The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-02-08
JUDGE BARKSDALE
WILL WITHDRAW
Speaker Saunders to be
Elected Circuit Judge.
THE SEABOARD BILLS.
Senator Flood VIII Lead Fight
Against Them.
THE NEW CONVENTION BILL.
It Will Give Four Members Above the
House acknowledgements Be-
coming Popular-aIembcrs
Who Do Not Drink-lm-
portant COMMITTEES
Meetings.
THE NEW CONVENTION BILL

Mcctln.S.
Judge W. r. Barksdale has withdrawn
from the contest for the judgeship of the
Fourth Judicial Circuit, or has, at least
decided TO do so. This leaves fair field
to Hon. e. w. Saunders. Speaker of the
House. 1t was stated last night that
Hon. w. P. Barksdale. of Halifax, would
nominate Mr.. Saunders, whose election
will be unanimous by acclamation.
Judge Barksdale had the endorsement
of thirty-five of the forty members of the
Lynchburg bar, one-half of the members
of the bar of Danville. all six members
Of the Campbell county bar, the twelve
members of the Halifax bar and six of
the eleven members of the Pittsylvania
bar The caucus to nominate candi-
date for the judgeship will probably be
held about next Monday night
The elevation of Mr.. Saunders to the
bench means that when the General
Assembly convenes next winter new
Speaker will have to be chosen. Many
candidates are already mentioned Hon.
John f. Ryan, of Loudoun, VINO welded
the gavel several sessions. and who is
sat in the Virginia House of Delegates,
is almost certain TO he back here next
! year: so is the courtly Capt r. s. Parks
of Page; Hon. T. c. Pitcher IS certain TO
be returned and all mentioned as
candidates for the Speakership. n new
membership may develop other cahol-
dates Mr. Saunders will not resign
Assuming that Mr. Saunders will be-
come Judge of his Circuit and that Hon
Claude A. Swanson will capture the Gov
ernorship of which there are lots OF
charces, who will become the Fifth Dis
trict Congressman? The question is IN
teresting politicians. Had not TINS Judge
ship matter interviewed. Mr.. Saunders
would have been a most formidable op-
ponent for any aspirant for seat IN
Congress from the Fifth Virginia Dis
trict His elevation to the bench almost
entirely eliminates him as Il Candidate Oh
course Just at present Hon Rofer A.
James, member of the Senate from Pitt
sylyania. appears to be most prominently
mentioned in connection with the seat
which may be made vacant.
The House Committee for Courts OF
| Justice will report to the House, probably
to-day. a bill providing that there shall
| be 1Ot delegates in the Constitutional
| Convention; one hundred OF which num-
| Der are StppOrtloNStf dccoTuillS " lHe pi
| esnt House basis, and the other four as
! follows, on account of increase in popula-
| ton: District of Buchanan, Dickinson
ana Wise one additional delegate; dis
trict of New Kent, Charles city, James
city. Warwick, York. Williamsburg and
Newport News, one additional delegate;
Norfolk city, one additional delegate;
Norfolk county, one additional delegate
| The bill further provides that the dele
Sl,a eer ri n
day in May: that the convention shall as
semble in Richmond on Wednesday,
June 18th: that the per diem Of the mem
bers shall be 81. their mileage the same
as that OF members of the General As
| sembly, and that the work Of the con-
vention shall be submitted to the people
! for their ratification or rejection.
Two sections of the bill are expected to
cause much discussion. They are those
relating to the submission of the new in
Strument to the people, and apportioninS
the four additional delegates on account
of increased population. The committee
was charged with the duty of framing q
bill to conform with resolutions adopted
by the House regarding various features
of the work of arranging for the con-
Vention.
'I don't want the State to lose t!sat
Sl25,O00 which she would do were the bills
reported from the Finance Committee of
the Senate to-day to become laws said
Senator Flood last night II shall oppose
them. l shall offer a bill in a day or two
directing the State Board Of Sinking
Fund Commissioners to buy in the States
stock at almost any figure, say lip 10
2G0 Then 1 shall! fight to have all the
legislation regarding the stock kept in
tact. II we repeal or amend we will
vitiate the penalty bond
Mr.. Flood expects TO win his fight The
matter will not come UP before Monday.
by which time the Constitutional ConVen-
ton BILL which has been tbs special and
continuing order for 1880 o'clock for sew
eral days, will have heen disposed OF.
The friends of Governor Tyler and Nr.
Montague express pleasure at the report
Of the subcommittee Of the Finance Com
ir.ittee of the Senate, setting forth that it
was found that the Governor had aCtsd
precisely as the law directed and that the
penalty bond was entirely valid. Con-
trary run1ors had been circulated. 4
prominent member OF the Senate. VINO
had been active in having the whole SUBJ
ject gone into, in conversation yesterday,
resented the isnputatioa mads i'll another
paper that there was politics in it.
that IS, the movement TO have the matter
investigated.
hoped they We're untrue. but I thought
the Legislature ought TO know, Now we
do know, and all parties are better off
for the investigation
There seems to be a growing demand
for whiskey dispensaries in different sec
tons of the State. and it is given as the
opinion of a number of prominent lsgis-
lators that the time is not far distant
when there will be a general dispensary
law for the State. They say they believe
it is the only solution of the vexed liquor
question. and that it will surely come
in time. The House yesterday passed
two more local dispensary laws-one for
Jerusalem district of Southampton. and
the other for district in Mecklenburg
The House Committee on Finance will
meet at O'clock this morning to consider
biils similar TO those now pending In