The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-01-26

rinntly satisfactory To glvo assurance
tliat tho Democrats In Virginia will
never again nominate their candidate
for senator by a legislative caucus ex-
ccpt In cases Of emergency. Tho pri-
mary for Governor and other State Of
ficers was equally satisfactory Tho cx-
pcnse feature attracted special attention
beca,Isc 1t happened to BIO the f,rst State
election since the passage of tho law
recurring the publication of election ex-
penses. In warm contests considerable
money Is likely to be spent by both sides,
whether tho contest be for members of
convention or OF n General Assembly
or for votes in primary Unfortun-
ately, we have no statistics as to the
amounts spent In the campaign for Gov
crnor In 1901, nor In tho senatorial con-
test OF 1893. IL we could compare those
amounts with the sums spent by candi-
dates last sumner we might be able to
form some intelligent opinion as to tho
comparative cost of primaries and other
methods of nomination. An inspection
OF the amounts spent and the election
| returns Will show that they did not run
| together 1t may be that a good deal
of money was unnecessarily or injudi-
ciousy spent. Perhaps another time the
thing could be more economically man
aged.
Tho present bill does not make any
provision as to the matter OF expense,
but leaves 1t to be determined by the
committee. which has the election in
| charge. 1t Is to be hoped that some
method can be devised for dividing the
expense between tho candidates and the
party at large. At present there seem
to be inseparable objections to paying
any part of the expenses out of public
funds.
"The bill is intended to provide n uni
form method of selecting candidates for
the various Offices to be filed by popular
election. 1t is intended to allow local
option In the matter of primaries. In
some sections conventions seem still to
be popular. 1t is not the object OF the
bill to take away from these sections
the right to have conventions. 1t is
only desired to glvo those sections
which are welded to the primary. which
comprise all of tho chief cities and most
of tho country districts, an opportunity
to get what they want. namely. sys-
TEN which will be uniform, regular and
! furnish MS great assurance as possible
OF absolute fairness.
"Those portions OF tho regular cleo
| ton laws in regard to casting and count
| ing tho ballots, making Judges of cleo
| tons conservators of the peace arc made
1
resentatives of candidates arc allowed In
| the polls during the casting and count
| ing of the vote. Tho ballots cast are
then to be sealed and deposited in the
clerks Office of the county or city and
| may be recounted in case OF contest.
I'm these features the bill Is supposed
| to be IL decided improvement over the
present party plan, which has no per-
inanence, but may be changed at will by
the committee. in which the judges have
| no official powers which the law recog
! nizes, which has no adequate method
| of preserving tho ballots or providing
| for their inspection in case of contest.
1.-The friends of the primary system
believe that the time has come when
tho matter should be dignified by stat
ute. The people who are In favor of
loose political methods and who want
| q system which can be corruptly ma
| nipulated will oppose the primary In
every shape In which 1t Is Mt all toler-
| able. In few rural districts of the
| state some good men imagine that the
| primary ia injurious to the party using
1 it, Tho recent history of Virginia poll
| tics is against that view. and the his
| tory of parties in twenty States Is
| against 1t also. The overwhelming sem
| timent in the State at large is that the
| primary should DO preserved and sur
rounded by every legal safeguard"
| Report was made in the Senate yes
terday by the committee for courts of
| justice OH number OF important bills.
| The report was made by Judge Mann,
| chairman of the committee, as follows:
| s. b. No. 81: 10 amend and re-enact
section 1923 of the code of Virginia. with
| amendments.
| S. B. No. Sc: Relating to demurrers to
evidence. with the recommendation that it
| do not pass
| s. 3. No. 106: To amend and re-enact
| section S252 of the code of Virginia. re-
4 lating TO when failure to perform Il
condition of an insurance policy or the.
| violation of a provision thereof shall not
avail as defence and invalidatlng any
! provision limiting the time within which
| action may be brought, with amend
| inents.
s. b. No. IS: Providing that the judy
| ment of n circuit or corporation court. or
other law court of record. in any action
at law requiring a plaintiff to remit any
part of his recovery. as ascertained by
the verdict of a jury, and accept re-
duced sum, may be accepted by such
plaintiff under protest! and that such
judgment. If accepted under protest, may
be the subject of review by the Supreme
Court OF Appeals upon writ of error
awarded either the plaintiff or defendant,
with amendments.
S. B, No e.: To authorize the paymas-
ters and cashiers of the Allegheny Ore
and Iron Company, the Chapman Iron.
Coal and Coke Company Incorporated
the Deford Company. and the Longdale
Iron Company. to carry concealed weap-
ons. with the recommendation that it do
not pass.
S. 1B. No. liz: To provide for the
enumeration of the inhabitants of the
counties of Tazewell, Giles and Bland.
with amendments.
S. r. No 11s: To provide for and to
validate court proceedings in certain
cases concerning roads, with amend
ments.
An official inquiry into the official con-
dition and management of the institu
tons receiving State aid is called for in
n bill offered yesterday In the Senate
| by Mr.. st. Clair The bill, which, accord
| ing 10 lie natrOn has no reference to any