Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1904-03-14
Virginia Legislature.
SENATE.

resolution was adopted extending the
session until Tuesday at | p. M, the
members to serve without pay, in order
that the constitutional provision requir-
ing all bills to be signed by the presid-
ing officers in the presence of members
may be complied with.
A resolution from the House provid-
ing for a commission from Virginia to
confer with a commission from Mary
land in relation to the oyster interests
of both States was communicated.
Mr. Walker, of Northumberland, said
it meant another junketing tour at the
expense of the State, and he asked the
Senate to refuse to agree to the resolu-
ton. The suggestion of Mr.. Walker
was adopted.
Mr. Anderson called up and bad
passed the last bill of the session. 1t
was House bill to extend the time for
returning assessments in cities of 80, 900
and over, from July to September. The
clock showed half minute after noon
when the clerk completed the veri6cation
/ Vi Tic IOil.
The Machen bill, which passed the
Senate and went over to the House,
where it was amended in several Sec
tons, and finally passed by that body,
came back to the Senate Saturday morn
ing. o..
And then came the first real "scrappy"
contest of the session. Dir. Machen
wanted the Senate TO concur in the
House amendments, and made a speech
in advocacy of the measure.
The House amendments provided for
the naming of election officers by the
county and city committees, whereas the
Machen bill originally provided for an
electoral board, which board should
name the election officers. Anotherpro-
vision of the Machen bill was that sa-
looms should be closed on primary cleo
ton days; but the House eliminated that
provision.
The storm broke out all over the floor.
Mr.. Keezell, Mr.. Sale, Mr.. Barksdale,
Mr.. Taveuner and Mr.. Thomas protest
ed against the amendment.
Mr.. Tavenner said the bill was '1Oad-
ed" though unconsciously, he believed,
on the part of the patron.
As amended il opened up and made
easy the path of the boodler to carry an
election. 81 simply desire to sound the
alarm to the people of Virginia" he de-
cared, as he resumed his seat.
Mr. Anderson called the pending ques-
ton. The pending question being on
clerical amendment was without any
significance. and a torrent of elOquence
developed and pandemonium reigned for
several minutes.
1t was case of defeating the Machen
bill, and the advocates we're equally
determined that the bill should pass.
Several motions to pass by were de-
feated.
rhe real cause of the "scrappiness"
was the fact that the Senate and House
had adopted resolution which shut off
all consideration of bills and provided
that no measures should be passed after
II O. clock on Saturday.
Mr.. Byars, a friend of the Machen
bill, saw that the opponents had the
winning hand, and he introduced reso
luton repeating the II o'clock rule for
suspending work and providing that the
time should be extended until clock
that afternoon, thereby prolonging the
fight This was lost.
Messrs. Fulton and Machen then held
that the rule should not apply to bill
which had already passed the Senate and
had been simply amended in the House.
The opposite view was taken by Mr..
Tayenner and Mr.. Barksdale, but the
Chair ruled that the bill might be con-
sdered.
The opponents of the. bill then set in
to talk it to death, although the small
attendance, and test vote prior to the
discussion, seemed to indicate that it
would be defeated without more ado.
Mr.. Tavenner was the first speaker,
his main opposition being based on, the
fact that the bill allows any illiterate or
disabled person to select some person to
mark his ballot for him. He contended
that this would bring the vote buyer and
vOte-seller together in the booth, where
the former could make sure that the
goods were delivered.
"Why did you not allow a judge of
election to mark the BALLOT" he asked
Mr.. Machen.
The latter responded, calling attention
to the opportunity thereby afforded
crooked judges to get in their work for
those who paid them.
Mr.. Tavenner said that in the other
House, when the bill was under consid-
Grafton, the republicans had refrained
from voting until the democrats had all
voted then in a body they voted for the
Machen bill. The republicans saw
golden opportunity to disrupt the demo-
cratic party, and they embraced it.
Mr.. Barksdale, author Of the pure
election law, followed in a sensational
speech, in which he declared that the
true inwardness of the fight against the
bill was the fear that it might handicap
Senator Martin in his race for reelection
to the United States Senate, and operate |
in favor of Gov. Montague, who will al
most surely be a candidate.
Mr.. Barksdale found it necessary in
his speech to go back to the ''May con-
vention of 1899, of which, he confessed |
with sorrow, he was member, and the |
object of which, he declared was to de-
feat the junior Senator from Virginia.
"But it did not defeat him." he said,
''nor will he beaten this time. He is
not afraid TO 90 before the people. All |