Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-02-27

forcible but it seemed that the minds OF
members were pretty well made up, ana
while many listened TO his argument
the majority were busy reading the pa
pers, or smoking In the cloak-room, tell
Ing stories, and discussing particularly
the prospects Of war with Spain.
Mr.. Munford discussed the entire SUE
ject, arguing that from any STANDPOINT
viewed the bill was bad. He concluded
his speech at AIS o'clock, and. MT. MOT
ris spoke in opposition to the bill.
Mr. Morris said he had never before
known the previous question to be called
In the Senate during his three years
service. It was unfair. and seemed 70
him to Indicate the weakness OK the ar
eument for It. He then went into the
subject. arguing along the lines pursued
by Mr.. Munford. dwelling upon the state
ment that such a law would cause all
the insurance of Virginia to be written
in large cities. He spoke only about NJ
teen minutes.
SPEAKS FOR THE BILL
Mr.. Boykin followed Mr.. Morris in
speech Of force and eloquence, at times
growing quite heated. His was the nrst
speech for the bill He took up In detail
many Of the arguments OF the oppositlon'
and replied in his usually earnest style.
MIR. Barksdale followed Mr.. Boykin'
saying he wished TO reply to n remark
of Mr.. Morris something about my be-
ing an Anarchist" Il welcomed the de-
signation." exclaimed Mr.. Barksdale. I'm
the campaign of 1896 the Democratic plat
form declared against trusts and COM
bines. and whenever I see one In my
path want to fight. We have declared
we would do our utmost to strike down
these enemies of the people, and as for
myself, / am going to do So IL that De
anarchy make the most Of IL.
''who is opposing this law?" he ex-
claimed at one point. IL will tell you
the insurance companies and one base
ment officer, whose emoluments may be
decreased by the passage of 1t"
HAD PUT UP RATES.
Mr.. Eggleston followed in a strong
speech. In the course Of his argument
for the bill he said: 'You say the law
has not been enforced in Georgia. An
effort will be made to prevent its enforce
ment IN Virginia. | know these compa-
MES are going to try to prevent the en-
forcement of this law just as they are
standing at the doors OF this Senate to-
day, defying us to pass such law
Mr.. Eggleston said the Southeastern
Traffic Association had put up rates.
"They may deny it until they are Diaek
In the face. but I will not believe them'
for it is not true" .
Mr. Mushbach asked Mr.. Eggleston II
II were not true that the towns OF Keys
Vile. Clarksville and brakes Branch, IN
his Charlotte) county had been destroy
ed by fire recently, the frst-named twice.
He asked II these facts were not good
reasons for putting up the insurance rates
in his county.
az want to say to you that 1t may have
been right to increase the rates at the
places you have named replied Mr.
Eggleston, "but that was no reason why
they should have put them up all over
the county, and that is just what they
did"
MT. EggIeston spoke for nearly an hour.
making decidedly strong argument for
the bill. the longest speech he has MADE
this session.
Mr. Keezeu spoke briefly against the
bill. arguing as the chief objection TO IT,
that It would cause property owners IN
tha State to go elsewhere to secure IN
surance. A.,
Mr.. Sands spoke in opposition 20 the
bill He dwelt at length on the various
features of the bill He went largely int
statistics to show that insurance rates
in the mast few years, and SAID IL Was
due 10 the Southeastern Tarin Assocla'
ton. 49,,
Mr.. Sands had been speaking only apoul
fifteen minutes, when Mr.. FLOOD moved
that the chair be vacated until O'CLOCK
which was agreed to at $50.
The Night Session.
When the chair was resumed at SIO
o'clock Mr.. Sands spoke few minutes III
concluding his speech, and was followed
bv Mr.. Foster in advocacy OF the Dill
Ar $50 Mr.. Flood started to speak by
reading an amendment offered by Mr..
Keezeu which he said ne would make q
mart OF his speech. The amendment pro-
vided that local boards should not oe
affected by the bill. Mr.. Flood, AFTER
reading the amendment when had alse
been read by Mr.. Sands as part OF MS
speech. began to discuss the amendment
but Mr.. Boykin raised the point or ordei
that Mr.. Flood was out OF order ln as
cussipg an amendment which had mol
been offered. and could not be on "a mo-
ton TO reconsider.
Mr.. Flood sat down with the remark
| that he didn't want to speak anyhow,
and a vote was taken. Senator'S came IL
rapidly during roll-call.
WOULD NOT RECONSIDER.
The motion to reconsider was defeated
bv a vote OF - to II. Following is the
recorded vote:
Aves-Messrs. Fairfax, Flanagan
| Flood. Keezell, McIlwaine, Morris, Mush
| bach. Opie, Sands, Steele, Turnbull an'
Wickham-l2 -
Noes-Messrs. Barksdale, Boykin, clay
tor. Clement, Eggleston, Foster, jackson
Kane. Lowry, Massie, Parr, st. Clair ant
Withers-l3.
The following pairs were announced, III
| frst-named party being in favor of IN
motion: Messrs. Munford and Hale, May
uayd and Tate, Letcher and Jefries.
There was q faint hand-clapping, Zee
by Mr.. Eggleston, when the vote Wal
announced.
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.
The constitutional convention bill wai
| taken up Immediately after the vote q
the fire-insurance bill. Mr.. Withers of
fered an amendment, providing that thu
tiouestion of a convention be submitted
to the people at the spring election. II
1899. instead Of at the fall elections =
1898. The amendment was adopted. =
vote was then taken on the substitute
offered by Mr.. Wickham, providing for
constitutional commission, ana IL wa
Overwhelmingly defeated.
Mr.. Wickham made lengthy speech
against the original bill. He said he dlt
not believe there was popular demand
for a constitutional convention. The p:o
position had been Overwhelmingly de
reated, and he saw nothing to indicate
that sentiment had changed. He beleye'
this Legislature had adopted several WIS.,
measures. which would be highly accept