The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-02-05
TO ABOLISH TIE POSITION.
The House Votes 10 Dispense With the
Register Of The Land once.
RAILROAD FENCE BILL IS PASSED.
Only Three Votes Against tin the senate.
Debate Over the Proposition to Enlarge
the Penitentisry-victory for Col.
John He'll Bigger.

TO abOiiSn the position OF ftsiSter VI 'nO
Land Once. II the Senate concurs in
this action the Secretary OF the Com
monwcalth will have to perform the du-
ties that are now discharged by the Reg
lister.
nv a very decided vote the House re-
fused 10 separate the offices OF Clerk Of
The. House and Keeper of the Rolls OF
Virginia. This was a high compliment
20 Colonel John Bell Bigger. whose salary
in his declining years. will not be re-
duced
II was decided also not TO abolish the
Office OF Second Auditor.
The Senate passed with only three dis
senting votes the Saunders railroad
fence bill.
Senate over the bill TO enlarge the peni-
,cntiary but a vote on the measure was
not reached.
Proceedings Of the Senate.
Tn Senate met with prayer by Rev.
W a. Barr.
Many bills were reported from the COM
Inittees. the two most important being
the senatorial primary act and the en-
poyers' liability measure-both with re-
commentators that they do not pass.
Chairman Flood of the Committee on
Privileges and Elections. said the pa
iron OF the senatorial primary bill had
placed many amendments on the act. and
he asked 10 have 20 copies printed,
which was agreed 10.
HOUSE BILLS PASSED.
To prescribe the amount Of license tax
20 be paid by pcddlers.
For The relief OF T. w Maxwell
b. 90 of I A.
noke.
Senate bills for the relief Of the sureties
OF 4. S. Norman. late treasurer or
sureties Of c. II. Ingles late treasurer OF
Henry county. were passed.
AZ l2.i0 the Senate proceeded 10 the
execution Of the Joint order having for
its object the election Of judges for the
Tenth Judicial Circuit. and the Corpora
tion Court of Beuns Vista. Hon. John +.
Mason received the vote Of every senator
present for the former position, and for
the latter office all the senators voted for
Judge John o. Shepherd.
FENCE BILL PASSED.
Mr. Flood called up House bill No 49,.
reported from the House and IL was
placed on the calendar. He also had the
Committee on ROADS discharged from
the further consideration of House bill
No 20. These are the measures designed
10 require railroad companies 10 fence
their tracks or pay for stock killed. No.
30, known as the Saunders bill, was then
taken up.
Mr. Munford moved 10 amend by strk-
ing out the exemption of Chesterfield,
POwhatan and Cumberland counties. This
was done at the request OF Delegate
Owen. Mr.. MunfOrd said he was
opposed on principle to the eX-
emption of any counties or cities from
the operations Of general legislation. Mr..
Munford called attention TO an editorial
in the Richmond Times IN which IL was
stated that the passage Of the fence bill
might make votes in the country for the
advocates Of the measure but II would
not contribute to the building up OF vail
roads which developed property and made
taxable values He said ne could not agree
with this view Of the matter The bill.
in his opinion. was a just and fair one
and would not drive railroads out of the
State.
Mr. Flanagan supported the amendment
and the bill was passed by the following
vote;
Ayes-Messrs. Barksdale. Claytor. Glenn
ents. Eggleston Flanagan. Flood. Fos-
ter. Hale, Hartley. James. Jenries. lie
Cato. Letcher. Masse Maynard. Morris.
Munford Mushbach. Opie. Parr. Sands.
Southan. Steele. Wallace, Wickham and
Withers-2G
Noes Messrs. Fairfax. McIlwaine and
Turnbull-3.
The con RAMON measure was also pass
ed.
PENITENTIARY ENLARGEMENT.
The bill to enlarge the pcnitentiary &C.
casioned a lively debate. Mr. Sands OPP
posed the measure In a vigorous speech.
lie said he regarded this proposed appro-
priation as a piece Of extravaganza. There
was no need OF the improvement. The
penitentiary contained no more prisoners
now than six years ago. While the peo-
pie OF Virginia were bearing the burden
OF heavy taxes he would not vote this
appropriation for magnificent building,
with a banquet hall for persons who are
being punished for crime.
Mr.. Sands took up the report of Super
intendent Lynn, and called attestion TO
the statement that the prisoners all had
a healthy appearance; that their physical
condition was good. and il was a matter
81 comment that a person generally had
better appearance when turned out OF
the prison than when received there.
II the penitentiary was such an I'M
healthy place. Mr.. Sands wanted 20 know
why II was that there were not as many
deaths in 1897 as there had been in other
years The fact was that the condition
OF the convicts was far better than that
OF thousands Of honest working people.
AZ Major Lynn's report showed. the pris-
oners had warm clothing and a plenty OF
healthful food. and Mr. Sands believed
that the quarters were as good as those
81 many people ont OF prison.
When asked 10 suggest some plan TO
relieve the crowded condition of the peni-
Tertiary. Mr.. Sands said the parole sys-
TEN would take a good many ont Of the
prison and others might be hired 10 cor
porations for such work as would not
bring them into competition with honest
labor. Like Mr.. Opie. be believed the
contract with the Davis Shoe Company
was an iniquity.
Mr.. Morris wanted TO know II Mr..
SANDS would be willing to vote 70 annul
this contract. and make the convicts
charge upon te State.
Mr. Sands replied that he certainly
would but that he would not annul the
contract at one blow. He would be will
ing 10 give notice hat al a certain time
the contract would be terminated. and In
the meantime provision could be made
for other employment for the prisoners.
"Will you senators vote this $3.50 200. and
place another burden upon the State?''
asked Mr. Sands "Will YOU vote 10 cut
down the appropr'a tions TO the University
OF Virginia. 10 william and Mary College.
viii you lecislate that old Confederate
veteran Colonel Thomas Whitehead out
OF once and make this anHropriation?"
MIR. NORRIS REPLIES.