Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-01-19
srNATE VOTES TO ABOLISH THEIR
FEES IN CERTAIN CASES.
The EMPLOYERS LIABILITY BILL,
ni.cus~ion OF This Measure Occupies
Nearly the Entire session of the
uousc-AbIc Speeches ON Both
sidcS-Ncw Measures.


Tho bin OF Mr.. Turnbull. in which this
g. the chief provision. was debated at
considerable length. but was finally or
s.r,l TO- its ongrossment. This means
,r.t it will pass. Its chances in the
liarso are said TO be better than they are
ir ,he Senate.
rae senate passed several measures not
OF eoncral Importance and many new
measures were introduced. The special
committee appointed 70 investigate the
,t.rrcs against Countrywide y. $. Turn
l.u az Brunswick, reported through its
chairman. senator Boykin. and the report
Was adopted ard The committee dis
charged.
Tne great feature OF the day in the
House was the debate over the employ
,- liability bill, which attracted a con-
Siderable crowd TO the hail. The debate
WAS participated in by m6ny OF the
Strongest men I'm the House. and was
listened 20 with interest by the members
srl thc galleries. The bill did not come
+. a. vote. and went over TO Thursday.
There will be 40 session Of either house
To-day. each body adjourning In honor OF
t1e anniversary OF the birth Of General
Robert u. Lee.
Interesting Debate I'm the senate.
Hon. Henry r. Wickham. president pro
t.,l. called the Senate 10 order at noon,
and a half-hour later the consideration
of the special ordor-the bill TO amend
sections 1850 and 1853 Of the Code in re-
lation TO taxation and allowance Of costs
do. ..-fr-frn1 caeoS-Was hoclln
SIR. Turnbun the patron Of the BILL
made f0rcible speech for IT, He said
mat the great work before this Legisla-
trrc was that Of retrenchment He knew
Of few more effective methods Of ac-
..mplishinC this than by abolishing the
r.vmcnt Of fees TO witnesses in criminal
cases tried by justices of the peace, Ehich
WAS proposed by the bill under consider
alton. He cited instances in which the
law had been abused, apparently with
intent.
WRONG KIND OF REFORM.
SIR. Keezcn said he was in favor Of
r. form and retrenchment, but he did not
believe I'm beginning with the poor man
who was n witness I'm Justices case; he
rrsf,rred rather TO strike at ofice-hold-
,rs who drew thousands OF dollars out or
the state Treasury yearly. There was
gid more reason why a witness or TINS
character should not be paid than why
commemorative attorney should not be
r.l for his services. Mr.. keezeu spoke
with even more than this usual ear
rcetness as he opposed the bill He in
oIdentallv suggested that the true me-
fbod Of reducing criminal expenses was 10
mt the cost Of misdemeanor trials upon
counties
SIR. Flanagan favored the object OF the
fIr though he disappTOved OF the Dill
r-ef He agreed fully with Mr. keezell
trat IL was beginning at the wrong end
10 attempt 10 cut down expenses py
striking at witnesses fees. In passing
Nlr. Flanagan mentioned the TACT Ihd1
the criminal expenses in his county PoW-
hatam were smaller tnan in any other
i'm the state.
Afr. AlcIIwaine argued that the de-
PENDANT and his witnesses were as worthy
of consideration as the prosecutor and his
witnesses. In a great many cases ques-
ti0ns of personal spleen often caused
suits that proved so veXatious, and the
hone of obtaining fees made witnesses
anxious to serve.
MKINLEY PROSPERITY.
Mr. Withers. replying TO Mr.. Flanagan,
said DE desired 10 congratulate the Sena-
tor from PoWhatan upon being, as he had
s.fd ga business member" and he also
roneratulated him upon belonging TO a
business party-the one which had on
Monday closed UP 10 New England cot
t0r-mills and had thrown 125.O0O men and
women out Of employment, bringing on
want and suffering incalculable and pro-
1okine workingmen 10 violence. He de-
sired TO congratulate the Senator that
The country was experiencing such sig
III sffals
he was profoundly grateful
FOR AND AGAINST THE BILL.
Air. Jenries spoke at some length in
favor Of the bill. and Mr.. Hartley and
Sir James spoke for 1t briefly.
Mr Munford said that at present many
who cam to testify in such cases as
those un6-r consideration We're not paid,
because they did not testify. He alluded
TO- the practice of discOunting witnesses
warrants. which obtains generally in the
counties Of the state. He thought the
Leeislature should vote wherever posi-
Dole 10 cut down expenditures.
In response 10 a question from Mr..
Clement. Mr.. Munford said he did not
think the law would break up justices
courts. The magistrate who tried the |
case would receive his fees, and the con-
stable who summoned witnesses would
receive his.
Sir. Turnbull said that If retrenchment |
was 20 be undertaken the bill proposed |
an excellent method. Let the Senator |
from Rockingham Cir KeezelD prepare !
"a measure beginning at the top Of the |
ladder. and he would gladly support II. |
nr Turnbul sent q substitute to the |
Clerks desk. making the bin apply solely |
TO witnesses fees.
The bin was ordered to its engrossment |
ly "a decisive vote.
on motion OF Mr.. Barksdale, the House |
Din Incorporating the South Boston To- |
hacco Company was placed on the calen-
dar.
THE FILTRATION BILL
Mr Morris chairman Of the Committee /
on Public Institutions and Education, re- /
ported the McCune naturalization bill, with /
the commentator that il don pass.
SrElFCTION OF TELEPHONE |
LINES.
There was considerable debate over the |
bin making Il a violation OF law to de-
str0y the lines Of telephone and telegraph |
companies. Messrs Flood Mushbach, /
and Wickham. advocated the bill, while
Mr McIlwaine opposed. The difference
of opinion seemed 10 grow chiefly out OF
difference Of construction Of the provis-
IONS Of the bill and IL was recommitted |
90 the Committee on General Laws
READY FOR THE GOVERNOR.
The Senate agreed 10 the following
House bills:
no. l23-To provide for working roads
IN Page county.
30. 1870 incorporate the Virginia