The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-03-11
CLOSING SCENES
IN THE HOUSE
VALUABLE AND BEAUTIFUL
TOKENS OF APPRECIATION
PRESENTED OFFICIALS.

All legislation ceased In both
branches of the General Assembly at
? O'Clock Saturday afternoon. when
several hundred bills were left dead
upon the legislative scrapheap.
The closing scenes were interesting
in the extreme. In the House Speaker
Byrd, Clerk John w. Williams. Chief
Committee Clerk John T. Loving. Jour
raj Clerk George Lindsay. Doorkeeper
Cot s. N Newhouse and Captain j.
NJ. Johnston, sergeant alarms. were
presented with handsome tokens OF
esteem and appreciation by the MEM
beTs and employees of the House. In
addition to which their respective COM
mittees presented Mr.. Williams, chair
man of the Committee on Privileges
and Elections, and MIR. Cox. chairman
Of the Committee on General Laws.
with valued and valuable tokens of
esteem.
Mr.. Metz, OF Prince William. pre-
sented Mr.. Byrd, on behalf of the
House, with beautiful silver pitcher
and goblet. Mr.. Byrd expressed his
thanks In feeling way, He congratu-
lated the members of the House that.
notwithstanding the fact that when
they came to the body sixty days ago
there We're sixty-three new and in
experienced members they had dis
posed of a great volume OF business
with great dispatch. Mr.. Byrd said
that when he took the speakers chair
he had become the servant of the
House, and had at all times been ac-
tuated By n desire to do full justice
to every member. lie discussed briefly
the difficulty in getting through legis-
lation OF reform character. Legis-
lation generally. he said. was usually
the choice of the LESSER evil. In a
great majority of cases reforms came
slowly--and must come slowly In order
to be effective. However even when
measures failed they had an educa-
tionai effect.
Mr.. Williams. Of Giles. presented
Clerk John W. williams with hand
some silver pitcher. declaring that this
efficient official had made 1t impossi-
bic to say OF the Southwest as OF
Nazareth that no good thing came
out Of 1t,
Mr.. Williams accepted the token OF
esteem in n modest and happy man
.ner. showing deep feeling in thank
ing the members. and his efficient
corps Of clerks for the present. and
the spirit which actuated
Clerk John T. Loving, who has been
connected with the House for twenty
five years. was presented with an UNI
III eliA- Ah Was JctFHHi &tcfk 1cOI6e
Lindsay.
~ Pages Make Byrd Present.
Probably the most Interesting pre-
sentation speech was made by young
Leo A. Denit, page from Salem, who
presented Speaker Byrd with token
Of appreciation on behalf Of the pages.
The youthful orator assured the speak,
er that had the pages had votes the
fate OF his primary, and tax commits
sion bills would have been different.
Mr.. Milstead, of Newport News, act
ed as master OF ceremonies during the
,nresaptation parted. In, which capacity
he was entirely at home as, II there
Is one thing that he enjoys more than
another It is to help make other folks
.ha ppy.
Mr.. Land made the presentation
speech on behalf OF the COMMITTEES on
Privileges and Elections. paving Mr..
Williams, chairman Of that committee,
high tribute. Mr.. Williams made
the presentation speech on behalf Of
the Committee on General Laws in
presenting a token of appreciation to
Mr.. Cox. the chairman OF that COM
mfttee-
At 1850 O'Clock the House adjourned
until noon today when IL meets In
constructive -session only At noon it
win adjourn again until noon tomor-
row and thus during the remainder
Of the week until the examining, en-
roilnent and signing OF the bills which
have been passed have been completed.