Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-08-13

had an interesting chat the other day
with state Senator William 3. McIlwaine.
OF Petersburg regarding the prospect Of
the passage by the next General Assem-
bly, OF the employers liability bill. which
was the subject OF one Of the hardest
fought contests witnessed in the last
legislature. Mr.. McIlwaine and Senator
Eugene Withers, Of Danville. led the fight
in the Senate for the bill. Hon +. w.
Saunders, OF Franklin, and Hon William
J.. Reddy, Of Richmond. and others fought
tho bin through the House. Mr.. Nell
waiue and MIR. Withers made as gallant
q fight In the Senate. but they could not
overcome tho heavy odds against them
One OF the most eloquent speeches heard
in the Virginia Senate I'm years was the
plea which Mr. Withcrs made Tor the
bill. The speech Of sir. Mcllwaine was
ono Of tho ablest from legal standpoint
delivered an the Senate chamber IN long
period The speech Of Senator Jefries in
opposition 10 the bill laid the foundation
for what promises TO be a fine reputation
in the Senate for the able Culpeper law
Yer. who just now seems TO be wcaried
with trumphs as the result Of his cam
paign against land-grabbers. Senator Hal.
Flood conducted the fight against the bill
with all his usual skin. and made a tell
ing speech in opposition. 1t was over
Whelmingly defeated.
There is no certainty that it VIII meet
better fate this coming session. but the
fight is 10 be made again. Mr.. McIlwalne
T. hopeful. lie is also grathcd at the
prospect OF having several new assistants
IN his fight He remarked he was tired
of facing such big odds. Several of the
legislative nominees from Richmond have
already declared they would vote for an
employers liability bill.
Several Of the Richmond nominees have
declared for O. senatorial primary bill. A
W".l-intormed gentleman who goes over
the state great deal said the other day
that De under- TODD many Of the caudi-
dates Tor legislative hOnors had declared
for measure providing for the election
Of senatorial candidate by popular vote.
There will unquestionably be an attempt
made to secure legislation of this charac-
ter. Friends Of such "a measure declare
80 will have much stronger support than
the bill which was defeated i'm the Sem
ate, IN which it was introduced last ses-
sion.
senator Barksdale. Of Halifax, led the
fight for this bill. and made one or two
fine speeches. His final speech on the
bill was heard by the largest crowd
which listened 10 any speech made I'm the
Senate last session. Senator Flood led
the fight against the bill, and, as was
fOresecn. won.
But this session it will poll a much
larger vote. Whether the vote will be
s1Ihcienty large TO make the measure
.-w remains TO be seen.
~ course. one Of tho first bills intro
olced In the Legislature will be one
modifying the land-grabbeIs law. 1t
would De perfectly safe to wager that
there has not been man in Virginia du-
ring the present campaign who has an
nounced himself a candidate for the Gene
raj Assembly who has not taken oc-
casion 10 denounce this law for the col
lection Of delinquent real estate taxes.
and TO pledge himself 20 vote to repeal
st. or modify IL. 1t has been a great
football for the candidates. IL is pro-
badly certain that not q candidate for
the Legislature will announce himself
VINO Will not give the law a kick.
Though few good words. or none will
Doe spoken for the law. the fact is recog-
nized. and the General Assembly is eN-
pected 10 take cOgnizance of IL, that thou
sands of dollars Of taxes delinquent have
been paid into the state Treasury since
the bill became law. II is also true that
only a very small part of this amount
would have been received bad the law
never been passed.
II may bo taken. therefore, that the
law will be modified and not repealed.
The character of the changes cannot be
safely predicted but it is pretty certain
that the 8 penalty feature Of the law Will
be eliminated. The amended law, or the
new one, Will probably not contain pro-
vision 90 pay the land-grabber for his
trouble in attempting TO secure real estate
upon which taxes have not been paid.
Mr.. George Wayne Anderson, one Of the
nominee for the House of Delegates from
this city. will il is understood, offer an
amendment TO the law. providing that
every deed conveying realty must state
that there are no taxes due upon the pro-
perty this 10 be conclusive. In this way
innocent purchasers will be protected.
There viii be an attempt made TO &C.
curp the massage of antitrust legislation.