May. 1899 At that time all the
county and city officers would be lcctcd
who would naturally use AN their inilu-
! ence against the holding Of convention
He was willing 10 have this election take
place together with the general election
next fall. but IT had been argued that
this would interfere WIN the election or
members Of the House OF Representatives.
He therefore advocated holding he cleo
ton on the first Tuesday after the first
Monday in November. 100 as the mem
bers Of the Legislature would also tten
come I'D for election and a thorough can
vass Of the subject could then be maze
He therefore offered a resolution 70 that
effect
DR.. winston. OF Hanover. thought II the
election was had nj the next election
seyen-tenths OF the districts would trembie
in their balances. II the election was 20
take place next spring then m many IN
stances the Democrats would lose con-
troll Of the county affairs and IL the cleo
tion was held In the fan Of 1889 then the
Democratic party would be defeated in
many counties Of the State. III the cleo
ton was tOb held at ALL 10 should be-
taken az a special election. and the mat
Ter should then be made "a party mea-
sure.
Mr. Stubs. Of Gloucester. thought the
ma iOrity OF the House was In favor OF a
H.
people did not vote on that question two
years ago as they should have done. be-
cause they wanted 10 sec what the next
Legislature would do In that line so as 10
save the expenditure ~ calling CONVEX
ton. He thought the question should
be submitted 10 the people M the May
election Of 1899 and he felt convinced that
every candidate for county offices would
take of his coat and work In the interest
OF holding n convention. The holding OF
a convention should be made n party
question and IL would then meet with
success
MIR. COOKE HONORED
Just before the chair was vacated. Mr.
Cooke. OF Norfolk. was presented with a
very handsome gold headed cane on be-
hat Of the Finance Committee. whose
faithful chairman Mr.. Cooke has been for
two sessions.
Mr. Willard. Of Fairfax. in a few neat
remarks paid a handsome tribute 70 the
gentleman from Norfolk. who briefly re-
the honor and distinction shown him.
The chair was then vacated until
o'clock.
Afternoon Session.
Wnen the chair was resumed at O'Clock,
Mr. Murphy. Of this city. offered a resolu-
ton providing that aiter clock that
evening there shall not be consldered any
bill TO which there IS any objection, eX-
cept the appropriation bill, bius affecting
the State revenues. bills concerning cOn-
sututiOnal convention or constitutional
amendments or bills entirely local, and
the soldiers pension bin.
Mr.. Maupin. Of Henrc0. objected 20 the
resolution. which, he sad, was only in
tended TO choke OF Senate bin No. 49,,
prohibiting gambling ana pool selling,
which had only recently come over from
the Senate.
Mr.. Murphy denied that he had any
such intention, and the resolution was de-
f,ated.
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.
The bin I'm regard 10 the calling of q
constitutional convention then came up
as unfinished business. Mr.. WnhOrne, OF
Rock bridge. said the Legislature had cur
tailed the public expenses as much as II
could be done under the present Consu-
tuition. The holding OF "a constitutional
convention was certainly necessary To- de-
wise some means ID make bOth ends meet
Ii nothing was done % meet the present
emergency. the Democratic party would
lose from its ranks a great many who had
the interests of the State az heart
lie had heard from time TO TIME that
people who Were pleased win me ma
tural resources Of Virginia had been de-
TERED from investing capital in this
Commonwealth by the expensive system
Of tSate government. il was about uhe
10 cut on some OF the useless offices and
adopt a more modern system Ot govern
ment
The only difficulty was In his opinion as
20 ths time when the convention shOun
be held. lie was in favor Ot h0ldins III
this fall. but the time would Doc too snort
to prepare for IT, At the spring election
OF 1898 many candidates Tor municipal
and county Offices would be- in The field,
who would not be IN favor o. "a conVen-
tion that would be directly against their
interests. To hold q special election Tor
that purpose would simply mean 10 lel
the question 20 by. but he could see ~
reason why the question should not ne
submitted 10 the people in the TAN OF 1873
when no general elections would nave 20
be held. and only members OF the Cen
eral Assembly would come up for election.
L. seemed 10 him. therefore 20 be best
TO select the fall election Of 1898 70 have
the question decided by the people.
REFORMATION NEEDED.
When asked by Mr.. Mlnter, Of BEDFORD
the speaker stated that the judicial sys-
tenn needed reformation. the Judges and
commemorative attorneys cost virginia
$4,000 annually. while in Georgia the e1-