The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-01-08
ASSEMBLY'S
BUSY / J. "
Both Houses Dispose Of 1mp'eo'rt'-.
ta11t Measures Which Have
Long Been OH Calendars.
GRAND JURY BILL KILLED
Senate Refuses to Add It to Pure
Election Law After Breezy
Dcbate-Atlti-Trust Bill.

Both House and Senate put IN busy
days yesterday, tho one sitting for three
hours and the other for two Tho Senate
after u prolonged debate defeated ny 70
to the bill providing for special grand
Jury Investigations after elections.
,rhe House amendments to tho Senate
bill authorizing tho purchase Of the to'l
roads OF Norfolk county were agreed 70
by tho Senate. 4, 4 !,
= rho House communicated to tho SEN
nte the adoption OF the Senate amend
mcnt In the nature of n substitute 10 tno
blll in relation to tho establishment OF
another state female normal school, This
provitles for the appointment of JOINT
committee Of five members OF each house,
to be named by the presiding officers
who shall examine the various sites OIL
fcred and report with Recommendation
to the General Assembly. Az, s (.
The Governor communicated tho rcsls-
nation OF County Judge John X. MOSS,
elected TO Tho House OF Delegates. and
with it tho suggestion thataJudGo .. NJ ::
Crutc, Of Prince Edward, be deslslIaleo
10 hold the January term OF court.
cnrrossment after considerable debate
tic Fulton antitrust Bill, n rather dras-
lie measure, offered by the delegate from
Wise ,
The House passed and communicated
10 The Senate tho passage OF The COM
panion bills requiring retiring county
treasurers to turn over to their sue
cessor In office all books and tickets.
and the retiring treas,rers are given
one wear IL which to collect tax tickets
for which they accounted to the audltor'
rho House declined to adopt the con-
ference report on the Edmondsoh roau
law. and a further conference was asKeu
and granted by the Senate. f
Tho House adopted a resolution ex-
pressing sympathy for Delegate EleetS
mans, who fell and broke his leg We'd
ncsday.
The Senate. 8a
When Lielltenarit-Govcrn FWillard
called tile Senate TO order at noon yes
terday. there was a large attendance
of senators. Senator Campbell of Bed
ford. was in his seat for the first time
since the recess. Senator w. w. SAFE
who has been sick for several days, was
present also.
When the members OF the Committee
for Courts Of Justice filed In at 1880 the
attendance was still further Increased,
md was probably the largest OF the SEES
sion.
,rhc House communicated to the senate
the passage Of the bills In relation 10
accounts Of treasurers. The bills were
taken UP by the Senate and passed.
a communication from the House an
nounced tho passage ny the House, with
l&Lo Sepnte hill to ul-
thorize the county of Norfolk to ac-
uuire the toll roads OF the county. The
amendments were concurred III.
Mr.. IIdmondson communicated to the
Senate tho refusal of the House to agree
to the conference report on the anend-
ments to tho Edmondson road Dill ana
asking for another conference. inc
Senate agreed to q request for
conference, and the president
designated Mr.. Barksdale TO COM
municate the action to the House. a 1e"
moments later he returned and an
noun,ed that quorum of the House
was lacking, and that he was unable
to secure the attention Of the Speaker.
Tho House bill In relation to the cx-
tension of corporate limits OF cities ana
towns, with Senate substitute therefor.
was passed BY,
Tho House bill concerning tho crea-
ton Of bureau OF insurance, reported
from tho Committee for Courts OF JUS
ticc, after having been defeated by tho
Senate. roconsidered and recommitted,
was taken up and again defeated. This
disposes of the bill for the session.
Governor Montague in Il message to
the General Assembly communicated the
resignation Of Judge John r. Moss, OF
buckingham county, who has been elect
ed n member of the House of Delegates.
in which body he will take his seat Jan
nary 18th, In transmitting his resigna-
ton. Judge Moss suggests that Judge
j. Nj. Crute, Of the County Court OF
Prince Edward. be designated to hold the
term of buckingham County Court. be-
ginning January 18th.
The first debate and the only diversion
of the Senate was caused when the
House bill to provide for special grand
jurles to investigate elections was taken
up, and Mr.. Mcllwaine offered an amends
ment designed to secure the testimony
OF all candidates in such elections be-
fore grand juries.
Mr.. I3urksdale, patron OF the original
bill now known as the Barksdale pure
elections law, promptly arose to oppose
the amendments and in doing so became
Senator McIlwanc. patron of the amend
ment. The tilt between the two sena-
tors was full of clever thrusts and good
tempered badinagc of the give and take
order, which greatly amused the sena-
tors and the large number OF risitors
present.
This little war OF wits, sclntillatlng with
quick and bright retorts, was but
tho curtain-raiscr to a serious debate on
the amendment, OH the bin itself and on
the Barksdale law and the necessity or
non-necessity for such legislation, The
debate assumed a wide range and be-
sides Senators Mcllwalnc and Enrksdale.
Senator's Chapman, lIarmnn, Wickhnm,
Keeael, lialsey and Watkins were dra wn
into the discussion,
ABSOLUTE ABSURDTY,
Finally, after the debate had been al
lowed great range, Mr.. Mcllwaine, who
offered the amendment, arose and stated:
"rhc amendment was offered by me
for the sole purpose OF calling TO tho
attention of the Senate the absolute abb
surdi,y and improperly Of the whole sit.
ration. II has fully accomplished that
purpose, and ask leave to Withdraw The
amendment
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