The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-03-02

amendment gave way to a motion TO
pass by. and attempt as made yester-
day by advocates OF the bill In It's
unamcndcd form to secure 4 recon
alteration with the hope of removing
the obnoxious addition. Objection
was Immediately entered by Senator
+, Tavenner that the rules OF the Senate
! provide that no reconsideration OF
vote can bc had after two days have
elapsed. Senator West inclined TO the
belief that the fact ;hat the primary
bill was special and continuous order
removed it beyond the operation OF
the rule, but the chair sustained the
point OF order and declined 10 enter
Ia motion to reconsider.
Parties to Select Judges.
The committee amendment directing
that primary election judges shall be
appointed by the respective parties
was reported by the clerk and was
met with counter amendment by
Senator Featherston providing that
where only one party holds a primary
i the local committee OF tAat party
| shall name three persons 70 oct as
| judges. The electoral board, 1t pro-
vided further, shall then formally APP
point these men. administer the oath
TO them, and record their names.
|
Senator Featherston, II permitted to go
by unchanged, would open up rich
field for graft, since 1t provided for no
| fixed remuneration nor for any uespon-
aihle system OF accounting. The judges
so appointed would have no Official
standing and would be responsible to
no one. The purpose OF his amend
| ment, he said, was to estn bl:sh their
lega! status. provide for them the i'm
regular Judges OF election, and 20 max ,
them In every way as responsible as
regular election Judges. His amend
ment provided further that in the event
OF both parties holding their primari rs
upon the same day, the regular election
Judges shall serve. Under the commit
tee amendment each party would APP
point Its own judges, whether holding
their elections simultaneously or at
different timcs.
Senator Hart objected TO the ndop-
ton of the fcathorston amendment OH
the ground that il was at variance with
the principle BY which the committee
wns guild sd when it framed the amend.
ments TO the bill. Since the amendment
adopted February q provides for sep
urate party primaries, he said. the pro
posed amendment was inconsistent
with the rest OF the law. Either all
tnc committee amendments should lie
adopted or all OF them rejected he
thought: there WAS no middle ground.
Amended Inv Harmless.
Since there seems no possibility OF
repeating the first amendment adopted
Tuesday. / have lost all interest In the
primary BILL" declared Senator Walker.
If IL is passed as amended by the
COMMITTEES, l don't see how 1t can i'm
prove the present system, and it makes
no difference to me therefore whether
1t passes or not"
& Further objection to the Featherston
amendment was offered by Senators
Rison and Hart. The latter pr ophes led
d!sintesra ton of the Democratic party
through crumbling OF its machinery
II the amendm ant were not defeated
II seemed TO him question of the
party retaining the control Of ITS ma
chinery or leaving 1t to outsiders.
since American government 's "a gov
ernmtnt of parties for parties" 10
adopt III. latter pian. he thought. was
suicidal.
"Mu'idicd" Inv. ss.s Gravatt.
II mad intended To steer clear OF 3,
diScnssion which seems to promise 40