The Washington weekly post., 1899-12-12
Assembly Wants a Battle-sllip
Named After State.
DEBATE Is POLITICALLY COLORED
Senate Resolution Opposed by Mr. Bark..
dale ns.impiying nm Endorsement Of In
perialism, but It IL Adopted with but Two
Dissentins vofes-Lesisiator~ Invited TO
Church and state',-Orher virginia News.
Special to The Post.

Special 10 The Post.
Richmond, Va, Dec. 9-The members OF
the general assembly cannot excuse them
selves from attending church tomorrow
on the ground Of not having been invited.
Each senator and delegate found on his
desk this morning two such invitations.
One was TO attend Grove Avenue Church
tomorrow morning. and hear Or. Haw-
thorne's sermon on Tire subject of the
States appointing chaplain for the pen
itentiary, and the other from the Brother
hood of ST. Andrew
Special interest attaches to the sermon
of DR.. Hawthorne, who will discuss the
general subject Of the Separation OF
Church and State" Gcv Tyler has ac-
cepted an invitation to be present, and
many members of the general assembly
will attend
The first debate Of any interest during
the session occurred in the senate to-day
over resolution requesting the delegation
In Congress from this State to urge the
President TO name the next first-class
battle-ship. for which provision is made.
Virginia" {" 'in honor of our beloved State.
the mother of States and statesmen"
Debate Given a Political Twist.
Delegate Newberne, OF Norfolk County.
was the patron Of @ similar resolution in
the house. which was there adopted with
out debate. In the senate. however. Mr.
Barksdale made fight on the resolution.
He objected to 1t because, he said. he
wanted no ship named Virginia" as Nc
htniey might send her to conquer a peoDis
struggling for liberty.
Senator Foster elOquently advocated the
passage of the resolution.
IL
was no politics in the question and in an
impassioned, eloquent speech, urged adop-
ton. He referred TO the ship-buiIding in
Virginia, the rebuilding of the Kearsarge
and Alabama, and paid a glowing tribute
to the State and the memories that cling
about it.
Senator Barksdale came up smiling, and
with enthusiasm denounced Imperialism.
and said he thought the plan would be
construed as an Endorsement of McKin-
ley's policy.
The resolution was adopted. however.
after the concluding clause was elimi-
mated. Only Messrs Barksdale, Bland, and
Massie voted against it.
soldiers Home Investigation.
There is to be a Soldiers Home investi-
cation at this session. A petition was re-
ceived from the veterans to-day. asking
lOr IL, anu senator Ople, VINO submitted
the petition, will, on MondaJ, offer a res
olution providing for the inquiry. The pc
tition is signed by Charles C. Dashiell,
captain and A. A. c., c. s. A.; L. S.
Gait, major and A. A. G., c. S. A; +. II.
Langley, lieutenant colonel. First ReSi-
ment, Virginia Infantry: Frederick p.
Morrison, Company c. Thrty-second Vir-
ginia Volunteers tprivate). and William
w. Webb, Company A, Nineteenth Vir-
ginia Regiment, Infantry.
These veterans complain that they are
being ''farmed OUT by the Common
wealth, inasmuch as r. Z. Lee Camp. OF
Richmond is given entire charge over
them. They urge the legislature to make
an investigation CT their condition and
their treatment
They complain also of the manner In
which their food is served, but not as to
the quantity. They state they are treated
not as men who have been heroes in bat
tie, but as common paupers. While the
petition Is not very clear as TO what these
veterans desire to be done, Ii seems that
they wish the legislature to take the SOL
diers Home out OF the control of Leo
Camp and make ii a State institution.