The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-02-12
HOUSE BEGINS WAR
upon CEDAR RUST
MUCH wRAN0LIN0 MARKS DAY.
nut AT THAT SEVERAL
BILLS PASS.
CHALLENGE OF JURORS
Ff4kaetPfTATED AMONG
LAWYERS BY MIR. WHITES
BILL-CEDAR TREES NEAR
ORCHARDS TO GO.

ORCHARDS TO GO.
A day Of wrangling and little trans
action of business marked yesterday Is
session of the house of delegates. A
bill by Mr.. White of Rockbridge
changing the jury system Of the State,
brought sharp tilt between the law
yers of the lower body. especially
those who are active in criminal prac-
tice.
Mr.. Whites bill provides that the
Commonwealth shall have three per-
lemptory challenges. in order to avoid
the packing of juries for either side.
The defense, as the law stands to-
day, has four peremptory challenges,
which means that four Jurors can be
dropped without stating the reason for
their dismissal. The State. according
to Mr.. White, should have three such
challenges.
This bill, the first on the regular
calendar, brought forth Il hot fight be-
tween the lawyers of the house. and
many lengthy arguments were in
dulged in. The bill was fought to the
last stand, but finally was passed by
a vote of As to A. Mr.. White made
a strong speech In behalf of his meas
ure, declaring that under the pres
the jury to suit themselves. and the
State had absolutely no way in which
to overcome 1t. The jury. as the law
reads, shall deem man innocent until
he Is proven guilty. and with four
peremptory challenges, Mr.. White de-
clared. the defense has every advan-
tage.
He was answered by Mr. Oliver. of
Fairfax. and Mr.. Gordon. of Louisa
who made hot speeches against the
passage of the bill. Col. I-eedy, of
Page, and others took UP the fight.
and for more than an hour the debate
continued. Even after the vote was
taken. and Mr.. White moved to re-
] consider, MIR. Weaver. Of Warren,
moved that reconsideration Of the vote
be passed by. This was voted down.
and the house refused to reconsider.
Eradicate Plant Diseases.
A bill providing for the control and
the eradication of the plant disease,
commonly known as orange or cedar
rust. in the State. The patron of this
important bill. Mr.. Steck, ask ed that
the bill he taken up out of its order,
and put on its passage as an emer-
gency. This bill is considered rather
drastic. inasmuch as it provides for
the destruction OF cedar trees within
two miles of any orchard, as the
cedar tree is said TO be the origin of
the disease
On the many objections entered by
members. in whose counties the cedar
tree is n valuable product, the bill
was amended to provide that only
cedar trees within one mile OF An
orchard are TO come under the ban,
The bill wa.s passed by an oyerwhelm-
ling vote.
Mr.. Kent, Of Halifax. acting chair
man Of the house committee on pub
b., 1s, ex,ts
of the land office be ordered to make
an estimate of the repairs needed in
the governors mansion, and report his
! findings, TO the house at once. Mr.,
Kent stated that he had investigated
the condition OF the mansion, and
found that ii was badly in need OF re-
| pair especially the walls and floors.
This motion was adopted.
i Bills Passed.
The following bills were passed by
the house:
House bin to amend and re-enact
section 1921 of the code and to amend
and re-enact section 4o23 of the code
| as amended by an act approved Janu-
AIRY 2, 1914.
Reported from the committee for
courts of justice.
House bill making valid the re-
cordation of deeds and other writings
+
after executed or recorded. upon GER
tif1cates of acknowledgements of the
parties thereto by officers of such cor
porations.
House bill to amend and re-enact
sections 263s and $3.50 of the code of
Virginia.
House bill to authorize the school
board of Powhatan district No. 2, Of
the county of James City. and the
r. a -&.,g ia
No. .. OF the county of James City. of
the State OF Virginia. to borrow
money. and to issue bonds for the
purpose of paying off and discharging
the present Indebtedness upon the
/ Toano high school. owned Jointly by
said school districts, and making such
further improvements to said high
school, and any other purpose deem
ed pertinent by said school board, and
to provide for the payment of such
bonds and the interest to accrue there
on.
House bill to make designated por-
ton of Hughes river. in Madison
county, lawful fence
1 House bill to make a portion OF
the Robertson. river. ins Madison
county. "a lawful fence.
House bill to amend and re-enact
sections /, 2, II, IA. Is. Is. II. Is.
l 4
act approved July IL, 1870, providing
charter for the town OF West Point,
in King William county as amended
by an act approved March l.. 1884, and
as amended by an act approved March
IL, 1892, and as amended by act APP
proved March IA. 1910. and to add
additional sections thereto.
House bin to repeal an act of the
general assembly of Virginia of 1898,
page 4e2, chapter 431. entitled an act
to provide for road law for Spotsyl-
vania county, approved February Fl,
1898. as amended and re-enacted by
an act OF the general assembly of Vir-
ginia of 1908, page $50, chapter ss2.
approved March II, 1908. entitled an
act to amend and re-enact an act en-
titled an act to provide for road law
for Spotsylvania county: said repeal
to take effect after the expenditure
CONTINUED ON Fifth page.)
cd for the proper performance Of their