The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-01-27

the number of misdemeanor cases. IL was
true. however. that In some counties these
expenses would be larger on account OF
the larger amount OF criminal expenses
In those counties.
III we relieve the office OF the Auditor
OF Public Accounts of keeping all these
accounts in misdemeanor cases. that OF
ficiai will be able to cut down his force
about one-half and there will be no longer
a necessity for this army OF clerks. now
employed. which would mean another
saving OF about $4,000 a year The Au-
ditor tells me that about nine-tenths OF
the work in his office is now caused pF
the misdemeanor cases. 1ne Huoit"l
has not been before orr COMMITTEES, but
have freorently conferred with the Au-
ditor on this subject and the fgures whicn
I have mentioned and which have oeen
supplied by him. are entirely correct
'.The suggestion has been made that
these proposed laws would not be consul
tutional. But this was a favorite device
OF those who wanted to throw Things INTO
confusion. IL these bills are unconstitu-
,ional then we have been acting In an
unconstitutional manner ever since the De-
ginning OF our government IN paying the
salaries Of judges and Commonwealth
Attorneys from the county treasures
MIR. COOKE OPPOSES THEM
Mr.. Cooke. of Norfolk, moved TO re-
commit the bills and In doing so, ne said
there was not a man I'm the House VINO
was more heartily in favor of retrench-
ment and reform than he, aud no one
had been more anxious to get revenue
for the state. However, the question OF
constiiutionality had been raised by two
OF the ablest lawyers on the hoor OF the
House and this vas one of the reasons
bo 70
mitted 1t had been stated that, If en-
acted. they would bring about a great
saving 10 the State. but he felt confident
that the law enacted by the instrumental
ity OF Captain Parks. OF Page. providing
for the listing OF bonds would secure
more revenue to the State than any other
measure introduced In the Legislature.
The chair called attention to the fact
that a motion could only be made 10 re-
commit one bill at the time.
Mr. Cooke moved to recommit bill NO
2i5 He added that the Auditor OF Pub
lie Accounts had expressed his doubts as
to whether these bills would bring about
a saving TO the State. IL should be clearly
demonstrated first that a saving would
be obtained before the House should be
asked to -xote on these bills. The bill
should be recommended in order TO give
Interested parties an opportunity 10 APP
pear before the committee.
Captain Featherston, of Campbell. de-
sired 10 know who these parties were,
and Mr.. Cooke replied police justice,
the sherfrs. sergeants and others. There
were pending I'm the Senate bills introduc-
ed by Mr.. McIlwaine which were intend
ed to bring about a saving i'm the ex-
penses Of the State, and he thought II
would be well TO wait until these bills
reached the House before the bills under
discussion be acted upon.
OPPOSED TO RECOMMlTTAL.
Mr.. Willard, OF Fairfax. was opposed TO
recommitting the bill and he called atten-
ton to the fact that the five bills under
discussion were reported by the spec al
Joint committee and 10 recommit them
would mean unnecessary delay. He be-
lieved the special committee was practi-
cally unanimous I'm recommending these
bills: they were not bills introduced by
the gentlemen from Rockbridge. although
they bore his name a. patron.
Judge Watkins. of Prince Edward. salt
the bills under discussion were IN the
right direction, but they went too far.
for they took rights from the people.
IF these bills become laws" he said,
there will be very few misdemeanor
wrong in its inception TO cut down fees
one half and It could not be made right
by saying that they would be a saving to
the State. He did not expect to vote for
any bill which he thought would be
harmful TO his people. The measures
should be recommitted 80 that somebody
else might have something To say on
them.
Mr.. WnbOrne. in replying 10 the va
rous arguments. said the House had the
conclusion Of the special committee in
the bills presented. If they are to be re-
committed. ii is no use TO send them
back 10 the Retrenchment Committee
and they should better go to some other
committee. But there was no need for
il; the House could vote in the matter
II he was I'm the place of the gentleman
from Norfolk. he might possibly occupy
a similar position. That city. while 1t
paid handsomely into the State Treas
ury. drew now from the State the sum
OF $4,000 annually for criminal expenses.
NO ACTION TAKEN.
Mr. Parker. OF SOUTHAMPTON minated
that Mr. Cooke might be Influenced by
his environments, and the latter replied
that this was not so. as he had proven
in supporting the Parks bonds bill. al
though many Of his constituents were
opposed to II. Mr.. Cooke reiterated that,
If il was demonstrated to him that these
bills would bring about a saving for the
State he would readily vote for them.
During the remainder of the discussion
the recommrtti7g OF the bill WAS earnestly
opposed by DR.. winston. Of Hanover:
Captain Featherston. Of Campbell, and
Mr.. Stubs. Of Gloucester while Mr..
Minter suggested that retrenchment
should be commenced by cutting down
the big salaries paid the officers at the
head of the state Government
Mr. Winborne called Mr.. Minter's at
tention to the fact that the curtailing
OF these salaries was in the hands OF
the special committee. OF whom Mr..
Parker of Southampton. was chairman,
and that that committee would soon
present a bill.
Mr. Parks moved 20 suspend the spe-
cial order for two minutes. so that he
might call up House bill No. 2s7, provid-
ing for the cutting down of the salaries
of county superintendent OF pub
lie schools He said his purpose was to
have that bin recommitted in order to
give interested parties an opportunity 20
appear before the committee.
Messrs Winborne and Campbell. OF
Amherst both stated that the Committee
on Schools and Colleges had been unani-
nous in recommending this bill favor
ably. and the House refused 20 recommlt
bill No. 2s,.
Before the question OF recommittlng the
five bills under discussion could be dis
posed OF. the House adjourned at S:l5 p.
".
PLACED on TIE CALENDAR.