The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-01-16
The Senate

The senate and house yesterday
witnessed for the first time In the his
cory OF thu state the presence OF a wo-
man on the floor of the two bodies
and making a statement to the prestd-
ans officers OF the two bodies. Thus
was woman recognized by the leEisia-
tors. When Miss Helen Berry. assist
ant secretary to Governor Stuart. ap-
peared and Informed the sergea nj al .
arms OF the senate that she had a
com muntcatfon which she had been
directed by His Excellency to present
20 the president Of that body, Cap
tain Frank Watkins, the sergeant at
arms, looked puzzled. He did not
dinch, however, and whatever Of tr-
regularity OF having a mere woman
DISCHARGE that duty he quickly shifted
from hts shoulders by announcing:
Mr.. president: A message from tho
governor
Senators at orce wheeled around.
looked at the sergeant at arms. and
then spied Miss Berry. She was
standing In tho middle aisle of the
senate. In her hand she carried a
neatly~foide6 paper. She was about
as much confused and excited as any
of the senators, she did not redden
in the least. The gsze n the men did
not disturb her equilibrium or poise
When Lieutenant Governor Ellvsof,
said: Receive the message" Miss
berry read off the form prescribed
and handed the packet to "A page
Old timers sat mp and took notice, re
calling the dayS when Evan F. Ches-
terman. d. A. Richie. Ben r. Owen
and Alexander Forward dia the same
service, and none OF These men per-
formed the duty with more directne~s
or promptness than did this young
woman.
well drat nay time said one
member OF the senate. What are we
coming to in Virginia? Times change.
but ] am one OF the old men who do
rot change and regret that such a
thing has come TO pass Other sen
ators tried TO comfort him, but he
hung his head and was given up to
reflection and study
The message which Miss Berry pre-
scented WAS one transmitting CORE
rpondence between Governor Stua TT
and Assistant Secretary of the Navy
Roosevelt regarding the title to lands
which the navy dexfres in connection
with the extension OF the work OF that
department The papers contained
the bill which the navy desires to be-
como isw to authorize the vestfnr
OF the title In the federal government
Some of this land lie embraced In
the tract AZ Jamestown exposition
grounds. Other land fs at Yorktown
ana other tracts are at Alexandria
and adjacent TO the Chesapeake hav.
where the navy desires to esta biish A
proving ground for runs which are
made for the navy, The bill went to
tins committee on general laws for
consideration land report,
Stands for E~onomy.
Senator Jeffrvs OF Mecklennzrrg, Of
Tered bin which will save the state
of Virginia $4,000 year If n ia
adopted. The bill IN the same which
he presented last seSsfon, and which
pessed the senate. hut was killed In
the house. The bin Is the one that
directs the employment OF state ar
chttect for the state board of educg
ton. The board will have to eupIoy
the man and define his duties. Sen
afor Jeffrvs has collected data which
shows that I'm the last eleven Years
the school funds have been d~pIeted
TO the extent OF s2sS 600 for archi-
tects for school buildinsx one man
receiving sss.ooo OF that sum. IT In
declared that IL an architect is EN-
pioved that he can re paid $4,000 a
year. devote his entire time to the
state will save more than 49, a
year. The architects generally oppose
the giving Of so manv contracts to one
man. and others OPPOSE the idea of
ennploving one man for all the work,
taki-< the ground that the localities
should get thu work when buildings
are to he erected
Returns Arc DeINyef.
Up TO the time for closing the state
derar+ments the rsturns from the
successor to the late Seoator Pitcher.
been received. The election was held
one week ago. and Fauuuier has al
ready se~t in the returns from that
county. hut the officers NJ Loudoun
have not done So. Chief Clerk HAYES.
OF the secretary NJ the commonwealth
of'ic~ tA'enhoned to the clerk and was
told that he was waiting FOR the neces-
sarv BLANKS IN which to make the re-
turns. Mr. HAYES old him no blanks
were p~enared FOR ~oec'al elections.
and the clerk then said that the pa
pers woutd be put into the mails at
once ard the new SENATOR - exn~ctei
TO be sworn In on wedoesdav morn
Ing. Tire new senator Lucien Keith
fs aIreedv here and wt.tin~ to enter
on his duties. He Is a nephew of the
late Judse James Keith. Of the SUI
preme court ~ apreals
VIII Limit Amendments.
A resolution offered In the senate
provides that when amendments are
r--~S ~ The Serate the patron of
AAA same must appear before the COM