Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1902-07-17
LEGISLATURE.

Generdl AsscniOiy yS0y'
sions of both houses were brief and the
proceedings rather commonplace. The
Senate only sat twenty minutes, during
which time few local bills were passed
and several appointments of school
superintendents were confirmed, and the
session of the House was not very much
longer. The question of the oaths came
ND in that branch again, but was merely |
incidental to the days proceedings. The
development Of the fact that the refusal
of DR.. Mclean, member of the House
from Mecklenburg, to take the oath was
not the result of preconcerted move
ment to test the constitution, and the
holding of caucus last night to nomi-
nate circuit judges in those districts
where there are no contests were the
features of the day. DR.. Mclean was
in his seat in the House, and in private
conversation said his refusal to take the
oath was not the result of any party con-
ference, but was the outcome OF his own
personal antipathy to the new constitution
which he could not and would not sub
scribe to support Dr. Mclean was
deputy collector of internal revenue,
which position paid him about 81 800 a
year. Just what course will be followed
with his case has not yet been made
clear, and it looks very much as though
the matter will go to the courts.
All of the members of the General
Assembly except five have taken the
oath. These are Messrs. Lion demo
craft and Mclean and McPeat (republi-
cans). of the House, and Messrs. Gold
and Walker, of the Senate. DIR. Nc
Lean insists that he will not swear but
all the other members will. They are
kept away by sickness or other causes,
but will be in Richmond within the
prescribed time and take the oath.
The matter of oaths came up in the
House esrly in the session. Mr.. Sipe,
rising to the question of personal priv
ilege, said he had not protested against
taking the oath with any view OF making
test case. He asked that the former
protest made by his party be made a part
of the record. Mr.. Newhouse objected
to this. and asked that the roll be called
and an examination of the oaths be made
in order to see that all members had taken
the oath properly. He wanted those who
had not done so tobe barred from partici-
pating in the proceedings. He said the
republicans were getting very consci-
entious, and that they had swallowed the
dose of the Underwood constitution with
out sweet oil. The Chair Overruled the
request of Mr. Sipe to spread the protest
of the republicans upon the record, and
announced to Mr.. Newhouse that the
name of no member appeared in the jour
nal as having taken the oath save those
who had properly doneso. This includ-
ed Mr.. Sipe, who had added an unimport-
ant qualification at the end of his oath,
which the Chair held did not inyalidate
the oath. The remainder of the House
session was devoted to routine work. A
set of resolutions to govern the proceed
ings of the body, made necessary by the
new constitution, was adopted, and a
resolution providing for the removal of
old records from the garnet of the Capitol
to the Virginia Historical Building was
referred In executive session the Senate
confirmed a number of appointments.
1t was stated authoritatively yesterday
that the st. Louis fair appropriation bill
will not be pressed at the present session
of the legislature. Chairman g. w.
Conkling, of the State executive COM
mittee of the st. Louis world IS fair, said
Yesterday that the matter would not be
pressed until the autumn season, because
Of the attitude taken by certain members
of the legislative body in the matter of
taking the oath to the new constitution.
1t is feared by the committee that if an
appropriation should be passed now it
might be made illegal later The ap-
preparation asked for is $50, 900, and
there is every prospect that it will pass
both branches of the legislature.
A call was issued yesterday morning
for q caucus last night for the nomina-
ton of judges in those circuits where
there are no contests.
The following nominations for circuit
Judges were made last night.
Second circuit judge, r. r. Prentiss,
: of Nansemond; Fourth, Judge B. A.
Hancock, of Chesterfield; Fifth, Judge
George J. Hundley, of Farmyille; Sixth,
Judge W. r. Barksdale, of Halifax;
Seventh, Judge E. w. Saunders, Of
Franklin; Ninth, Judge D. A. Grimsley,
; of Culpeper; Tenth, Hon. Beverly T.
Crump, of Richmond; Eleventh, Judge
C. w. G. Blackstone, of Accomac;
Fourteenth Hon, ]. F. Hubbard, of
York; Fifteenth, Judge j. L. Mason, of
King George; Sixteenth, Judge c. +.
Nicol, of Prince William; Seventeenth,
Judge Thomas w. Harrison, of Win
chester; Twenty-frst, Judge Robert G.
Jackson, of Wythe. The terms begin
February 1904.
The point had been raised by an
eminent ex.judge in the State that there
is no such thing as a qualified juror in
Virginia under the new constitution,
and that it will require legislative action
before there can be. He points out
that none save qualified voters may
serve upon juries, and that there are no
qualified voters pending the new regis
tration provided by the new constitu-
ton. The attention of members was
called to the matter yesterday, and bill
will shortly be introduced allowing citi-
zens to serve upon juries until the new
electorate shall become qualified by rea-
son of the registration to take place this
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