The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-01-17
Announcements of the
House Committees
a Surprise.
WASTED ORATORY ON
ELECTION OF JUDGES
General Assembly Discovers
That it is Proceeding Without
Authority and Has to De-
clare it's Own Work Null
and void-1mportant
Bills and Resolutions.

The most striking feature Of tho legis-
lative session yesterday was the an-
| nouncement of the standing commit
tees of the two branches, though interest
in this was confined largely to the House
side. the Senate APPOINTMENTS N,avlngi
been correctly foreshadowed IN The
Times-Dispatch.
Speaker Cardwell gave the House coin-
niittees q Shaking up such as they
have perhaps never hnd before, and ths
announcements of several of the chair-
manships fell upon the body like
The greatest surprise of the day came
in the assignments received by Golone
Robert e. Lee Jr., of Fairfax, who was
regarded as almost certain to head either
Courts of I0stice or Privileges and Elec-
tions. Mr.. yrd. of Winchester. a new
rnemter. got the former. and Colonel
Caton, the latter.
Colonel Lee, was placed at the head
of Militia and Police. well recognized
..tailender" without important business
or influence.
Mr. Jennings, of Lynchburg. ..felI
manship, for which he ranked. and
Colonel a. NJ. Bowman, of Salem, was
placed in his stead. Mr. jennings. how
ever. Jared better than Colonel Lee. He
was placed at the head of Counties,
Cities and Towns, very important COM
mittee, where the work will be quite al
congenial and far less laborious.
While Mr.. Jennings rather thought the
custom OF promoting the ranking mem
Der would prevail. IN his case, he ut
tered no word OF complaint, and seemed
satisfied with his new assignments. II he
felt any personal disappointment. he kept
II to himself.
That Colonel Lee keenly felt the sting
OF his failure to secure one OF the posi-
tions to which 1t is said custom entitled
him. there can be no doubt, though the
Eighth District leader was not
heard to complain. His friends
surged up to his desk one by one
and offered their coincidence. but he and
they recognized the power and authority
OF the Speaker and had no harsh words
OF criticism. Taking out Mr.. Early. who
ranked Colonel Lee on Courts, and who
Colleges. was OF course. not considered
for chairman Of the former, the Fairfax
man came first. and WAS almost univer-
sally regarded as the future spokesman
for the Law Committee.
Had Served Long.
For two sessions he had been q mem-
ber Of the body and had. finally taken
the ranking place. Again, 1t was thought
4 -
Prlvileges and Elections, 1t having been
the custom OF Speakers to cast tho honor
OF floor leader upon competitors. who. like
Colonel Lee, gracefully retired before
the contest was settled.
Speaker Ryan did 1t In the case Of
Hon. S. L. Kelley. OF this city, and there
are other instances OF such magnanimity I
In recent Legislatures. Mr.. James r. 4
Cation. OF Alexandria. an old and expe-;,
fenced legislator. will head Elections and !.
be the floor leader In oil party matters,
while Mr.. Richard e. Byrd. OF Winches- {
ter. one OF TIE strongest lawyers In the {
House, Will preside over Courts OF JUS
tice.
t 1t should be said that the assignment1S
made by Speaker Cardwell have caused I
no semblance OF estrangement betwcen
Colonel Lee and Mr.. Byrd or Mr.. Cation. /
and the latter are more to be con,pli.
mented upon their victories. because Of
the fact that they were selected over
man OF the strength and popularity a
their Fairfax colleague.
Byrd Strong Man.
The friends and constituents OF Mr.
Byrd are proud OF the honor conferred
upon him, which is greater because 1t II
unusual. Mr., Byrd Is n man OF popular
ity, both at homo and In the Legislature.
and no is recognized as one OF the strong
est lawyers in the upper Valley section
OF Virginia. He is we'll equipped for
chairman Of the Committee on Courts h1 I
reason OF his legal attachments, as well AZ 4
his intimate acquaintance with public
affairs,
There were but few other surprises Ia
the House chairmanships, Hon p. p.
Cox was the only Richmond member to
get craftsmanship, he having been put
at the head OF General Laws @
All Fared Well.
The local delegations In both branches
Jared we'll. however. Hero ara their ass
signments:
Mr.. Cox-General Laws tchatrmanl, Re-
5trenchment and Economy, Immigration.
Mr., c;lenn.-Privileges ana Elections
General Laws. Special. Private and Local
Legislation.
Mr. Masse-c Courts OF Justice. Public
Property, Federal Relations
Mr.. peyton-Finance, Militia and Police,
Retrenchment and Economy.
Mr., Puller-General Laws, Labor ana
tho Poor. Counties. Cities and Towns.
4 Senator'S from this CITY got the follow
ing assignments:
Mr., Anderson-Ge General Laws, Public m-
Ntitutions and Education. Counties. Citias
and Towns,
Mr.. Harman--Roads. Finance, Fish and
Game. 9e
Senate Chairrnanships.
The moro important Senate chairrnan-
ships are; s sIss
Electona-George S, Shacxeiford.
Orange, K. VI
coprtl- sw'iu.am hodges Maan. kssss..,