The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-10-18
REFUSE TO
CONSOLIDATE
Committee Votes Down the Withers
Substitute,
FLOODS MOTION WITHDRAWN.
Win Make Ills Fight for Biennial Sessions
on The Floor OF the Convention.
Tic Days pfo-
ceedlnss.

There was but one session of the Con-
s,i;uJionaI Convention yesterday Th.tt
lasted from 10 O'Clock a. NJ. 10 100 Z.
NJ Then an adjournment was. had until
4 10 o'clock this morning.
There were eighty members present. aT.
Flood withdrew his motion to reconsider
the vote by which the committee decided
upon quadrennial sessions of the gIesis-
nature and gave notice that he would
make his fight for biennial sessions on
the floor OF the convention instead OF the
Committee of the Whole.
The County Government Committees
report was taken up and the question re-
Cured or Mr. Withers substitute pro-
viding for the consolidation of the Offices
of treasurer and sheriff, except in coIla-
tics of over 5000 Inhabitants. for which
The office of treasurer might be created
by law Mr.. Withers made a strong
speech for his substitute, and it was OPP
posed by Judges Campbell, CT Amherst,
Kendall, Hancock and Portlock, and Ar.
Barnes, of New Kent. There were many
amendments, all of which were voted
down, and then the proposition was itself
defeated by a vote of 20 to 36.
The committee rose at 1895 P. NJ, ana
the convention adjourned until 10 o'clock
to-day.
THE DAY IN DETAIL.
The convention met at 10 o clock-prayer
was offered by Rev. Carey e. Morgan, of
The Christian Church. Seventy-one mem
bers answered the roll-call and the journal
of Wednesdays proceedings was read and
approved.
Petitions for and against the Barbour
liquor license resolution were presented.
Leave of absence was granted several
members.
The convention went in Committee of
the Whole to consider the report of the
Legislative Committee.
The special order, being the nlption to
reconsider the vote by which the section
providing for quadrennial sessions, was
passed by, Mr.. Flood stated that it had
been agreed between him and Chairman
Moore that his motion to reconsider
would be withdrawn. 1t was also agreed
that the question should be fought out
on the floor of the convention, and that
there was no surrender of position what
ever on the part of the friends of bien-
NAL sessions.
Chairman Moore then announced that
the consideration of the legislative re-
port before the Committee of the Whole
had been completed. He moved that
the committee arise. It was adopted.
Mr.. Walker, chairman. reported to the
convention that the Committee of the
Whole had completed consideration OF
the report of the Legislative Department.
Is was ordered that the report, as ADOPT
ed by the Committee OF the Whole, be
printed.
ANOTHER REPORT.
Chairman Barnes then moved that the
convention go into Committee OF the
Whole to consider the report of the Com
niittee on County Government. This
was adopted.
Mr.. Wise, presiding, announced that the
amendment offered by Mr.. Watson, pro-
,lding that treasurers should be allowed
TO succeed themselves. was the pending
question.
Mr.. Wi:hcrs said he had understood
that his substitute, consolidating The Of
. fee of sheriff and treasurer had the
right of way. The chairman said, since
his ruling yesterday he had consulted
parliamentary law and was of opinion
that Mr.. Watson's amendment had pre-
cedcnce.
There was considerable discussion here
on parliamentary law between Messrs.
keeZell, Green and Withers on one side
and Chairman Wise on the other. There
was an interim of several minutes. Mem
bers were reading up on Reeds rules
and several copies We're rendered the
chairman. Colonel Smith read rule
sustaining the chairman. MIR. Withers
read two rules contrary to the ruling.
The chairman took a copy OF the rules.
that Mr.. Withers' substitute had prece-
tlence and the vote would first be taken
on that.
WARMLY OPPOSED.
Judge Hancock spoke in opposition
TO the proposition. He claimed
that the summary Of the drnes
VI tho Sheriff and Treasurer, read
yesterday by Mr.. Witllers, showed con-
ciusireiy that each Of chose officers had
all he could do. He said The trouble with
treasurers had not come from them, hut
from their deputies. and il the Offices of
Treasurer and Sheriff were merged it
would simply mean more deputies. He
earnestly urged that such responsible du-
ties be not placed in the hands OF ire
sponsible deputies.
1t all this power was put in the hands
OF sheriff he could become mighty fac
tor for political evil in his county 1t was
wrong to swap two bonds for one. The
Sheriff was under complete control Of the
court, and ii was not prudent to put all
the funds OF a county in control of any
officer who was controlled by another Of
Hcer He declared that he was just is
much in favor of reducing expenses as
the gentleman from DanSille (Alr. With
ers). The Underwood Constitution had
been endorsed by the people i'll 1874. He
said Mr.. Lindsay Gordon spoke OF the
Underwood Constitution as 4 hawks nest