Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-11-26

The election OF United States Senator
will be an undressing Formally COM
pared to some Of the WORK which is ex-
pected to be done by the General AS
sembly which conyencs here one week
from next Wednesday.
1t is now thought that the most fms
portant mater which will come before
the Legislature this winter will To a mea-
sure which looks TO the restriction OF tho
suffrage There Is no doubt OF the In
PRODUCTION OF a bin which. II enacted
into law. will eliminate thousands Of
voters from the poll-oooks OF Virginia.
As published In the Dispatch several
weeks ago. a bin will be introduced In
the House OF Delegates which will re-
qure that every man Offering to vote shall
bee able to read the Constitution of tho
/ State. or the United States. or TO under-
stand either when read to him. II he
cannot do either he cannot vote. 0e
course. the bin will be in the nature oc
a constitutional amendment. which VIII
have 10 be- passed by two Legislatures,
and ratified ~ twO-thirds Of tina voters
OF the state
IL is seen 40 once that this will have
the effect chiefly. of eliminating negro
votes. similar statute was enacted
by the Legislature OF Mississippi several
years ago. The Supreme Court OF tbs
United States has decided II TO be con-
stluu0naL
EXCEPTIONS PROPOSED.
II IS recognized that there is a con-
! siderable number OF white voters In Nir-
einia who would be disqualified from
voting by such q constitutional amend
ment as that proposed. However, II Is
! not improbable that the bill VIII propose
Lea. f.. tiau Ga lls1f 0t soldiers who
Fought on either side IN the war between
the States. or their sons.
! IL IS not thought there IS likelihood OF
/ very serious opposition TO the bill. Tho
opponents are expected 10 be chiefly
members from the Southwest and valley.
! The members from Tiiewator and South
! side Virginia are expected 10 advocate
! the law to a. man. Piedmont members
! will De- divided.
| Governor Tyler was asked last night
/ ~ DE thought 10 would bo 4 good guess TO
state that he would recommend cor
! stituti0ual amendment such as tho one
/ just discussed
"I think not" his Excollency replied.
The talk az a constitutional convention
is being revived A bin 10 this end Will
probably be introduced. No man has
been heard TO predict it would pass. But
should the amendment 10 the Constitute
ton fixing an educational qualification
for voting Doe adopted it is admitted that
the probabilities Of a convention for the
! purpose OF the revision of the Consu-
| tuition would Doe much stronger
But a. is not expected that The next
! LEGISLATURE will adopt any measure look
ing 90 constitutional revision. Indeed, II
Is regarded as wcll-rish certain that IL
will not.
SOME or THE FIGHTS
The next session Of the Legislature VIII
| witness some heavy dghtng. There VIII
be- battle Co. me death over a sena-
torial primary BILL
There viii le great fight over bill
to De offered by Senator Barksdale' when
will have for lbs object the prevention or
the use Of money in elections. The Sena-
tor viii make a gallant night.
There win be a hard fight over an anti
trust bill one introduced M tne LAST
House was sent 10 committee 10 take 4
nap. II never woke up.
A him 10 make railroad companies liabls
for Injuries sustained 0y employees whie
I'm the discharge of duty viii cause q
great Fight SO man has eeen heard %
say IL viii not pass bui NOBODY mas
made a prediction concerning II. IL Is noe
known that any better reasons for be-
meving it win pass exist now than "hen
IL was pending last session
There will be more attempts at oyster
LEGISLATION. Tho present law needs
amendment There win De the usual up
county sentiment IN favor Of heavier
tax burdens upon the oysicrmen.
The foregoing indicate but a few OF the
/ fghts which may be expected. IL Is the
oenordal onlni0n OF those who study the
/ trend OF public sentiment In ihis state
that the approaching session VIII DO
! pr0bablv the uyoliesi virginia has had
since the power of Malone was broken-
,rrore are many reasons for believing 20.
|. and very few for thinking there will Do a
Great deal OF legislation enacted w.thour
onpositlon. IL Will not be the oypo-
sition OF the opposing party. for tho
Democrats have nearly every member Ia
each branch on O strictly party vote a
| bin would pass almost unanimously. But
there IS n division OF opinion concerning
the general objects " legislation which
is expected 20 manifest itself upon nearly
all occasions.
FIGHTS IL CAUCUS.
After ALL the Warmest fights VIII PROP
I ably ne OALalNN tl4N - ot"tsANNf'f 49,
among the members. IL is in the caucus
hat there will occur some OF the most
| yyrotechnical OF the fights witnessed In
ire Capitol this winter. Struggles over
| admission 20 the caucus VIII probably
form the most interesting spectacles or
fered IN the old hall OF historic nights.
Several men elected over the declared
! nominees OF the party win endeavor to
obtain seats IN the party council. Those
who would deny them the privilege VIII
mako a determined neht.
CONTESTS FOR NOMINATIONS.
There will be fights over caucus noui-
nations FOR State Offices. Mr.. George NJ
Helms viii be opposed by Major y. w.
LINN for reelection TO the oshce OF SUI
,erlntendent OF the Penitenilary. Mr. J..
~. Richardson Will ask for the nominal
lion for reelection 20 the o'iice OF Regis
fer of tho Land Ofice but he will be op-
nosed BY Mr.. j. /. White. OF Pittsylyanla
.ountv. and Mr Llewcllyn Il. Lookabill.
q the city OF Roanoke. Mr.. Josiah Ry-
-,nl VIII stand FOR reelection 20 tho Of
4cr az SECOND Auditor. but be will be op-
t. So 81. Mcdonald Lee. OF Lam
caster county.
so FAR as known. there WIN be TO op-
position TO other state officers. though
CONCLUDED ON SEVENTH PAGE,