Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-02-03

I ,SSa when these tenders were made unce'
/ this 'Cfusher" act ~
The hin was unanimously ordered TO us
engrossment
TO ABOLISH SPRING ELEcfioNss
! AT l15 o'clock the Senate took w .ne
| special order. the consideration "a
| Kcezells Joint resolution pe.,a',S
an,.ndments 10 sections and of Article
| VII. OF the Constitution, abolishins sp'lns
| elections. mir. Boykin asked Mr.. heezeh
20 consent 20 have the special order pass
ed BY one day! owing TO the absence OF
senator Barnes who was opposed 70 tne
resolution. Mr.. Keezel said the gentle
man had only left the building a Few
minutes before: he did not know what
had called him out. but he was sure ma
knew the resolution was TO DO taken up
ana IL he thought IL OF not SUFFICIENT Inn
portance 10 remain, he supposed II was
hardly incumbent upon the Senate ~
pass It by out OK courtesy to him.
Mr.. Keczeil then went into an extended
argument for the resolution. declaring
that II there was one reform upon winch
the people were united 1t was the abolish
ing OF the spring election. The FEELING
was universal that we had too many
elections. not only because of the great
expense. but because II kept the people
in more or less OF turmoil and pre-
vented a full vote being polled ar any
election. the people being tired 10 death
with elections
Mr.. Boykin alluded to the Importance
OF the measure, and asked that 1t be
passed by one day, but Mr.. Keezell said
he had TO leave the city last night, ana
would not return for several days.
There was considerable desultory de-
bate over the motion to postpone. and
finally II was voted to make the con-
slderation OF the resolution the special
order for next Tuesday
on motion of Mr.. LeCato, the Senate
Joint resolution making the payment or
the capitation tax a prerequisite OF
voting was made the special order for
80 O'Clock the same day.
THE PENITENTIARY BILL
A number of bills were ordered 20 their
engrossment without debate. but when
the bills TO authorize the Board Of Di-
rectors Of the penitentiary 10 erect
buildings. enlarging the accommodations
there was considerable opposition. Mr..
Fairfax said the Finance Committee had
recommended the passage Of the bill
with practical unanimity.
Mr.. Opie opposed the passage Of the bill
now, saying that while he favored 1t. he
thought the Legislature should not spend
money before il had saved money; that
Il was true that the expense OF erecting
the buildings was to be betrayed from
the profits OF the institution, yet cir
might arise which would put
such cost. estimated at $4,000, upon the
State. He moved that the bill be made
the special order for February 18th. The
motion was lost and the debate on the
bill began.
THE CONDITIONS THERE
Mr. Keezel said he had visited the in
stitution and had seen there things
which would move the most callous
heart He had seen six men confined in
cells 20 feet square, sleeping in shelves
the highest of which were not more than
IS inches or feet from the ceiling. In
this room the men were shut at sun
down to remain till dawn. He was sur
prlsed that an epidemic had not broken
out at the penitentiary. He thought the
State had resting upon it a solemn duty
to provide in a more humane way for
the unfortunates committed 20 its care.
Mr.. Flanagan said he had been read
ing the history of the penitentiary, and
he heartily favored the bill for enlarge
ment He thought the representatives or
The people could well afford, in the midst
Of the tumult for retrenchment. 10 put
heir hands in the treasury, and provide
decent quarters for the criminals Of the
state.
WANTED THE AMOUNT REDUCED.
Mr.. Flood strongly opposed the bill.
He said it had not, and could not be
that an appropriation of
100000 was needed for the work. He
xnew il was claimed that the expense
was to be borne out Of the profits Of the
but IL in effect came out OF
The State Treasury; it would not go
here if spent on erecting new buildings.
He read an authoritative statement TO
the effect that cells for convicts could
be erected at a cost Of $50 each thus the
room for COO men needed could be OBJ
ained at cost of $4,000 leaving $4,000
10 be expended for kitchen and other |
The appropriation was much !
100 large. 1t was only proposed TO add |
'W more cells to accommodate two men !
each, yet for this purpose $4,000 from |
he Treasury of a State in distress over |
ner finances was to be taken. He called |
urther attention to the fact that there was |
now pending in the national House of |
II convict-made goods in States other |
han those in which made. A member |
If the Davis Shoe Company, now employ
ng over 900 convicts, had told him that |
his company would forfeit it's contract |
( this bill became a law. Where. tfen. |
would be the profits from which ice cost |
IF construction would be borne?
In conclusion, Mr.. Flood said he wanted /
honest labor given a show in the con-
;truction of additional buildings. And |
he thought $4,000 would be ample for the
purpose.
HUMANITY DEMANDS IT.
Mr.. Eggleston advocated the bill in an
earnest speech. He said that considera-
ions Of humanity dictated that this en-
argement be made. He gave instances
,iting the need of more room in the
prison, and said he had been struck with
he possibility, and even probability, OF
an epidemic in the prison, which would |
,ause it 10 cease to be a paying institu-
ion. Mr. Eggleston cited figures show
ng the need of enlargement saying that
ne was a member of the subcommittee
which had visited the prison. il had
Questioned the officials, the Board Of Di-
'ectors, and a reputable architect. and
he replies had led to the preparation of
he bill presented, whose passage was a
necessity.
Mr.. Sands offered an amendment strik-
ng out the clause directing the use of
convict labor, as far as practicable, in
erecting the building.
MR.. MORRISS EARNEST APPEAL.
Mr. Morris defended the report of the
He yividly pictured the con-