The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-02-21
Byrd Resolution Likely
to Be Vigorously
Fought.
WISHED STATE TO
PAY LAWYERS FEES
Mr.. Upshur Said BY Senator to
Have Asked Prospects of
Bill With This Intent.
Interest in Cloves In
vestigation Greatly
Lessened.

Birthstone vapors lingcr in the pati,
OF the Byrd resolutions now slowly
working Its way through the Generrl
Assembly. and indications last nigh.
pointed clearly to developments OF no
small interest upon the floor of the Sen
ate to-day, should the matter be reached
upon the calendar In time.
Senatorial enthusiasm at tho prospec.
of diversion In tho shape of an In
vestisation of the Lanier affair is BY no
means as great as 1t might be- The con
sensus OF opinion unquestionably is that
1t is too late now to check the inquiry,
and the resolution will almost certainly
pass But unanimity. lacking in the COM
mttee, will not exist in the chamber
either. Several Senator'S are understood
to be In favor of the investigation on gem
eral principles; the majority 1t seems
while deprecating the issue, hold to the
view that they can do nothing else now
than vote for the resolution since 1t has
been offered; few-at least three IN .
nuniber--wll dissent outright and prob
ably will take occasion to state the rea.
sons for their stand In the event that
this actually occurs the debate 1t will
precipltate will be interesting.
Not To Be Coerced.
~. for one. shall not allow this reso-
luton to go through without protest.
said one well-known senator last night.
Il have not fully decided how far.
shall go into the matter II i take 1t
upon the floor of the Senate. but
shall certainly vote against the resolu-
tion. do not feel that we are called
upon to submit to be coerced into an in
quiry simply because member of the
House OF Delegates has sprung rcso-
luton We are certainly able to act
Independently still and TO exercise our
own judgment about thi# matter. with
| out being Influenced undnly by the colt
sideration of how II Will look to reject
the resolution. The investigation would
be disastrous In its effect of practft1lily
breaking up the General Assembly nj
n moment when we are already narrasSed
for lack of tiirc to give proper attention
to but a small portion of the important
matters before us. / do not mean that
the resolution originated in this man
i,er but think 1t Is unauestIonably true
that since It's introduction there have
sprung up lot Of political considcra
tions affecting It's passage NJ
Emphasis is laid by those opposing
the resolution and will be laid If dis (
cussion ensues upon the effect. the rcso-
luton will have In disrupting the Legis-
are held. few members. 1t is claimed
will remain in the legislative halls for
the consideration of the many routine
matters. II the sessions are not public
the affect OF the secrecy would be as
bad as a rejection of the resolution In
the first instance.
Any influence distracting the attention
Of the law-makcrs at time when they
are clearly overloaded with work will. l..
is pointed out. be unfortunate. and will
seriously rctard public business, IL not
cripple the usefulness of the General
Assembly.
Defray His Expense.
In addition to this. other considerations
may be advanced, more particularly re-
ferring 10 the subject matter OF the in
yestigation. 1t was stated last night
on the authority of one of the senators
approached that Mr.. Upshur some tins !.
ago sounded certain members as to tho
possibility of getting through the Lesis-
lature a bill providing that the State shall
idefray the expense of his defense in tha
suit for damages recently brought against
him by Major Lanier. Mr., Upshuri was
said to be out of the city last night. and
no Inquiries could be made of him. but It
was stated by the senator that he sng-
gested the bill on the ground that he had {
eperformed public service In bringing
the Lanier matter to an issue some tina
ago. The senator referred the clerk 20
the constitutional provision touching spe,
scial privileges. and declared that such n
bill could not pass
AS forecast the Committee for Courts
of Justice met in special session Sester-
day morning and decided to report ths
Byrd resolution which was done as soon
as the Senate met a half-hour later. The
report was not unanimous but the ma,
jority was overwhelming. No action was
taken by tho Senate and the resolution,
1T Is supposed Will come mp to-day on the
calendar
The Cloves Inquiry.
Developments In tho Cloves sinvestiSa.
stion during the day were, so far al
known, attended With nothing of an ex-
traordinary character. The committees
did not meet in tho morning after all
.co,irt-roonl of the Corporation Commits
sion and lasted three hours.
Mr. Cloves WAS on the stand during
this entire time, and Will resume his tes-
timony at 10 o'clock this morsung, when
the committee will meet again.
Public interest IN the Cloves affair has s
diminished appreciaby within the past
week. and the impression IS steadiiy gam
ing ground that there will be no scnsa-
tional aftermath us was at one time free
Iy predicted. This may be due to the fact "A
that the NAV OF the gossip, Tor the lack NJ
or something to nut into 1t. has shrtv-
ccd up. The passage of time and the abs
sonce of amy positive Specification of what
is transporting within the committee room
has taken the llne edge Off the iptcrcnt
once felt in this matter, particularly in
View of the new Investigation looming up.
Rut the committee Is keeping its owr
counsel and may have a package OF sur.
prises In store. Nobody knows.
AS yet 1t Is impossible to indicate when
this investigation Will end, Mr.. Cloves
has a great many witnesses, and II al N
OF these were examined the hearing woult
some time Both pyincin,aA ~ s~~s