The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-02-16

portant legislation they asked of the
extra session. Mr.. Madison is especially
ziubilant over getting his new Electoral
Boards appointed. while Mr. Whitehead
said last night that he had Jared better
than he had expected at the extra ses-
sion.
Lavish compliments have been show
cred by the House members upon Messrs.
John w. Williams and Chas B. Mann for
the able mgnner in which they dis
charged their duties at the extra session
as calendar and reading clerks OF the
House. respectively. Mr.. Williams is
one of the quickest and most accurate
men in his line who has ever filled the
place while Charlie Manu., as his
friends call him, is rapidly becoming
such a reading clerk as was the late John
Bell Bigger.
One of the assistant clerks of the
House said last night that in all likei-
hood all the bills passed, which have
not already been signed would be in the
hands of the Governor by noon to-day,
SO that a final adjournment might be
had soon after that time.
The committee clerks OF the Senate on
yesterday gave to Col. Button a very
handsome cane tsCperbly mounted in
chased silver. 1t is no eNagSeration to
saw that there has never been a more
popular clerk of the Virginia Senate nor
indeed a more efficient A fine voice
makes him primarily a good presiding
officer ait the clerks desk, but to this he
also adds great industry, t.reless pain
stalking and ,lrrfailinS courtesy. The fact
that he has not had opposition since his
election, six years ago, is thus accounted
for.
The Senate clerks also presented Capt
Frank E. Watkins, the sergeant-alt-arms
with a beautiful cane, as a mark of their
esteem. Capt. Watkins is very popular
with the clerks, as he is with the SEN
ators and with all with whom he is
thrown in contact about the Capitol.
8 The bill passed by both houses yester-
day on the recommendation of the joint
conference committee suspended section
20 of the present election law, which pro-
vided that in county and municipal cleo
tions where there are no party nominations
the Australian ballot law should not :ao-
ply. The effect of this bin is to make all
elections this spring held under the Aus
tralian system.
Captain Cobb Maddox, the popular com
mercial traveller, who knows as much
man in the State, is at Murphy's. He was
mixing with the leaders last night and
predicting that Virginia would soon have
an "up-to-date" Constitution in every re-
spect.
4 large number of members of both
houses of the Legislature left for home
last night, and by tonight there will be
only few of them in the city. There were
many bundles of bills and stationery
packed up yesterday, and preparations
on the part Of the members to get away
were being made all day.
Hon. w e. F. T1eech, of Rocl1bridse, ac-
companied by Mrs. Leech, left last night
for Florida to spend some time. Major
Leech has large property interests in the
Land of Flowers, and is going down to
give them some attention. He has q
daughter in Florida, and will be her guest
while there.
DR.. LIE Cato's5 bill to give credit to
medical student for the branch upon
which he passes, whether he makes the
entire examination or not has passed both
branches. of the General Assembly and
will soon be signed by the Governor.
The bill VIII be a great help to medical
students.