The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-03-08
Three Formal Sessions
Were Held Yesterday,
THE CLOSING SCENES.
Ii Was Eleven O'clock Before All
Bills Were Signed.
A TALK With THE GOVERNOR.
He Docs Not Think He Should be Crit
iciscd for Signing the Act to Ap-
point Commissioners of Valu-
atiou-The Newly Enacted
Law Defended by the
Executive = Gossip.

+
Law Defended by the
Executive Gossip.
The Legislature adjourned shortly alter
II o'clock last night When the two
bodies met at noon the Committee on In
rolled Bills had much work to do, ana
the chairs were vacated until Z. M.
There were eight senators present when
1dclatenant-Goyernor EclIols called the
Senate to order at night. The chair was
at once yacaIted until II o'clock Most
Of the members remained about ahe
Capitol, and G. Watson James, Jr., one
of the brightest pages that ever serVcu
the Senate, was persuaded TO preside
over a mock session. His witucisms
amused and entertained the gathering as
long as he would consent TO PRESIDE
At II O'Clock the Licutenant-Governor
resumed the gavcl Delegate Dupuy In
formed the Senate that the House was
ready TO appoint a commlttee 10 Walt
upon the Governor. Senators Barksdale'
iassie and Dinwiddie were appointed 10
represent the Senate. On the return oil
the cr.1yuittee, Senator Barksdale stated
: that the Governor had no further com
gnrnicanon TO make, and wished the law
makers a safe return to their hoines.T
After the usual MESA gcs had been pass
ed between the two bodies, the Lleuyen-
ant-Governor declared the Senate --ad-
journed until the first Wednesday IN De
cc,,sber, 1901, unless sooner convened IN
extra session.
Excuut Delegates.
The House held three formal sessions
Yesterday. and at Ills o'clock p. M ad-
journed sine die.
Promptly at u o'clock M. Hon. s. l..
Kelley. of Richmond city, called the
body 10 order and on motion of Hon.
7. &C. Pitcher, of Fauquier, the chair was
vacated till o'clock 7. NJ
Mr. Kelley presided at both evening
sessions. Speaker Saunders having left
Tor home at 8 o'clock A. NJ
At S O'Clock a brief session was held,
and recess was taken till Ii o'clock TO
ALLOW the Governor to complete his ardu-
ous duties OF signing bills.
Again at the latter hour Mr.. Kelley
raped to order. and appointed Messrs.
Dupuy, Epps. and King 10 notify the
Governor of the readiness of the House
to adjourn. provided he had no further
business to communicate. The committee
soon returned with the information that
the Governor had nothing further to
communicate than to return his thanks
to the members for the faithful manner
in which they had discharged the duties
OF the session.
Mr. Dupuy was then appointed to con-
yey a like message TO the Senate, and IN
a few moments the genial Senator from
Halifax appeared and stated that the
Senate was ready on its part to adjourn
without day Acting Speaker Kelley thcn
declared the House adjourned sine die.
and the session of 1901-19Gl was at an end.
The members and newspaper men pres
ent then sang the doxolosy, and there
was a general liandshaking all round.
The members present were Messrs.
Boaz. Kelley. Epps, Cardwcll, King, and
Dupuy. IL
The Governors Views.
The Governor last night gave out the
following interview:
II cannot sec wherein I can be justly
censured for having signed at once the
bill for the appointment. OF commits
sioners of valuation. Th4 Constitution
vests in the Governor the right of vote,
but allows the Legislature. by two
thirds vote of both branches, to pass
the law despite his objections. All laws
that come to the Governor within five
days before the adjournment Of the
Legislature he is able to defeat by with
*
Legislature be unanimously in favor Of
i,s passage. Therefore. this is a power
that the Governor should be slow to
exercise
Many members were beseeching me
not to overlook their bills. felt that
as 10 opportunity could be given to pass
measures over my veto, that il was my
duty TO aftix my signature to all meas
ures unless they We're clearly uncon-
stitutional or it was admitted that great
wrong would be done. If 1 had con-
sentcd to hear arguments, pro and con,
on measures, 1t would have resulted in
holding the Legislature here almost
indefnitely. or to have let many bills
die in my hands. To Accommodate all
as far as possible, and in order to let
all bills become laws. agreed to work
and examine bills as fast as possible,
ana 1t was decided could get through
by Tuesday night. SO the Legislature
on Saturday stopped receiving bills ex-
cept by unanimous consent
THE OBJECTIONS.
con Monday morning objections were
raised against the bill. and my office
was filed with gentlemen desifins.@.o be
heard. begging me to defeat the bill. and
in the midst of the confusion Senator
Glass appeared with "A petition signed
by twenty-five Senators requesting the
defeat of the measure Some friends
OF the bill appeared and said the House
would almost unanimously petition not
10 let the blll die. and thus il was.
After consideration q first intended to
hold the bill TO hear objections) de-
cided that the best and fairest course
for me to pursue was TO sign the bill
at once and make It law. and let the
Legislature repeal it. II II thought best. as
no yepeal bill could he introduced until