The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-03-04
DON LIKE THE
BARKSDALE BILL
Congressman 0tey Expresses
General Opinion Thereon.
ARMY OF TIDEWATER PEOPLE
Here for Various and suudy Purposes
Politics and Business the Issues.
hr. Edmuuds 10 the
City.

Congressman Peter J. Otey, OF Lynch
burg, WAS the center of an admirins
group OF friends and constituents at
Murphy's last night, having come down
from Washington with his colleagues,
Messrs. Jones and Hay. who came to the
city 10 attend the meeting OF the State
Democratic Executive Committee. Major
Otey is the very picture of health and
never appeared In finer spirits. He did
not hesitate TO express his opposition to
the ISarksdale rcapportionmentb bill, though
10 did not believe that in its present
form 1t would ever become a. law. Major
Otey agreed with nearly every public
man who has spoken on the subject that
such q sweeping readsustment was nei-
ther needful nor desirable and that It
placed some OF the proposed districts alb
isoiutely In the hands OF the Republican
party, Among those who called on Ma
ior Otey last night we're Colonel A. NJ
.,Bowman. of Salem: Hon. Upton D. Jen-
,inings. of Lynchbur-. and ex-Congre- sman
II. IT. Quarles of Staurton. The popular
Congressman Will probably remain in the
city for several days. visiting his daugh-
ter. Mrs. J. NJ. Miller, Jr. Many of his
friends in the Legislature assured him
last night that they did not believe the
Barksdsle bill had the remotest chance
~ adoption in its present form.
Mr. John R. Edmunds. Of Halifax. a
prominent Democratic leader and chair
man Of his county committee, is in the
city on private business. Mr.. Edmunds
friends will present his name before Gov
ornor MONTAGUE for membership on the
proposed Corporation Commission. and
IL rs apparent thus early that he will
have strong backing all over his section.
Il am for him." said Major Otey last
night, '.even if Mr.. Barksdale takes Hall
fan out of my district" Mr.. Edmunds
was for some years prominent tobac-
conist in LNnchhurg. and made many
friends while resident of that city.
Norfolk city, Portsmouth and Norfolk
county were all well represented here
last night. Indeed it has seldom been the
case that so many prominent citizens
from down by the sea- were here at
one time, when there was no great influx
Of visitors from elsewhere in the State.
The hotel corridors were crowded last
night, and about five out Of every six
men present were from the Norfolk sec
lions. They were Democrats and Repub-
licans and came on various missions
j Messrs. LawLess ard Jeffries were among
them. holding conferences ard preparing
TO make a big fight for the Bland Ports
].
of politics and practicing law" said the
former. when asked if he was interested
an any of the political maLters up. The
Bland bill will be considered by the
Counties, Cities and Towns Committee at
Z o'clock this afternoon. and Messrs. Law
Tess and .Ieffries will appear in advo-
scacy of the measure, having secured a
Favorable report upon the one anneXing
certain territory to Norfolk city. The
bridge and tunnel bills are set for hear
,rE before the Roads Committee at 4
p. NJ. also, but as Messrs. Lawless and
Jeffries and others will he at that time
= red in the annexation fight it is prob
able that the Roads Committee Will post
H,,one its meeting until o'clock.
4 But in addition to the matter pcndlHS
10 the Legislature there were other things
that brought Norfolk county leaders here.
One of them was the contest before the
state Executive Committee, and not q,
few of them came on that busenss. MI :.
" s johnson (Rep.). Commissioner o.
3!,e Revenue, was on the ground, ana
oppressed the hope that the Fuslonlsts
would win, declaring that their cause
vas lust County Clerk Alvah H. Mar
~, has been here for several days though
Ills mission is not known. His tall beaver
could be seen everywhere about the iop-
lies last night, and he looked as though
Ia, were dressed to attend a. Wedding MI
Martin is known to be opposed to the
massage of the Bland annexation blli.
from Norfolk CITY there were Colonel
G. A. Nash a prominent candidate for
Mayor, and Mr. James Y. Trehy. clerk
Of the Corporation Court and we'll
known Democratic leader. Judge IeSh
T. Watts. of Portsmouth. is also mere
but it is more than liekly that he came
IN on railroad business. Mr. c. W. Cole
man, of Portsmouth. late Straightout
candidate for Senator. is registered at
Murphy's. having come UP with his TREND
md political associate, CIR. u W. Jones,
To attend the meeting OF the Executive
Committee last night. But not one-tenth
Of those from in and around Norfolk and
Portsmouth are enumerated above Seve-
raj car loads came in yesterday after
noon, composed OF both leaders and the
rank and fiic,' to fight for OF against
certain matters which were UP last night
or which will be up to-day. The smiling
face OF Captain Dick Marshall was mere,
there and everywhere He fought nobly
fi the ..F'usionists" last night, and Will
be a very busy man to-day fighting an
,exation and bridge bills.
Hon. S. Wilkins Mathews, of Accomac
Will shortly Introduce in the House a bill
designed to care for and cure habitual
drunkards The bill, which is now in
the course of preparation. will be modelled
after the Colorado law, in which
State Mr.. Mathews spent many year
OF his earlier life. The law on
on the subject in that State provides
that any friend of an habitual drunk
ard or any officer where said drunkarc
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