Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-01-17
IAEW.CODE CAUSES SHARP
DEBATE IN STATE SENATE
buchanan Wants Revisors to State
Changes and Their Rea-
sons Therefor.
WEST PRAISES NEW CODE
VIII Give Virginia the Best of Any
State In Place Of Having the
Worst, He Tells Standardization
Is Deferred.

IS to boiling yesterday afternoon when he
= introduced a resolution requiring a
IS statement from code rev!sers. Messrs.
Burks. Hutton and Anderson, OF tho
s changes made and tho reasons therefor.
& The genera! discussion continued for
f two hours, ard at the last moment, by
4 Vote of 16 TO II, on motion of Senator
3 Buchanan. was left open until to-day's
@ session without any Definite action on
the original resolution
Senator Buchanan earnestly and elo-
Quently declared that the revisors had
made radical changes expecting the
Senate 70 adopt the work as whole
on their faith IN these three able men
+ and thus assume the responsibility. AS
8 instances of radical changes Senator
Buchanan stated that the new report
2 contained a brand new chapter on me-
\ chanics' liens and had entirely changed
s the definition OF "capitai" as determined
at the last session. lie stated that they
had literally abrosatcd hundreds OF
laws passed by the General Assembly
which had provided for the selection of
these same revisors, and instead OF
putting the old code IN respectable
form had presented TO the Senate and
House mn entirely new one in many re-
spccts. He stated that they had pro-
vided for a statement OF reasons from
+
Appeals for every writ OF error and
supersedeas they awarded
UNWILLING TO SWALLOW
NEW CODE AS WHOLE
Mr.. Buchanan stated that he was not
in position to express an opinion as
70 tho value OF such law but took
tho position, which was generally ac-
y copied az favorable, that his resolution
was merely for the purpose OF opening
n hn ct
the new code that they would not have
to swallow it biindly. He stated he
would vote against such a resolution
as he was unwilling to return TO his
people and answer for the passing OF
laws OF which he knew nothing lie
stated that he did not have any idea
4 as TO the length of time it would re-
0uire the revisors TO submit such a re-
port, but that he wanted the work done
we'll, not quickly. Mr.. Buchanan said
that be merely wanted information
from the best and easiest source as to
the changes. and that then the proper
method OF handling the adoption was
open wide
Senator STROBE. OF Amherst, said tina,
he was in thorough accord with the
purpose OF Senator buchanan, but con-
aidercd Joint resolution as better
than the one to the Senate only. TO
this AIR. Buchanan agreed But Mr..
''N'5uO wi Nilti the Joint resp
luton referred TO the Committee for
Courts OF Justice. Like Senator Bucn
nnan, Senator Strobe said that he
thought the new code contained many
admirable things, but that he thought
the Senate should not pass upon It
without reference TO the proper com
mittce.
& CANNOT JUSTLY DELEGATE
THEIR IRRESPONSIBLE IT'y
%
serted that the proce edinss in omen scs-
sion were very unwise as not getting
anywhere; but that he agreed with
senator Buchanan In the view that the
Senate had not and could not Justly
delegate their responsibility to the
people 10 the code rcvisors. and that
the responsibility of the revisors should
not be shed off on the Senate bv their
SWALLOWING the report without study
iie stated that from practical stand
point there was but one thing to do
refer IT to a joint committee with Dc
nand for report to the next session. His
position. he stated. was in sy1npa,hy
with that of the Senator from Smytn.
but that he could Sos. no objection 10
The reference to tho committee
Senator l.. Lee Trinkic. from Wythe
stated that he was at sea with reference
10 the exact contents Of the new book
as were most, If not ALL the other mem
"a
practical impossibi!ity to dispose OF
the code at this session Of the I.eris1.
ture without swallowing il whole and
Amending IL later a time and devotion
inents suggested. lie was. therefore
reluctant TO take a position. He did
not oppose the resolution OF Mr.. Euch-
anan.' but suggested that no commit
tee could study the Code and be hc,fer
able TO report on 4 question in the rcport
than The three noted lawyers who nad
prepared 1t. senator Trinkie then pre-
dicted tina. the adoption or the resolu
tioii offered ny Senator Buchanan would
result in no Code during this session Of
the General Assembly, as tho revisors
would be unable TO return n rcnort ~
charges in time for intelligent CON
sideTation. lie took the stand apropos
the resolution that the logical thing
Z 10 do, was 10 refer the resolution TO m.
Committee for Courts OF Ius,ice a.,
the adoption OF II preclude its adop-
s. ton an Let tho members OF il contcr
g. with the rCv!Sors 10 learn VIVA, mo-,
A can do.
+ REGARDS NEW CODE
&. AS MOST EXCELLENT WORK
Senate" West said that ne thourht
very Few of The radical changes yyc1,Id
be adopted by the General AssAmhl,.
81 On the o;her hand Senator Allen. .,
Lunenburg, said that he mad SITUATE;
X c =
lent work He feared that The rcsob
ton would only result in Vir.ina's loss
OF the best Code oc any State and l.ay.
10 her The worst, namely. Pollard
I Code. which, he said, was not Official
He said that he heartily concurrel win
I the revisors in every change; that they
brushed aside tcchnicalities and soush,
justice in the law
II Senator Rison, OF Pi,tsylvania Count,
SAID II 1T came to a vote mat ne YOU'D
favor the resolution; but that lie agree,
with Senator STROBE thn: the rcsolu.
ton should be joint at least
Senator Conrad concurrcd in view
with Senator Trinblc; while Senator,
Andrews and Jordan agreed wiz
Buchanan that as the matter was frcs,
in the minds Of the revisors now va
+ the opportune TINE for them 10 sum
Marie briefly and conciseiy the change.
and reason therefor.
" Senator J. Powell Royal. Of Taze
4 well. spoke in sympathy with the OBJ
lar ~ t.