The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-03-11
felony and to prescribe the punish.
nent for the same. i.
"OA1pht 10 Be Behind Bars"

Ought to Be Behind Bars"
several things, Mr.. President" de-
cared the bynchburg senator, who arose
to statc tho purposes OF the resolution,
have come 10 notice that lead at least
come of us to believe that this Capitol
OF Virginia is being fraaucnted by those
who, instead OF enjoying the free air
Of liberty should be In the penitentiary
of this state, paying the penalty for
the crimes they have committed. know
OF one instance In which, bill was Of
fered In this General Assembly and ro-
ferred to n committee. A substitute was
offered and was duly amended in the conf
mitteo.
But when the substitute appeared, 1t
came up smlllngly. with amendments
missing. II was amended again. Other
fraudulent charges were made The sub
stitute was chased as far rs the enroll
ing room. At this moment hold In my
hand. Mr. President. an amendment made
To House bill No. 1872 offered at this
session. The patron of the BILL the
chairman of the committee which con-
sidered the bill. the clerk of the COM
inittec, know nothing of this amendment.
But. nevertheless, II was there.
Gentlemen of the Senate, believe the
time has come when 1t is necessary to
clean out the Capitol of this State of n
ut OF men who would do better making
shoes than making laws. For my part
/ assume responsibility before the people
for the acts of the General Assembly.
but l refuse to be responsible for these
laws surrcptitiously made hope Thu.
resolution will be adopted Mt once, so
that. II the House concurs, we can pass
bill. already drawn, that will put these
people on notice that 1t will be unsafe
for them to continue their operations"
Mr. I-hnp1ne down Not another
word was said The rules were sus-
pended. and the resolution was unanl-
mously adopted, and at once communicate
ed to the House of Delegates. In n few
moments the announcement was made
that the lower branch had concurred.
Urge Passage Of Bill.
Mr.. Thomas arose again and offered the
following bill, which was taken UP at
names of three senators as pattons-i
Judge Phlegar, OF Montgomery: Judge
Tavenner, of Shenandoah. and Mr..
Thomas. 1t reads as follows:
To prevent fraudulent erasures,
alterations, secretins and destruction
of bills and resolutions and amend
ments to bills. pending before the
General Assembly or either branch
thereof, or OF any committee Of
eItF1eT or DOM DFdnCneS, OF OF any
bills of the General Assembly.
Be 1t enacted by the General AS.
sembly of Virginia. That any person
who shall fraudulentiy erase, alter,
secrete or destroy any BILL resolu-
ton or amendent to any bill pending
before the General Assembly, or
either branch thereof, or before any
committee Of either or both branches
or any enrolled blu of the General
Assembly, or shall fraudulently or
with Improper Intent endeavor to In.
fuerce any officer or employe of the
General Assembly, or of either branch
thereof. with regard to any such bill.
amendment or enrolled bill, shall be
confined in the penttentlary not less
than one nor more than five years.
After the Committee for Courts of
Justice had been duly discharged from
consideration Of the bill. and the consti-
.utional reading formally dispensed with.
several senators arose to speak. Mr..
Heezell. of Rockingham. expressed the
nope that the measure proposed would
De passed unanimously. Two years ago.
he said. he had had some experience in
matters OF the kind under review AT
that time certain bill had been passed
oy the House and been communicated
10 the Senate. Amendments We're made
by the upper branch and were concurred
IN by the House
Yet. gentlemen of the Senate" de-
rlared the Rockingham senator. we
FOUND to our amazement when the acts
Of the General Assembly were printed
hat the bill in question was printed ex-
aetly as 1t had come from the House,
Without the Senate amendments
The result has bean that for two years
one of the departments of this State gov
eminent has been embarrassed In dealing
with law which the General Assembly
never passed Some one had thwarted the
will of the General Assembly, and / agree
with the Senator from Lynchburs that
the place for any one guilty OF such con-
duct is behind the bars. ! do not say that
any employe of this General Assembly Is
guilty. But II an employe or any OF err
2erson can change the laws after the
General Assembly makes them, it is no
use for us to come here to legIslate We
might as well stay at home and turn the
business OF iaw-inaking over TO the lobby.
Let us pass this bin ms n warming"
~