The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-01-27
ont. the Byrd bill not applying to .u4A

MIR. White wanted u challenged voter
to writo his Aamo on his tickot. 10 that
| In case OF contest 1t would bs dianov
| ersd how he voted. Mr.. BYRD objected
that this would violate the secrecy of
the ballot and that judges In some cases
would ohallsnse everybody. In order to
SEQ how each individual voted NJ
White said further that he w,sbaa
evory ballot box in which one ilIesal
vote was placed could be thrown ont
This would, thought Mr. Byrd. afford
too great temptation for q candidate
70 go to precinct where he was
weak and get one fraudulent ballot in,
resides. the secret ballot prevents
buyer from knowing IL g. voter stays
| bought.
| Viva Voce System.
hat Is tho matter with viva vooe
Fotins? inquired Mr.. White.
| everything Is the matter with It,"
promptly responded Mr.. Byrd. 1T is
an anachronism, like tho laws of an
Client England, when a man could be
executed for hundred different Of
tehses. The viva voce ballot has rone
| forever. No man, when he deposits
his ballot, should be answorable TO
anything save his own conscience"
| lhe bill was amended so as to allow
sixty TO ninety days. Instead OF thirty
canvass.
Mr. Chalkley said the minimum limit
TO DO spent for IL candidate by friends
without making n sworn statement
was too low at 81. Mr.. Byrd accepted
an amendment making 1T So
Thore was discussion Of tho limit.
OF 10 cents for each voter, to be spent
oy candidate In hts campaign Mr.
Adams said 1t would be too small in
sparsely sottied sections, and got up
an amendment 10 change 1t. On sug-
| sestion of Mr.. Smith, II was made ad-
| dittonal to the entrance fee OF par
cent. to be paid to the clerh-"to keen
out the pikers"
| Liquor mt Elections.
MI MeetSe said thore had been a
good deal OF trouble In his section
because OF liquor used at elections
and nobody could toll where It came
from Mr.. Oliver Inquired IL tho coun-
~ OF Prince William wore not dry
MI Mectze said 1t was. Afr. Byrd said
whiskcy was q very delusive spirit
Ihere was talk o.. making the en-
trance fee por cent. or the first
Years salary OF the ONCE. instead OF
= per cent. DR.. H. U. Stephenson
thought per cent. TOO much and Mr..
Byrd accepted his suggestion.
MI smith wanted to have tho part
| OF the fee returned If more money
were secured from candidates than
the primary cost. Mr.. Byrd said this
Woula De too complicated, but MIR
| smith wrote his amendment
| Nj White did not think II fair that
Zee officers should pay only 81, since
some OF them arc the best paid OF the
officials. Mr.. Byrd said no one can
! ten what trese officers receive ard
| mat there uro no county officers TO he
elected for the mex; two years so that
me next Legislature can provide FOR
th's. II by that time tho fees can be
learned, Mr.. White, OF Rocks ridge.
moved an amendment 70 charge ON
GERS paid by fees . per cent. Of their
compensation.
Thought Him Opposed.
If you do that" said Mr.. Byrd.
YOU would have TO include justices
consta bles and oihc. odie,sls. ana
/ would cause endless trouhle Who
| would decide the amount OF these foes
wheH no one can tell what they are?
! l 90 not think the gentleman from
/ Rockbr!dGc IS In favor OF this bill.
am not sure that he has made up his
nina to vote Cor it. Amendments Of
! tered By men favorable to a measure
are likely TO DC done TO IT; TO
( strengthen H. out when proposed by an
opponent racy arc not likely to add
10 the beauty and value OF the meas
ure."
In reply TO this Mr.. White said the
| people OF Rockbridgo do not wan, a
iesh-zed primary. AND many 60 not
| want primary Of any kind
The Waite amendalent was further
opposed b. Mr.. Olivsr and Mr.. I.uas-
'oTd. On vote Il was lost. The Smith
amendment Was lost. The Chalkley
amendment. agreed TO by the patron.
! was carried
Hill Montagus proposed to strike
out all that part of the bill which
| granted local option, so az 10 make all
primaries compulsory upon all com
! munities aud all parties. He thought
loSa! OPTION here would destroy the
! primary system as s,ich. and that the
| friends OF the primary should sec thai
| II IL permanency.
The Speaker said Alr. Montague
might as we'll strike out the enactinp
clause. He tried 10 get this principle
t"o years ago. but there was objec.
ton from every quarter Mr.. Monta
quo sad that in the Byrd bill the
reoPie were given stones Instead OF
| bread
Ninth Don't Want 1t.
| II the Montague amendment, wcrs
| not defeated, said Mr.. Chalk1ev. h..
Would ask for postponement 20 that
me Ninth District could be heard
from The people Of that section. h,
continued, dislike and totally disrc
! gard all primaries, save when ,hcv
are state wide refusing 10 even narr,,
candidates for Congress ny tho nri-
| mary method
| The Montague amendment was LOST
on a division, ; TO 81. The Brewer ana
adams amendments we're also def"
Cd, while the Byrd and oliver amcnd-
nehts. offered during the debate. were
| agreed to
| The bill was then o-dcrcd tn its en-
SroSsment by vote OF 81 to Is.
NJ BYRD resumed the chair ami
4, ~