The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-02-10

adopted limiting 10 10000 the money 70
be spent on the proposed Improvement
With very few dissenting votes the
Harksdalc resolution to allow the people
20 vote on the question OF amending the
Constitution so as to abolish county and
circuit courts and 10 substitute for them
district courts was passed by the Senate
The House decided upon $1,000 per year
as the compensation OF It's Clerk. who is
also Keeper OF the Rolls of Virginia. and
y.loo per year as the salary OF the Clerk
OF the Senate
Proceedings Of the Senate.
The Senate met with prayer by Rev
C. r. Hyde.
When the Featherston bill reducing
certain salaries was reported from the
House. Mr.. Mason moved that II be re-
ferred 10 the special Committee on Re
trenc sment and Reform
Mr. Wickham opposed the motion. He
said the measure should go TO the Finance
Commit tee which was the proper body
10 deal with the subject.
Mr. Mnsons motion was defeated and
the bill went to the Finance Committee.
PENII'ENTTARY ENLARGEMENT
The hill 10 authorize the Board OF
ditional buildings came up as unfinished
business.
The amendment proposed by the Com
snittee on Finance which limits 10 four
years the time in which the net pro-
ceeds OF the penitentiary can be used 10
pay for the proposed Improvement was
adopted
The amend ment offered by Mr. Sands
to strike from the Dill the proVisiC n
requiring the board of directors 10 use
conyict labor as far as practicable in
erecting the building. then came up and
Mr.. Keezell spoke against II. He said
30 adopt this provision would practically
Kill the building scheme.
Mr.. Foster stated tina, before he should
vote on this me assure he would like to
be enlightened or a few points. He had
not been able TO learn that more than
one plan had leen considered. There
should have been an opportunity given
for competition. He thought the sum
proposed TO be expended was large and
ne was unable 10 understand why II
would be necessary TO take down some
OF the present buildings in order to erect
the new one.
At the close of Mr.. Fosters remarks
the vote was taken on the Sands
amendment and IL was defeated by the
following vote:
Ayes-Messrs. Cgaytor. Clement. Flood
Mason Munford. Opie and Sands.
Noes - Messrs. Barksdale. Barnes,
Blakey. Boykin Eggleston. Fairfax
Flanagan. Foster. Hale Hartley. Jeffries
Kane, Keezell. LIE Cato. Lotcher. Massie
Maynard. Morris. Parr st. Clair. Steele.
Turnbuli Wallace and Wickham-4
LIMIT TO THE AMOUNT.
MIR. Letcher pr oposed an amendment
limiting the amount of money TO be used
TO 100000.
Mr.. Eggleston addressed the Senate
IN opposition 10 the amendment and in
favor OF the bill. He was fortified with
many figures and made detailed expla-
nation of the plans approved of and gave
an estimate OF the cost Of each item
Of the work. Tho buildings could not be
put up for less than $4,000. He said the
penitentiary board had given long and
careful study TO this subject and the
matter had been carefully investigated
by the Committees on Public Institutions
and Finance which bodies gave their ap-
proval TO the plans II was a significant
fact that the opposition TO the pro-
posed Improvement came from Senators
who had not been out to the pcnitentiary
10 investigate the condition OF affairs
there.
Mr.. Flood opposed the building scheme
as outlined in the bill lie was willing
10 vote a reasonable appropriation for
providing additional cell room. but he
would not consent to TIE use Of $4,000 to
erect new buildings with kitchen and
laundry departments. lie believed that
the necessary cells to accommodate 600
convicts could be built for sum less
than that provided for in Mr.. Letchers
amendment He favored taking the
money directly out OF the treasury. To
authorize the use Of the net receipts OF
the nenifaufiQry "A had nnlipU and
one calculated 20 breed extravaganza.
The best way TO enlarge the penitcntiary
was To create board with the state )ffi-
Gals who had charge Of the erection of
the State Library as members of it.
That board had the Library erected at
cost less than the sum appropriated.
CONDITION OF THE TREASURY.
Mr. Flood said he did not believe the
condition OF the State treasury was as
Dad as some people imagined add he
thought this fact would soon ne proven.
But II the money was piled up in ihe
treasury ne would not vote a cent more
than was absolutely necessary to provide
the additional cells.
MIR Keezell replied to Mr.. Flood The
matter has been given the most careful
consideration and the members of 40
committee had some business sense. II
any Senator should 20 out TO the
penitentiary and make a careful investi-
cation he would become convinced that
the committee had acted wisely IN it,
recommendations.
Mr.. Opie did not believe wise and pru-
dent Senators would pass this bill. He
had heard but one argument in tavor of
the measure that commended itself 10 him
and that was that smallpox might break
out in the prison Bait. be reminded the
Senate, that the worn might como 70 an
and and III might break loose While
the ! legislature was cutting down the pay
of faithful and efficient clerks ana officials
ne. for one, would not vote money 10
provide a palatlal building for the con-
victs.
VACANT CELLS.
Mr.. Flood wanted TO know Il Mr.. Opie
was aware OF the fact that there were
seventy-fve vacant cells IN the finale de-
partmcnt Of the prison which. by a small
axpsnditure Of money could be so ar
ranged that males could occupy them.
Mr.. Opie replied that he did not know
this. and II was an additional reason why
the hill sborld not mass
Mr. Le;chor said ne did nor care 20
discuss the merits OF the bill. He was
convinced that additional cell room was
neesed. hut he was very decidedly OF the
opinion that oil the Improvement needed
could be made al a cost OF 100000 For
this sum large structure could be
erected. He took II for granted the
building would be plainly constructed
and certainly The srm suggested in his
amendment would be amply sufficient
Mr. Clement was not willing 70 vote