Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-01-15
ANTI-FLIRTING BILL.
THE M'CUNE MEASURE ARGUED
BEFORE SENATE COMMITTEE.
SUCH A LAW IS NEEDED.
This Fnct Emphasized by Delegates
Watkins and Hooker, Representing
stamp Act.

anti-fiirtation bill, was considered by the
Senate Committee on Public Institutions
and Education yesterday afternoon The
bill went over until the next meeting.
There were many spectators in the
Senate chamber when the committee con-
vened a few minutes after 5 O'Clock yes
terday afternoon. Among these were
number OF ladies. who were interested
listeners to the proceedings. 1t could
not be learned, however, whether they
opposed the bill. The members Of the
committee present were Chairman Morris
and Senators Clement, Eggleston, Opie
and Keezell.
SPEECH OF ITS PATRON.
The bill of Mr.. McCune was at once
taken up and read. after which the patron
spoke at length in its support. lie said
he did not introduce the bill for the pur-
pose of gaining notoriety, but for the
protection of women, who had been per-
secuted by men from time immemorial.
He was sorry TO say he was not a per-
fectly moral man. but he wanted to have
the women of the State protected by the
laws Of the State against unprinciped
young men. lie alluded to the surprising
fact that some women were opposed to
the bill. and regretted that certain sena-
tors had treated it with too much levity.
SENATOR WANTED TO FLIRT.
"Why." he said 1.-THE gentleman who
| has Just entered the room told me the
other day he would not vote for the bill,
for he liked to flirt with the girls"
II beg your pardon, but when did I say
thaty' asked Senator Barksdale, who had
| just entered. and taken a seat in the rear
of the chairman.
Did l say you said it?" asked Mr.. Nc
Cune.
Il just came in" replied Mr.. Barksdale.
"Well. you did say it last Wednesday
| afternoon" said Mr. McCune, and there
was a general laugh at the expense OF
the Halifax Senator.
Mr.. McCune read n number Of letters
| from officials of various female educa-
! tional institutions in Virginia, asking that
| the measure be pressed, setting forth
/ that the need was highly urgent. H0
! pleaded with the committee to report the
! bill favoraby. but said that if it did not
/ ne would approach each Senator indi-
vidually to solicit his support for the
| measure. and i'm case IL was defeated.
would continue through succeeding ses-
sions TO fight for a similar one until the
| end sought was achieved.
Mr. Booker. the Delegate from Suffolk,
stated that he had been requested by
three female schools Of that town 10 use
his influence for the bill.
ONLY A POLITICAL FREAK.
! Mr.. Barksdale said he did not remcm-
Der having made the remark attributed
/ to him by Mr. McCune. He characterized
the bill as an attempt at freak legisla-
tion. and said it properly came from the
| Senator from Shenandoah, freak Of poll
tcs-a political accident by his own ad-
mission. At any rate he had always felt
! that in the matter Of filtration the men
needed protection the most.
! Mr.. McCune said he might be a freak,
but he was willing TO make oath that the
counties composing his district could not
| furnish. nor had he ever seen in the Nir-
| einia Legislature, a man so well developed
! in freakishness as the Senator from Hall
/ fax
| Mr.. Darlington. the Delegate from
! Charlotte. thought neither Mr.. McCune
nor Mr.. Barksdale would ever be the
| cause Of a girls broken heart. He knew
! that many senators had suffered from
| bright eyes and coral lips and silvery
/ laughter. but he did not think il neces-
| sarv to pass n law 10 prevent their being
carried off by the young ladies Of the
! boarding-schools.
NEED FOR THE LAW.
Judge Watkins. the Delegate from
| Prince Edward. made an earnest speech
! for the bill. He said that the female
schools all over the state felt the need OF
such a law. The city of Richmond pro-
tected it's female schools by an ordinance,
/ al Of H. l.
| sideration. and to his knowledge Miss
| Baldwn's school in Staunton, and the
| Farmville Female Normal School had TO
be protected by special policemen.
Mr.. KeeZel said he had not previously
considered the bill seriously, but was no"
prepared to do so and desired time FOR
/ consideration. He moved that the COM
mittee adjourn 10 take up the bill at the
meeting Monday afternoon. The motion
was adopted. and the committee adj
journed.
THE TURNBULL INNESTIGATlON. y.
The Joint committee appointed to in
vestigate the charges against Judge II. ,.
| Turnbull. Of the County Court OF Bruins
wick. met last night. and adopted the
report fully generating the accused.
The members of the committee present
were Messrs. Jeffries. Fairfax Letcher'
] y
sion was held behind closed doors, In
Room No. l, at the Capitol. but 1t was
| learned that the report Of the suh-com-
mittee. fully generating Judge Turnbull
! as previously stated In the Dispatch,
was adopted. The report was read by
Mr. Jeffries who presided in the absence
of Senator Boykin, who is out OF the
citv. There was objection on the part
of one member TO that part Of the re-
port which set forth Judge TurnbulI
! fitness for the position, but 1t IS under
stood that il was finally signed by all.
| The report says that the judges moral
| character is in nowise anected by the
! findings Of the committee
,rbe report will not be made public
until the return to the city of Mr. Bu-
| ford the Brunswick Delegate, who pre-
! forred the charges II is stated that a
.esolution will probably be offered in the
| House to-day or tomorrow asking tha'
Mr. Ruford be summoned 10 the city. In
! order that the report may be published
ond Judge Turnbull relieved Of the
cbarees undex which he has been resting
for several weeks
WILL SEAT MR.. BLANTON.
rho tfouse Committee on Privileges and
rloctions heard the argument in the lie
| sueur VS. Blanton contested election case
from Cumberland county yesterday Ihe
committee did not make public It's report
but il Is believed that every member
moulding Mr.. Hale Republican), VIII vote
to seat Mr.. Blanton (DemocraJ' VINO re-
| coived the certificate Of election
Senator Flood represented Mr.. Blanton
and senator Flanagan appeared for Mr..
,rbe substance OF an earnest argument
| -, Ntr Flanagan was that the Electoral