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

NitlCrE coNsIthNtoHoi SStsF~'" 80
yesterday.
n WAS finally decided TO pass the meas
IRE by and make 1t the special and con-
,inuing order for February 10Th. THIS
Was zone IN order 10 give me Leeisiatu
further ume Ia which 10 pass sucn legis-
is,on as snal maze the convention an
pecessafy. had vote been taken yes
fsrday. n would undoubtedly nave been
favorable 10 the Dill lilo,
Tne senate Dy vote OF ~ 10 decliheu
20 sbonsh the Tenth Judicial Circuit.
Two sessions OF the bouse were hed.
the oyster question was the topic In that
body.
Proceedings OF the Senate.
The senate met without prayer.
numerous petitions IN favor OF the
Naupln bin 20 tax social clubs for selling
uqnor and in favor OF the bill TO require
the teaching OF hygiene, etc. in the pup
he schools were presented.
Mr.. Fairfax. from the COMMITTEE on
Finance. reported with an amendment the
bin providing for Building an ADDITION 10
the penitentiary. The amendment places
a llndt upon the money 10 be expended.
1t provides that in addition 10 the labor
"a be performed in the work by the con-
ylcts the net receipts from the peniten-
,larv FOR the next four years shah con-
stitute The fund out of which the improve
ment Is % be pals for.
AMENDS ELECTION LAW.
Mr.. Keezcu offered a pill making one
material change in the election law. 1t
amends section and 10 of the act ap-
nro,ed March 4. 1895, by rohding that
there shall De three ballots for each
precinct which shall not bear the seal
Of the electoral board. On the morning
OF tho election the sclied packages con-
tanning the tickets are broken ana the
ballots carefully COu1tet. Here IS the way
the amendment reads: And tho three
unstamped ballots contained in said pack
age shall be securely post ID by the judges
OF election in three conspicuous places
without the polling place. where they
81 ali be open 10 the inspection Of the
voters. and 1t shall be the duty Of the
Judges 10 D.ev,ni ne destr lction, re-
moVal or defac.ng OF said ballots as long
as the polls are open. Any person VINO
shall unlawfully remove. deface or de-
stroy any of said ballots rs long as the
polls are open shall be deemed guilty OF
a misdemeanor and upon conviction there
OF shall be punished by a fine OF teh dol
lar. and imprissioned for thirty days In
the county jail.
This is the only change proposed.
senator Wickham offered a bill amend
ing the charter Of the Town OF Ashland
and under a suspension Of the rules II
was passed.
HOW WARRA NT'S ARE TO BE ISSUED
Mcssrs. Sands and Munford had amend
rents added TO Senate bills No. 2'S
amending the code in relation to search
warrants. ana 25q to amend the code IN
relation 10 the arrest Of persons charged
with crime These measures, OF which Mr.
McIlwaine WAS the patron, m their orlsl-
nal form took away from all Justices OF
the peace in the cities the right TO issue
warrants in criminal cases and search
warrants and imposed that duty on the
police Justice without extra compensation
The amendments authorize the Judge or
the Hastings Court OF Richmond TO desig-
nate OF the Justices OF the peace VINO
shall be empowered TO issue warrants Tor
the arrest OF persons charged with GRIM
inai offences and TO issue search war
rants
Mr.. McIlwaine accepted the amend
mcnts and both bills were passed.
THE TENTH CIRCUIT.
Ouite an interesting debate occurred
over the hill 10 abolish the Tenth Judicial
Circuit and to add the counties embraced
IN the district TO the SIKH, MINI ana
Eleventh Circuits.
MIR Opie opened the debate i'm opposi-
ton 10 the bill. He said he was as much
in favor OF economy as any one, but he
the Tenth Judicial Circuit, when the peo-
ole of that district would be so greatly
Inconvenience by being depriTed OF their
judge.
MIR. Keezell made strong appeal TO the
Senate To pass the bill. He read statis-
tics and argued therefrom that very 1T
tie business was transacted In TINS cir
cult. For one. he wanted 10 coWWenc'
AT the top i'm order 20 bring about re-
trenchment and reform. He was not will
ing to begin with the man who Is re-
ceiving the small sum OF 80 cents per day
for going to the county courthouse and
testifving In criminal cases. Yet the Sen
ate had voted 10 take away the fees of
these witnesses many OF whom Will be
left without the means to buy them q
meal at the courthouse Now. when i
was proposed 10 begin with the men re
ceiving big salaries II was treading on
the toes OF some one with Influential
friends. He warned the Senate that If N
saving OF money was ali done by takin'
away from the poorly paid those people
would make their power felt at the bal
lot box.
Mr.. Keezell said he recognized the fac
that he was a layman IN the Senate and
the lawyers would not listen TO him. but
he desired to place himself on record as
being willing to begin at the top and cut
Gown the big salaries.
Mr.. Flanagan said. while his sympa-
thies were with those who desired to
save this judicial circuit. he felt IL to be
his duty TO the people of Virginia to
vote 10 abolish this circuit. lie said he
would sound a note Of warning TO the
majority party that II was about 10 com
init bunder like that when u abolished
the fees of commemorative witnesses In
criminal cases tried by justices Of the
peace.
The Senate by vote of p to refused
TO engross the bill
COL. CUNNINGHAM HONORED.
On motion Of Mr.. Barksdale. the privi-
lcges of the floor were extended 10 Col.
John s. Cunningham. a distinguished cti-
zen OF North Carolina a member OF the
Legislature OF that state. and the Dem
ocratic nominee for the speakership OF the
lower branch OF that Legislature at the
last meeting of that body. Col. Cunning
ham Is spoken OF all over North Carolina
for the Democratic nomination for Gov
ernor
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.
AT $50 o'clock the Withers bill, provid-
Ing for taking the sense OF the votes on
the question OF calling constitutional
convention. came up as the special order
Mr.. Withers took the floor and made
q short. but splendid address in supper
OF the measure. He said he did not pose
as a reformer. The term 'reformer' was
6istasteful 20 him. The "reformer" gen
orally wanted TO reform everything anu
everybody but himself and often he was
more in need of reform than any one
else.
While ne was not a reformer Mr. with
ers said he did realize that some organic
+ changes were necessary in order tina
Virginia might have an economical gov
eminent.
The speaker went on 10 argue thai
there could be no great saving OF eX
pense by legislative enactment. 1t must
come through revision Of the cons,itu
ton.