The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-01-29
Democratic Members Of Both Houses Of
the Legislature In Conference.
SEVERAL RESOLUTIONS OFFERED.
But Action Was Postponed 10 Await tho
Report of the Special Joint Committee
nRetrenchmcnt-The Conferenceto
Meet Ne1t Friday to Take Action

Hall Of the House of Delegates for the
purpose Of discussing what steps should
De taken to bring about retrenchment and
reform. A number Of speeches were
made and several resolutions were offer
cd but no action was taken. one of the
resolutions, which was offered by Sena-
tor Flood. Of Appomattox provided for
p horizontal cut Of ten per cent. IN all
salaries Of State officers.
The conference finally adjourned urtl
next Friday evening. when 30 is expected
that the report Of the special joint com
mitteo on rctrcuChment will be before
the General Assembly for It's considera-
ton
The conference was called 10 order by
Mr Merritt 4. Cooke. OF Norfolk, who
presided and Mr. G.. Werner, tho repre-
sentative OF The Times was elected sec
Tetary Of the conference.
Mr. Montague desired 10 know wheth-
CT the action Of this conference would be
binding on those ia attendance and the
Chair replied in the negative.
CAPTAIN PENDLETON'S VIEWS.
Captain W. j.. Pcndleton, Of Louisa.
then addressed The gathering as follows;
Mr.. Chairman and Gentlemen OF the
Democratic Conference: In the call we
liuAt ldNA 1ANAANtAf ANA NtAiN N'f'+N ~''NN
OF Democrats OF the Senate and House
on the question of retrencament and re-
form. We only outlined .ts object IN very
general terms
"It cannot be denied sir. that the SOW
creicn people who sent us here TO legls-
late for them confidently expected OF US
real solid and substantial retrenchment
and reform and 1 venture the assertion
that. az least from the rural districts OF
Virginia there is moi a gentleman with
in the sound Of my voice who ala not
pledge himself before his people TO use
his vote, his influence AID his best en-
crgics i'm furtherancc OF this "consumma-
tion so dcvoutly to bee wished and so i'm
peratively demanded by the exlgencies
OF these disiointed times.
"The question Of rctrcnchment and re-
form when we stood on the hustings be-
fore the people were the burning ques-
tions Of the hour and they should not
be less so now than they were then.
You remember gentlemen. that in the
first week or two Of this session, when
we were fresh from the people, hardly
session by day or a caucus by night
passed that we did not hear impassioned
and eloquent speeches made in these halls
on reirenchment and reform. In army
parlance. the woods were shelled most
vigorously and the skirmish line was
thrown forward 10 feel the enemy's posi-
ton. And such a rattle Of musketry WIS.
heard that we fellows back in the main
line. thinking the battle was about 10
open. icried our cartridge boxes around
10 the front Of our oelts and stood ready
FOR the fray. when 10! those gallant skir-
mishers came falling back on the main
line with blanchei faces and trembling
knees. with the report: The enemy is
too strongly eutrenched and can't be dis
lodged.
"lsvcr since that day. il seems 10 me
we've done nothing but retreat before
the enemy while the people at home who
sent us here 10 do battle for the life and
sacred honor of this proud old Common
wealth have listened in vain for the bat
ne vel and shout Of victory. Gentlemen
of the legislature this will not do
We've now fallen back almost 10 the last
ditch and something must Doe done worthy
of q Virginia Democratic legislature, or
nv word Cor 90. those sOvereigns we left
IN home. when another election comes
og will make 50 the Waterloo of the
Democratic party in tho state
Let ms not triHc longer with the peo-
uIe Let us not attempt TO TOOL them
LONGER Abraham Lincoln once said' You
can fool an the people part OF the tine
and YOU can fool part of the people an
tho time. but YOU can't fool an the peo-
nie all tho time And we members ~ this
r.crisIature would dc woll 20 remember
that and To como right down to this
v,orl, Of ~etronchmcnt without delay. and
f.t tho people see chat we. their servants,
intend 10 carry out their will and not TO
defeat n.
"Afr Chairman am 700 unwell 10 say
anything more. and have only said thus
much 20 sound "a note Of warning TO my
brother Democrats.
AK HORIZONTAL CUT
senator Flood. of AppomattoN, onered
the following resolution:
Resolved, Tnat u Is the sense OF TINS
conference that the salary OF every oih-
cial paid directly or indirectly out OF the
state Treasury Dc reduced ten per cent
and the proper committees are hereby re-
ouosted to prepare bills carrying out this
idea and as to the various institutions OF
tbe STATE where the salaries have been
nxcd by the boards thereof, 20 give care
fut consideration 10 the report OF the
socciai committee appointed to investi-
gate this question.
Air Withrow. of Bath said he had only
promised his people 10 represent every
man. woman and child in his district. II
the committee appointed under his resolu-
tion was given time enough they would
submit a report OF which no one would
nsvc 10 be ashamed. Railroad legisla-
tlon was a very dangerous experiment
senator Flood said he offered the reso-
uition. believing that the statement OF the
gentleman from Louisa was largely cor
rect Hc did not propose 20 tamper with
tbe work OF the special committee. The
resolution did not only aim at the oih-
Gers. but also at the officers OF the vari-
nus Institutions and the members of the
,ecislature. Ia that manner saving OF
AZ least $4,000 could be realized.
Mr.. Wnhrow pointed out that there
were certain variations I'm salaries which
were unjust 90 the State OF Virginia.
Mr.. Mintor OF Bedford. said he was not
preparcG TO mark out any line. but he
would ike TO make some suggestions.
some branches OF the government were
NOT now sufficiently paid and a horizontal
euf would therefore be unjust. lie be-
Moved the committee was doing its very
hest ana would present satisfactory
report
senator Keezen. Of Rockingham. offered
The following substitute;
.Resolved That the matter OF reduction
OF salaries be postponed until report
from the Committee on Retrcnchmenl haa
been received.
senator Keezcn stated that he was IN
favor of retrepchment. but on diuerent
line from the Senator Of Appomattox and
n the iatter's resolution was adopted n
would seriously hamper the work OF the