The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-02-14
THE SENATE.
Patteson Bill Discussed Under
Special Order.

The Senate lost no time In getting down
TO business and was soon at work on
the calendar. disposing OF q number Of
measures before the special order was
reached. Committee reports returned n
number of important bills with various
recommendation and amendments. !.
flood of Mann law petitions again poured
over the senate. the lists coming from
every section of the State A number
OF new bills came in under the call
After several bills had been passed Mr..
Strobe. of Amherst. called up his bill
providing that the Judgment OF Cir
cult or Corporation Court or other court
OF record. in any action at law, redulr.
Ing plaintiff TO remit any part of recov-
cry. may be subject of review by the
Supreme Court of Appeals. This measure
which was regarded as OF the greatest
Importance. has been the subject of de-
bate since last Thursday. The Amherst
Senator concluded his argument answer
Ing number of questions, chiefly from
Judge Phlegar. By vote of % to s the
Senate rejected the Phlegar amendment
and then by vote OF IS to 10, ordered
the Strobe bill In It's original form 10
Its engrossment
AT i p. NJ. the special and continuing
order was reached and the much heraided
debate began on the Patteson bill rent-
ing to dcmurrers to evidence. Under this
bill as amended by the committee and
the patrons In all suits or motions here
after when the evidence Is concluded be-
fore the court and Jury. the party tcn-
dering the demurrer to evidence shall
state in writing specifically the grounds
upon which he relies TO sustain his con-
tention and the demurrer shall not be
forced to Join in the said demurrer until
the specific grounds upon which the
demurrant relies are stated in writing,
and no facts shall be considered other
than those so admitted
Patteson Bill.
Opening the discussion, Senator Pattcr-
son related the history OF demurrers to
evidence declaring that not until n de-
cission In the case of Trant vs.. Norfolk
and Western rendered some twenty
years ago had the demurrer ever been
compelled TO join in the demurrer. The
law. lie declared was odious. giving to
the rich man an unjust and improper
advantage over the poor. The change.
proposed. he said, would make unneces-
sary the long and burdensome delays
now so frequent. would greatly lesson
the expense of the proceedings. would
bring the material on which the de-
murrer was based squarely down to a
specific issue. would present the de-
murrant from shifting his ground in
6uDSeQuent didi ehooNS GIL
things would give back to the juries
the powers the judges were trying to
usurp
The Buckingham senator was severe
In his arraignment of corporations and
Judges as we'll. Virginia. lie said. was
the paradise of corporation lawyers He
viewed with alarm the manifest move
ment to eliminate juries which the corpo-
ratlons "hate worse than the devil hates
holy water" and he regretted to be COM
PEELED to admit that the Judges we're
assisting this movement. From these
"judge-made" laws he expected. II they
continued, dire results to flow. The judi
cial usurpation of power he declared to
BIT one OF the greatest dangers OF the
present day to American liberty. The at
tempt Of the Judges to wrest questions
of negligence from this proper tribunal
the jury-was In his opinion tyranny, In
Justice and wrong.
Wanted Present System.
Representing the opposition, Mr.. Wick
ham, of Hanover, argued in favor OF tho