Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-12-04
a.srn1,c11oN ol, NEw coNsr1ru-
rroN rRo.oIxEs DISCUSSION.
BILL TO GO TO COMMITTEES.
Al, Measures Reported from n spe-
cinl Committee to DC Sent to RcEu-


uou.c-T,ilIs orercd.
7-or more than an hour and a half yes
lcr8av the Senate wrestled with the first
,.o.esition that has come up involving
ne Interpretation of the new Constitu-
INN The matter was one affecting the
rsw standing committees on special. prl-
,a,e. and local legislation. being the
a~st report made by that committee to
tho General Assembly. The abiest mem
hers Of the Senate participated in the dis
o,-sslor. and on all sides the closest at
,.-tion was given to what was being
sa;d The disposition of the point con-
.,,,,e6 practically all OF the day. IT was
matter that had TO be decided soone: or
later and the Senate went at it like men
v,ro were anxious to clear the deck Tor
c,tfon and to dispose of the matter for
all time.
Three bills were offered. one Of them
relating to the pension laws and extending
ne tine for the certifying of claims which
awe already been filed in the courts. Two
other bills were presented relating to re-
ports by justices Of the peace and pro-
reIsTe by SIaflu JbiltS.
THE DAYS PROCEEDINGS.
Tieutenant-Governor Willard presided
over the Senate session. Prayer was
offered by the Rev Cary E. Morgan, OF
tra Sevcrth-Street Christian church.
The attendance Of members was larger
than for several days. Several
bills were presented and referred to com
4nittees. None OF them was Of any great
Importance, that of Senator Halsey re-
lating 10 the matter of pensions being the
chief in point OF interest.
THE DAYS SESSION.
A communication was received from the
house announcing the passage OF num-
Der Of local measures. which were read
BY title and referred to committees for
report The following bills We're present.
ed and referred:
BY Senator Halsey: Tc amend and re-
7ract the act approved Nov. 20. 1902, pro-
riding for the payment of pensions under
the pension act of April. 1902. whose
rlaims were not approved and filed in the
office Of auditor Of public accounts, prior
70 Sept. j. 1902
The bill empowers the judges Of circuit
courts to re-exarnine and if satisfied that
applicants are entitled to relief, to GER
hfy said claims. No applications other
>han those pending at the time of the
,assage of the act shall be considered.
BY Senator Tyler (by request: To
lmend the code G1Sp. The bill requires
magistrates 10 file within thirty days
lfter each trial n report Of all fines i'm
posed and Of the fines and costs collected
Failure TO do this imposes penalty Of
20 upon such magistrate.
BY Senator Tyler Cby requesO: To
smend The code 1882. The bill requires
hat list Of all charges shall be written
ND submitted 10 each grand Jury when
iuch body is sworn and the grand jury
Mall have power to amend such list, and
Mail. upon the conclusion of its labors,
certify to the court that it has investi-
cated each matter contained in the list
20 the best of its ability
AS TO JURISDICTION.
The question of jurisdiction of commit
ices and OF the senate was discussed at
length to-day The question came up on
motion TO reconsider a vote referring
back a bill which had been reported from
the committee on special, private and
local legislation.
The committee on Tuesday reported
the bill 10 charter the Chase City and
Blackstone Railroad with the endorse
lnent that the objects of the bill could be
attained by general law. Senator Clay
tor moved to refer the bill TO the commit
tee on roads and internal navigation for
report. He contended that the bin could
not he sent back to his committee on
special. private and local legislation, hav-
ing been reported but should be sent to
the committee on roads
A motion was made 10 rccommit the
bill 10 the committee. The question in
rovod was whether the bill reported from
the committee, could be sent back or
referred to another committee.
kSeDator Wickham contended that the
senate never lost control of the bill. The
senate could recommit the. bill or dis
charge a committee from considering
thy measure. He hoped the senate would
Hettrcconsider the vote
Snator McIlwainc combattedt the posi-
oon taken by Senator Wickham The
constitution provided that when a bill
vas IMPORTED from the special committee
on Special, private and local legislation
40 committee was functus officio SO far
as that bill was concerned. The bill
ehould be sent TO another committee. The
special committee was vested with little
authority but grave responsibilities. The
proper time for the senate to take cogni-
Eance of measures was when they were
introduced
The debate was kept up for consider
ably more than an hour. during which
rpeakers were interrupted a number O.
times
The matter was discussed until 2
o'clock, when MISUNDERSTANDING VIII
srd said that he only hesitated to rule
IN the measure because the presiding off,
:er of yesterday had decided the matter
aster it came to the senate The senators
at once requested that the point be passed
npon, and the president held that under
the constitution and the rules of the SEN
ate the report from the committee was
Just the same though it was new
bill, and should be treated in the same
manner. He held that the bin would