The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-03-05
SENATE

Lieutenant Governor Ellyson called
the Senate to order promptly at 10
o'clock and PRAYER was offered by KEY.
r. H. Potts, of the Union Station Meth
odist Church. There We're no COM
mittee reports, and after the comnu-
nications from the House had been re-
ported and the bills referred to the
proper committees the calendar was
taken up. There was no order In the
procedure, the Senators picking out
their pet measures and having them
taken up out of their order. After
each bill was passed there were always
as many as half dozen Senator'S. on
their feet clamoring for recognition.
Senator Edmondson got in line by
making a motion that his bill be taken
UP after the one under consideration
had been passed.
WheE the special order for the re-
districting bill was reached, Senator
Parsons. of Grayson. offered an amend
ment which put Floyd county back in
leave that district as 1t was originally
Senator Parsons said that the Cen
eral Assembly of Virginia had no right
to make an apportionment in disregard
the Constitution. The provision of
the Constitution of Virginia in refer
ence to population and compact terri
tory were mandatory. and Were of the
disregarded by the Legislature. He
wanted to know by what authority the
bill was up for consideration. He
claimed that the act was unconstitu-
! tional, and said it would be fought In
the highest courts.
Senator Parsons quoted many author
tiles in law to sustain his point and
gave statistics showing that the Fifth
District, with Floyd taken out, would
not have a sufficient number of quail
! flied voters to constitute congress
sional district under the law. II am
aware" he, said. that many believe
politics: We have lived to see the day
when the party or the men who live
| upon that principle, will go down and
| the sooner the better.
IF you are in the right, you can
| afford to do down in defeat rather
| than triumph in the wrong. OF all the
/ cases tried and Investigated by the
courts. and of all the gerrymandering,
/ juggling redistricting. readjustinG
tricts no Legislature has ever done
! what this one is asked to do--to take
/ from smaller congressional district
and give the same population taken
| off to a larger district"
Senator Parsons amendment was de-
feated, only the Republicans voting
for its adoption. The bill was then n+lt
I upon its passage under a suspension OF
/, the rules and went through. tho Re-
After the. redistricting bill had been
disposed of the calendar was taken
| up in Its regular order. and when the
vote on bill 1876 was taken there was
found to be no quorum, Senator Echols
i made n motion to adjourn. In order
to vote 1t down, the Senators In the
| hall and cloakroom were then hunted
\ up. and this was done. Another vote
i was taken on the measure and 1t was
i passed
Senator Sale asked for a committee
/ of conference on the House resolution,
amending certain sections OF the Con
Il Is.
to concur in the amendments offered
| by the Senate.
The resolution in question dispenses
| with the tiresome method now used In
the reading of the bills, and provides
amendment requires the titles of bills
to- be read on three separate days, aud
| the bill once.
The House communicated the re-
/ ing the government to erect a tenn
| porary post office on the southeast COR
ner of the. Capitol Grounds. but sub
! mitted similar resolution which had
4 been adopted by that body. and which
| had some slight changes, one limiting
/ the time to which the temporary build :
1 Ing can stay on the grounds to foLr
| years
Senator Keezell said that the apprc-
priation bill would be ready to report
| to-day. He asked to be allowed 20
have tho bill printed before 1t was
/ reported, this was granted. and 1t Was
set as a special order for to-day at IL
4 O'Clock.
The House communicated the adop-
tion of Il resolution which directed
1.-THE sergeant-at-arms OF the two
bodies to serve notice on Judge i. w.
G.. Blackstone that the General Assem-
bly, was about to proceed against him,
pursuant to the report OF the House
ECommittee for Courts of Justice. which
heard the charges preferred against
him.. This brought on discussion as
to an extended or extra session. which
1 had not been settled when the hour
OF vacating the chair arrived, Judge
| Mann wanted the resolution adopted,
but Senator Echols thought 1t unwise
to notify Judge Blackstone before the
| Senate had fully determined what man
\ her of procedure was to be adopted.
aiSenator Sims and Carter fully agreed
I with the senator from stanton, and
protested against any action in the