The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-03-04
House Wants to Stop Busi
ness Saturday; Senate in
Dangerous Plight.
APPROPRIATION BILL
NOT YET REPORTED.
Question of Procedure in Black,
stone Case Discussed at Length
and Upper Branch Rejects
Resolution Adopted by
Delegates - More
Coming To-Day.

THREE definite propositions as ta
the method of hearing the
charges against Judge j. W.. G.
Blackstone, of Accomac, were
submitted to the House of Delegates
yesterday morning, and a legal wran-
gle, in which some of the best informed
!, lawyers m the Legislature disagreed as
to constitutional provisions and showed
| a wide difference of opinion as to the
course to be pursued, promptly began
and continued for over two hours.
The result did not justify the hopes
OF those who had labored so desper-
ately over the matter, for the eXtraor-
dlnary conditions In the senate. where
the congestion is so great as to en-
danger bills. the passage of which is
necessary for the conduct OF govern
ment during the next two years, have
created situation that may upset all
plans heretofore considered, and mako
| 1t necessary for the lawmakers to re-
main hard at work at their desks for
many days yet. The prospect as
whole presents a most exasperating
| tangle.
The House Plan.
Especially in view OF TIE fact that the
much discussed charges against Judge
sources. much indignation was eN-
pressed on the Democratic side at the
apparent desire of the minority to
avoid all further investigation of the
Blackstone matter. The House finally
voted for an extension OF the
session for thirty days; for i'm
| mediate notification of Judge Black
stone OF the specific allegations against
him. and for the trial of the judge be-
/ ha n Courts Il
| tice of the two branches, sitting in
| Joint session, on March 25th at P. NJ.
From Saturday night when the reg.
ular session ends, the General ASSEM-
| bly,. according to the House plan,
will take an adjournment until March
! 3oth, being only constructive!y in ses-3
sion, and will reassembie at noon on
March 30th to hear only the report OF
I the Joint committee in the Blackstone
matter. All legislative measures which
I. have not been reached by the hour OF
| adjournment on Saturday night VIII
| dlo a natural death, as no other bus
| mess will be taken up during the en-
| tended session. The members Will
| serve without pay except as to the nec-
! essary expenses of the committee hear
! ing the charges and the travelling eA-
| penses of members going to and from
| their homes. Some doubt has even
| been expressed as to the legality OF
\ the latter provision.
| The Sennte Objection.
/ The House plan did not meet with
smooth sailing when it reached the
Senate end of the Capitol during the
! afternoon session. the upper branch
showing a hopeless division as to its
methods OF procedure. ,otirg down
number OF pr, lsitions and apparently
4 declining both the extra session and the
extended session under the resolutions
adopted by the delegates. An extra
session requires a two-thirds vote.
/ while an extension must have three
fifths OF the members voting. With
the members divided as they are at
present neither side has been able to
secure the needed majority.
Friends of Judge Blackstone. who
are engineering his affairs with great
skill, and who are not disposed to drop
a stitch at any point. are hoping that
the division on the method OF proceed
| ure between the two houses may be
continued until Saturday ! hit. when
with no step taken .or any continued
or extra session. tt, Legislature Will
adjourn sine die. and the whole case
against Blackstone will go by default.
! A cause Of objection In the Senate
to the House plan Is that the Senate Is
st..l at work on the appropriation bill,
| possibly the most vital matter before
the Legislature. and has many other
| important measures pending on It's
calendars most of which cannot be
reached this week. Certain members
| the Senate Finance Committee have
expressed the opinion that the an.
o, priation bill cannot be reported be..
i fore Saturday night, In this case some
i form OF extension Will be absolutely
/ necessary, as without funds the wheels
of government Will soon stop.
i A number OF Senators Will actively
i advocate compromise proposition to
i extend the present session without pay
for one week during which general
business now before the two bodies
will be considered. The houses would
| then take recess. returning here on
the 25th or S0th for consideration
OF the Blackstone matter, which would
be heard before the joint committees
under the plan proposed by the House.
Discussion in House.
The Blackstone report was called up.
morning by Mr.. Montague. OF Rich-
mond. and on motion of Mr. jennings,
of Lynchburg, the discussion was lim-s
| tied to one hour The clerk read the
resolution embodylng the charges
against Judge Blackstone and the tind-
| ings of the committee. AS presented
by the committee and amended by Mr..
| Withers. 1t provided for Immediate no.
| tice to Judge Blackstone and directed
that the Committees for Courts OF JUS
tice OF the two houses sit In Joint ses-
| sion on March 25th at o'clock p. NJ.
to hear the charges and make report
to the General Assembly. which is to
| extend Its session thirty days from the
time of its adjournment on March i'm,
| 1, Ill
| both houses taka recess until March
soth when they will assemble at y
o'clock to take UP no other business
| than the reports OF the committees OF
/ the two houses on the Blackstone
charges.
Mr.. Curlett, of Lancaster lntrpducea
a substitute for the whole. providing
1 that the Governor be requested I'd