The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-12-01

Fent!0I E0teS u-u OuSSlp.
There will be a long periodic of heavy
debates in the convention on tthe report
| of the judiciary Committee. The very
first section is now unaertsf fire on an
amendment offered by one8ol the most
able lawyers in the State, "a prominent
member of the committee and q distin-
| guishcG c,s-judgestro show how prolonged
will be the fifi1ta q reading of the report
| CT yesterdays proceedings is illustrative.
The amendments after four hours de-
bate, was Overwhelmingly deleated. And
yet the distinguished patron would not
LET go. On 4 motion to reconsider the vote
speeci-Inaking viii be resumed tomorrow
morning by its earnest advocate, who
acknowledged that he had already MADE
| many speeches before the Judiciary Com
mittee. AS is always the cash, the re-
opening of d question breeds discussion.
and while only one speech on each side
was made before the vote was taken yes
terGay, several will be made before it IS
rachel again. From questions propound-
ed to Judge Robertson yesterday, it IS
expected that Judge HANCOCK and Jucee
Portlocll viii support his ;;nen:sinen. in
able arguments. IF so t can be safeiy
predicted that Chairman HInt)1 ard DIN
ers of the committee will defend the 1t-
port of the committee. This is q sample
of the time it will take on tie first SEC
! ton.
When it comes to the second section
relating to the Jurisdiction of the Supreme
Court, the attack on the committee report
will come from the chairman himself who
will be supported by Messrs. Thorn and
Robertson, while Nessrs. Cameron, Ayers,
Parks and Meredith will defend the COM
mittee. Here indeed, Will be battle
royal. The three months fight over this
| section, which occurred in the committee
last summer, bids fair to be repeated.
Others besides members of the commit
tee will join in the discussion. Almost
every one Of the twenty-five sections Will
be holly contested not only by members
OF the committee, but leading lawyers
of the convention.
Among the sections most pregnant with
opposition and debate are those providing
for a separate system Of city courts, the
Corporation Courts in small cities, the
election of judges by :he Legislature.
and the fixing the minimum salaries OF
judges at $4,000. for Supreme Court and
$3.50 for Circuit Courts. The manner
of payment Of these salaries will be bonn
barded all along the line.
The probabilities are that after all de-
bate and careful searching. investigation
is over, the report OF the committee will
be overwhelmingly sustained, except that
the salary question, the Corporation
Courts and the manner of election of
judges. will have a close call fol, adoption
without amendment. When he nd IF it
all is in sight. no man can tell.
Tho subcommittee named by Chairman
Goodc to look out for another hall for
the convention 10 meet in, had is duty
more clearly defined on yesterday, but
still the hall has not yet been found. The
committee is hard at work. and VIII en-
deavor TO make q report shortly
The Masonic Hall cannot be secured;
neither can the Chamber Of Commerce or
the Y. AZ. c. ~. The Council Chamber is
far too small. and the ARRANGEMENTS at
Smthdeal Hall are not entirely suitable
The committee has been advised oil
free hall and reduced hotel rates in Nor
folk, and Norfolk seems to be IN great
favor, If the body Should go elsewhere
Mr.. Withers offered the following reso-
luton yesterday. which was adopted:
Resolved, That the special committee
APPOINTED to confer with Il committee
from the Hot Sc of Delegates relative 70
the joint use of the Hall of the House of
Delegates by that body and this conven-
ton during such time IS both bodies may
be in session, be further empowered,
should such joint use Of said hall be
found :nrracticable or announcement, to
investigate and report as early as may
be- whether hall or halls suitable for ses-
Sions of this body may be in Richmond,
Stanton, Charlottesville or Norfolk, and
upon what terms and conditions such hall
or halls may be had and the respective
costs thereof
If the convention shall go elsewhere
t!2an Richmond, the betting is largely on
Norfolk, and it would cause no surprise,
should that city be chosen. There is a
wide difference of opinion as to what
should be done. Many favor going to an
other hall, while others say the House of
Delegates, and the convention can easily
use the same hall.
Nothing Of definite nature will be ac-
complished until the Legislature arrives
and organizes this week. Meanwhile, the
Convention Committee will carry out the
resolution adopted by the convention on
the subject yesterday
Amid al, the other public matters of i'm
portancc that are crowdinS Themselves
upon the convention. suffrage still holds
first place and every one seems deeply
Interested in its outcome. The Denro-
cratic conferences will be resumed in the
Convention Hall tomorrow night, and
Senator Glass will present and advocate
his plan if he is well enough He was
able to be in his seat yesterday. but was
= .rowcrful argument, and will vigorously
attack the permanent understanding fea-
ture OF the majority plan
Can't. r. S. Parks yesterday presented
and had read his new suffrage plan. ref
crenco to which has be, been n made i, in the
Of the rallying points from which the
forces opposed to an understandings clause
win fight in the conference and on the
floor of the Convention.
o,,+1 inc n
no reference to one that smacks of I'M
derstandins either Temporary, or perma-
nent. The plan which was ordered print
ed and which will be vigorously pressed
by its dst:ngnlsn9d patree1n "a provides for
person by the voter at least six months
prior to the election at which he pro-
poses to vote.
After two years of operation of the law,
no person shall be allowed TO vote who
cannot read and write.
Provision is made that one Of the judges
shall be designated at each election as a
marker by the Electoral Board Of each
county and city.
1t, is made mandatory upon the Legis-
ylature to pass stringent laws as to bribe-