The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-02-05


| made OF stocks taxed otherwise.
The amendments were agreed to and
| the bill was ordere dto its engrossment
| and thirS reading and subsequently
passed.
Senator w1cham here Informed the
House that the senate had concurred
In the Joint resolution. relating 20 the
election OF a judge for the Tenth Judi
ciaI Circuit and Of n jude Tor the Cor
poration Court OF Buena Vista.
on motion of Colonel Banton. OF Cum
perland. House bill No. All providing for
an election I'm that county relating 10 the
removal OF the courthouse. was taken
up out OF It's order and passed.
Similar action was taken In regard TO
a NUMBER OF other local bile upon re-
spective sections made by Messrs. Park
or. OF Southampton, Jennings. OF WASH
ington, owen, OF Manchester, and Cooke
of Norfolk.
Mr.. Craig, OF Rockbridge then moved
that the rules be suspended and House
bill Az be taken up out OF It's regular
order. This was agreed TO and MT. craig
was about to speak on the bill when
provides for reduction OF the pay OF the
members OF the General Assembly 10
three dollars per day, when the speaker
announced that the time had arrived
for the execution of the joint order IN
regard to the election OF judges.
After the usual preliminaries had been
disposed Of. Mr.. Berry. OF Kingb George
placed Senator John T.. Mason In nom
nation Tor judge OF the Tenth Judicial
Circuit. lie was elected by ninety-nine
votes.
AIR. winston. OF Rockbridge. subse-
ouently p aced In nomination Tor judge
OF the Corporation Court OF Buena
Vista the present incumbent. Judge j. ..
ninptX-
four votes.
ON motion OF Mr.. Upton ID. Jennings,
of Lynchburg, the several special orders
were temporarily postponed and Senate
Dill "a prescribing the time for the hold
ing OF circuit courts in the Fourth Ju-
dicial District was taken UP out OF us
regular order and passed.
When the special orders were reached.
House bill No. 247. relating to Tailor
fees. which had not yet been perfected.
was. on motion of Mr.. Winborne, OF
Kockbridge. passed by.
House bill. No. 2lS, relating 10 fines and
costs before justices of the peace, an
other special order. was then passed.
THE KEEPER OF ROLLS.
The next special order was House bill
S2 providing for a reduction OF salaries
OF the State officers. The first matter
under discussion was the motion made
Nj NtAVNAN'fN'Af
out from the third section OF the bill
tina 1.-THE duties of the keeper OF the rolls
shall be transferred to the Secretary OF
the Commonwealth.
Mr.. Saunders Of Franklin. stated he
was i'm favor of the principle OF the bill,
but he recognized the fact that the COM
mittee had considered and reconsidered
the bill and had made some changes IN
the substitute before the House appar-
odd
formation.
Il firmly believe" continued Mr.. Saund-
ers. that the clerk of the House of
Delegates and the Keeper OF Rolls can
not be ASSOCIATED. If the public is not
To be benefited by such an innovation,
then II should not be made. Under this
bill the Keeper of Rolls Is TO be made
only a nominal Office. You might just as
well legislate that the Register Of the
Land Office shall also be eX-officio Attor-
ney-General. We are here to do the pub
lie service good. but not to make changes
which will be of no benefit. am will
ing 10 vote for a reasonable reduction OF
the salary OF the clerk of the House Of
Delegates. but | am unwilling TO vote for
a separation of the two offices.
IF this latter office should be trans
ferred then we could for "A similar reason
decide that the papers Of the clerk OF a
court be kept best by the sheriff or COM
missioner Of the revenue The two Offices
under discussion are two cognate Offices
tied together by the ligaments of COM
mon sense. Not every one has the train
ing. experience and intelligence TO fill
efficiently the Office OF clerk Of the House
of Delegates and Keeper of Rolls. and
keep i'm order the machinery of the House
of Delegates
Il believe most Of the members have
very little idea or the outside work that
that official has 10 do. With him there
Is the same difference as with a
lawyer arguing a case and getting ready
for that work. do not care what the
House does in regard 10 the salary
out the public convenience and public
welfare demands that these two offices
be Kept together. 1t would be a hard
ship for the clerk Of the House 10 have
the official rolls kept by another officer
whose training was altogether of a diff
ierent character. There is too great
disposition 10 assume that any body IS
ntted for any position.
Mr.. Winborne stated in reply that the
duties Of the Keeper OF the Rolls were
simply perfunctOry. and in that position
the Clerks knowledge would be of no
benefit 10 the public. Copies OF enrolled
bills could be furnished from the office
Of the Secretary of the Commonwealth
as we'll from any other place.
Mr.. Stubs, in interruptng Mr.. Win
borne, started TO read from tho Code what
the duties OF the Keeper of Rolls are. but
the gentleman from Rockbridge said he
knew what Mr. Stubs intended to say
and added that he did not care TO be in
terrupted. lie then continued:
"All the Clerk OF the House has 20 do
after the adjournment of the Legislature
is to index the acts and 10 attend TO a
few other matters. which certainly would
not occupy more time than perhaps two
months. There is no use. however. for
him to keep his office open every day all
the year round. Copies OF bills can be
secured as we'll from the Secretary OF
the Commonwealth and no skill. no
abaility and no judgment is required FOR
the Office Of Keeper OF Rolls
III the office is merely perfunctory."
said Mr. Saunders. why is II that you
want to take It away from the Clerk Of
the House.
"As long as We have an Office" replied
Mr. Winborne. Eve must have an officer.
and this. of course. necessltates a salary.
II the office OF Keeper OF Rolls remained
with the Clerk of the House then the
latter will have 10 be In his office all the
year around"
Mr.. WITHROW'S TRIBUTE.
Mr. Withrow. OF Bath. who was next
recognized by the Speaker, spoke as fol-
lows: