The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-03-02
WEDNESDAY,. March 2. 1904.
Al unpardonable Blunder.

u
For reasons which wc arc a. u ' :, r.
- understand, the House yesterday ~
fcated the Smith bill, providing Tor inc inc
E t,nrre,s lard registry system. strong
f;rht was made for the bill. ana ape
arguments wero presented by Mr.. Black
burn smith. tho patron; by Mr.. W''t1cr is
md by Mr. Pnnnil. Mr.. PannilTs speech
Yesterday was rotahly able and arsu-
8,ncntative, and the speeches when hau
N previously been made by MT. slli' smith INV
AIR. N-ithers were unansWcrabie' bu 'lT
for5 MI that, the HOUSE voted the ol's
down. and it has been retired Tor th's
session.
M A1r. Eugene G. Masslc has interested
himself especially in this measure, ana
,,os5 1abored necessarily TO secure lts
ADOPTION in virginia. Eo has thoroughly 'rt n
Investigated tho subject. lie mas mas lnViteo
( every person Interested TO come 10 MN I'm
}6for information, and he has taken tne
4 trouble to circulate through the ne"s-
papors and otherwise full explanations
of the design and operation OF inc TOT
rens system. Mr.. Massie has iEv1'ed5
all opponents Of the measure to make
known their objections. and he has met
every objection that has been raised. me 1
4 first objection was that 1t would be ex-E
pcnsye to have another court for TINS
purpose alone Mr. Massie and other
friends of the measure waived that point
ard agreed to get along without Il special
p court. Then the objection was raised
that the system ought not to be fastened
supon communities which did not desire 7
although It was not to be made compul-G
sorry. Mr. Massie and other friends OF
the measure then agreed to give the sys-
TEN only to those cities and counties
which desired It,
Al last the, objection was raised that
The service OF process wns not sufficient.
3 Thereupon this amendment was added:
.Provided, however that such personal
Il service Of process as is required in chan
Gerry proceedings shall also DO made upon
residents OF the State, not under dis
ability, who arc made known to the
court before final decree, and car be
reached by It's process, unless such SER
vice be waived by appearance or other
wise"
+ But the opponents of the bill could not
be satisfied. and yesterday they defeated
ii upon test vote Of &c to II.
We do not know what is at the bottom
OF this opposition, and We do not pro-
pose to attack the motives OF the oppo-
n 4nents. But We serve Eotice upon them
that the fight has only just begun. Tho
friends Of the Torrcns system know that
s5it&is a beneficent and desirable law, and
they do not propose BY any means to
4 give up the contest. .Nirginiars are slow
to act But by and by a majority OF tho
members of the General Assembly will
4 abandon their real or imaginary objec-
lions to tile Torrens system, and will
adopt IT. and after It shall have been
adopted, landowners will wonder low
they managed TO get aloEg without It,
We congratulate Mr.. Nlassie, MIR, Black
burn Smith. Mr.. Withers and Mr.. Pannill
and the Others. who have made such Il
gallant fight In behalf OF this measure
and tell them not to be discouraged.
II These men will DO remembered gratefully
by the people of Virginia for tho fight
they have made In behalf of their inter-
csts against tho subtle ard intangible
but, SO far, effective opposition which
has been to this important measure
Tho names of those members who
K throttled this wise and excellent bill
will be found in the report OF the pro-
ceedings Of the House. II is worth seeing.
1t Is hoped that they have unconsciously
done this great wrong to their constitu-
53 eEts.
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