Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-12-05
SHORT TALKS WITH LAWMAKERS
They Express Themselves on Various
TONES.

| Topics.
| Almost every member Of the Senate or
House had something to say yesterday
regarding tho work which IS cut out for
the General Assembly. though few cared
TO talk at length. 1t is too early.
81 want railroad legislation above all
else" said Hon. j. NJ. Whitehead, of Lee
county THE people down in this Sec
ton OF the State don't know how badly
we need a law like the one / propose 10
| introduce after / have looked over the
ground why, the South Atlantic and
Ohio railroad. which runs through Lee
county, actually charges our people .
cents a mile 70 ride on it. The Louisville
and Nashville. which also runs through
Lee county, charges cents a mile. L
want TO have enacted a law bringing
down the rates. and shall devote every
energy to doing 50. II 1 don't succeed L
| shall come very near knowing the reason
| why"
Mr.. Whitehead IS one of the most
striking men in appearance Of the new
members. He is upwards of 60 years Of
age, and wears a long white beard. He
IS a fluent conversationalist, and has lots
| Of good ideas which he expresses in the
most straightforward English. Mr..
! Whitehead has been twice married, and
IS the father Of fifteen children.
WANTS A PURE FOOD LAW.
II want TO see a pure-food law enact
ed" said Hon. II. G. Madison of the dis
| trict composed of New Kent. Charles
! CITY, James city. York, and Warwick,
and tho cities of Newport News and
| Williamsburg 1.-THE people of this State
| do not know how much adulterated food
| is sold. At one place in North Carolina
/ thousands of pounds of stone are ground
no every year and used for the sole pur-
| pose Of adulterating sugar. Everything
! We eat IS more or less aduterated. The
cOrnmeal mixed with our -four is a very
harmless adulteraton compared to many
! Others. II ia.s leag rs.r- hope a SEQ
/ this Legislature enact a law providing
| heavy penalties for the adulteration Of
articles of food"
Mr.. Madison makes no claim to being a
speaker, but number of persons who
heard him during the last campaign ex-
pect him to make some good talks before
| the session ends He has the reputation
| of being one OF the most skillful fighters
IN the State.
FOR PURER ELECTIONS.
/ Hon. James l.. Shelton. of Louisa, is
one OF the youngest members Of the
| Assembly He IS an able lawyer, and IS
rapidly making his mark, having firmly
established his reputation by the splendid
manner in which he handled the case Of
Mr.. X. l.. c. Barrett. who shot and Sc
verey wounded Mr.. j. c. May. a promi-
nent lawyer of Louisa. last spring Mr.
Shelton is young man OF rarely clear
head, and expresses himself well.
Il haven't any pet schemes" he said
yesterday, but there is a general law TO
be proposed in which | am greatly in
terested. That IS the law aimed at the
prevention of the use OF money In cleo
tons. Such law is greatly needed. II
ought TO pass both houses OF the General
Assembly without a dissenting voice.
do not mean 10 say that / viii not nave
any bills TO orer myself" Mr.. Shelton
concluded, with a smile. "for ] shall pro-
baby introduce several But at present
/ am more deeply interested I'm the sub
Ject of purer elections than any other"
SENATOR BARKSDALE'S LAW.
Mr. Shelton talked in a way to please
Senator W. L. Barksdale Of Halifax, who
will offer a bill to prohibit ths use of
money i'm elections. Senator Barksdale
reached the city yesterday morning. ac-
companied by Mr. Hurt Jordan. of Hail
fax, a prominent Democrat Mr.. Barks-
dale whose genial good nature and solid
ability made him one Of the most popular
and prominent men in the Senate last
year, was surrounded by crowd OF
friends all the time. Senator Barksdale
was the author Of an anti-foot ball bill.
which was defeated al the last session.
II haven't any football bills for this
year." he said yesterday. Il am going
to devote all my energies TO getting
through one or two other messages.
am going to offer Wednesday a bill To
restrict the amount Of money used in an
election to the actual personal expenses
OF candidates and canyassers. The bill
will also make il unlawful for a man 10
promise an office 10 a man in return for
work done in securing a nomination or
election. The bill will allow a candidate
TO make a contribution 10 the campaign
fund OF his party, but the treasurer of
campaign committee must file a sworn
statement, giving in detail an account or
the manner in which ali such cOntribu-
tons were disbursed. The candidate has
TO subscribe to a sworn statement 10 the
amount Of money expended. / have talk
ed with a number Of senators and leie-
gates regarding this bill. ! am firmly Of
the opinion that ii will pass despite an
alleged constitutional objection"
Mr.. Barksdale is just as confident OF
the passage of his bill requiring candI-
dates for the United States Senate TO be
chosen by the people, a bill for which NJ
made such strong fight at the last ses-
sion, but an unsuccessful one. The bill
he will offer is precisely the one Tor
which there was such a rot, but uDsuc-
cessful. fight made last year.
WANTS TO ABOLISH \ JUDGESHIP.
Senator Graham Clayton, OF Bedford, is
one OF the new members. lie is Il gem
tleman OF attractive personality, and al
fable to a degree. He is a lawyer Of
ability, an author of some note. and an
orator OF considerable reputation.
Il shall Introduce a bill TO abolish the
Eighteenth Judicial Circuit comprising
Roanoke and Bedford" said he. 1t IS a
very small circuit and has very lttle
business now. The circuit was establish
ed back In boom Iimes. when great
things were expected OF both Roanoke
and Bedford as populous communities.
The big population did not materialize.
and since the winding up OF litigation due
TO the boom the court has had little to
do | have small doubt that the bill VIII
pass The circuit having been created In
recent years, the term OF the Judge, Hon.
j. A. Dupuy expires soon, and the elec-
.,.nNrTT f-nI-f, ON u'lIIpn pAGEl