The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-07-29
WILL NOT LOSE,
SAYS Mr.. SPEAKER {. |
Members TO Work on Bills in.
Vacation.
THE CHANGES IN The HOUSE
THE CHANGES IN THE HOUSE
Three Republicans Have Made Their
Observation-Disclosures Leaving City
Rapidly-Fine Work of Mr.. j.
j. Burke-Other Gossip.

The members of the Legislature seemed
glad tc, be able to return to their honles'
and a great many of them lett last night
BY noon to-day there will .hardiy De
nonresident member in the city.
Speaker Ryan has gone to his nome NJ
J.o,doun few of the members of both
branches fingered about the hotels, oul
they thinned cut considerably on al the
outgoing night trains
Speaker Ryan, who favored cooliy-
ing commission. composed OF three mem
hers on the part of the House and two
nm the part of the Senate, said last
night that the members Of the commit
tees to which the several provisions OF
the Constitution appropriately belonged.
would certainly study the Constitution
and prepare bills during the recess, and
that therefore very little time would be
lost by the failure to appoint a COM
mission.
All the members who were here were
talking of the proposed schemes TO nave
a commission, but a vast majority OF
them expressed great satisfaction that all
efforts in this line had fallen 10 the
ground.
orops in the fall" said one of them last
nose of the work speedily and well, hav-
ing In the meantime Informed ourselves
as the legislative needs of the State.
On the other hand. there has always
been a. large minority favoring some sort
of a commission and all these depreclate
the failure of the body to provide one
II is believed that the belly at the ses-
sion lust ended passed bills that
are absolutely necessary for the smooth
oneration of the amended Constitution
until the body shall return here next ian.
IJp TO this time there have been three
retirements on the part OF members OIL
the present house Of Delegates All three
of the members were Republicans, anu |.
cannot be said that any of them got out
entirely of their own accord The first
break in the membership chosen last No
venber was that of Delegate Josph Hib-
belts Republican, who was unseated by
Hon. W. B. Fulton Democrat in the
district composed of the counties OF
uchanan, Dickinson and Wise.
Mr. Fulton, the new member. is a
bright young lawyer, and is making
friends rapidly among his colleagues.
On yesterday Hon. E. M McPeak,
of Carroll. another Republican member
retired, having lost his right to seat in
the body by reason of his removal to the
State of West Virginia. To all intents
and purposes Delegate z. P. Mclean S
seat is vacated for two reasons, although
his case has not been actually adJudl-
ciated. One of the reasons is the fact
that he holds Federal office, which of
itself vacates his seat in the House. while
the other is the fact that he has refused
to take the oath prescribed by the new
Constitution These three retirements
will reduce the minority membership from
nineteen to sixteen in the House. There
are only three Republican members in
the Senate.
A very interesting House bill failed Of
passage in the Sena tie in the dying hours
of that body last night. It was-intro-
ducd by Hon. R. B. Davis. of Petersburg,
in the lower branch, and had for it's OBJ
ject the allowing of the Governor to de-
signate another county judge to sit in
cases where the resident judge was dis
qualified by being an interested party or
for other cause. The bill was being
looked after on the Senate side by Judge
William Hodges Mann, and it Is under
stood to have been presented to cover the
Campbell case now pending in the county
OF Amherst. The law on the subject
at present provides that the judge in in.
terest may himself choose another judge
to sit in such cases.
The clerks Of the House and Senate
will not be detained with their work as
long as is usual at the end Of a session
as very little legislation was gone into
at the meeting of the General Assembly
which has just adjourned. They viii
probably wind up to-day and all the bills
will be in Governor Montague's hands
by tonight. There IS no limit upon the
time in which the Governor may sigr
the bills, as the body is constructively il
session now, having only taken a recess
Committee Clerk J. ]. Burke, of GIou.
cester, made a reputation for himself
during the final days Of the House ses.
sion. He was called to the clerks desk
to assist in the numerous roll calls. Mr.
Burke is man of powerful build an6
his voice is deep and sonorous. There
was slim attendance when the election
bills were being passed on Saturday, an6
the Republicans were rather careless
about answering. But the portly clerk
fairly walked EN- up as he looked
daggers at them and repeated their
names in loud tones until they smiled
and answered "aye.'' The fine work OF
the man from Gloucester was favorably
commented upon by the members.