Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-02-01
FROM RICHMOND.
LEGISLATIVE.

the expedicncy OF puulShlng more vigorous!
the crime of arson, and especially to provide
that barn burning at night. shall be a capital
offence, where the lives of valuable animals and
other valuable property are detroyed, and as to
the propriety Of authorizing the Governor and
Supervisors Of counties to offer rewards tor the
detection and apprehension Of persons guilty OF
arson.
The following Joint resolutions and bills We're
passed Memorializing Congress to abolish the
internal tax on all liquors made from fruits; 10
amend an act to authorize the trustees OF otraS-
burg Academy. to sell vacant lot OF land; to
amend the code in relation to inspection OF to-
bacco: to amend an ACT to prevent the destruc-
ton of Wild fow. in this State; to authorize the
Washington city. Virginia. Midland and Great
Southern railroad company, 1.-THE O., A. & NJ.
R. R.') to issue bonds to provide for the pay
ment of the bonds and debts OF the Orange.
Alexandria and Manassas railroad company, and
ne the Lynehhurg and Danylle railroad COM
many. and for other purposes; to authorize the
same company to extend its railroad from Alex
andria to a point on the Potomac river oppo-
site or near to or above the cities OF Washing
ton or Georgetown, and toa uthorize the same
company to acquire and sell lands; to amend an
act to prescribe the times for holding the Cir
emit Courts of the State; to authorize and en-
mower the Council of the city Of Richmond to
increase the salaries of the judges of the CIR.
cult. Chancery, and Hastings Courts of said
citv and to amend the charter Of the town OF
The assessment bill was finally ordered to en-
prossment, and the Senate adjourned.
To the House of Delegates, Mr.. Poaguc OIL
fered a resolution. that whereas, it is understood
that the present Legislature will elect County
Judges. it is unwise and incxpedient for the
General Assembly to elect its own members to
the Office Of county judge.
Mr.. Riddlebarger moved to amend by adding
"and of circuir judge" which was agreed to,
and the resolution then adopted-ayes IS, noes
80. Mr. Nealc, of Alexandria, voted in the at
firmatve.
: Bills were introduced to amend the code in
relation to means Of enforcing recoverles OF
money, &C., aud to amend the act in relation to
working the roads in Loudoun county.
The bill to define the jurisdiction of the
County and Circuit Courts was taken up on the
motion to DISMISS when
Mr. Walker moved to strike out section
third and insert, 1.-THE County Courts shall have
no Jurisdiction of indictments for felony cases
oS''oA"
of unlawful entry or detalner.
MIR. Booker spoke IN favor of the bill, and
at the conclusion OF his remarks the House adj
iourned.
THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM.
Immediately after the passage of the oyster
bill the House proceeded to the consideration
of the two bills proposing change in in our ju-
dicial system The ma ority Of the Committee
80. no,,.t, &c Tn, hoy ranortn1 hill which
does away with the County Courts, virtually
making them Courts of Probate and Police
jurisdiction, and paying the judges four dollars
a day while actually engaged. The minority
of the committee favor the distncting OF coun-
ties, giving one judge three or four counties.
A large majority of the House seemed in favor
of the bill as reported by the majority of the
committee, but to-day the opponents OF any
change in the system, and the friends OF the
minority bill combined, and succeeded IN hav-
ing several amendments made to the majority
bill. one giving the County Judges concurrent
Jurisdiction with the Circuit Judges in cases IN
volvinp not more than $500. 1t looks now as If
the bill as reported from the majority Of the
committee would be defeated and that no
change will! be made in the judicial system.
The friends of districtng the counties admit
that they have no prospect Of passing their bill
It docs seem strange that the General Assem-
blv. should hesitate when by a change of the
system some $4,000 to SS0,U0Oa year could
be saved to tho State in the way of salaries,
besides relief from the expense OF so many
juries. ,...
CONVENTIONAL AMENDMENTS.
The Joint committee of the Legislature on
amendments to the Constitution, at Il meeting
last night, tabled resolution in relation to
holding BIENNIAL SESSIONS OF the Legislature also
a resolution to reduce the number of members
of the body. The committee further determined
| that it was inexpcdient TO require the payment
of a per capita tax OF two dollars as quailfica-
ton for all voters, or to change The mode OF
voting to the viva VICE system. The following
bill was agreed upon in relation to the times OF
meeting of the General Assembly:
BE It enncted, dc, That section of chapter
Is of the code Of Virginia, as amended by an
act approved November lst, 1871, be amended
and re-enactcd so as to read as follows: Section
|. The General Assembly shall meet on the
lst day of January, 1874, and every year there
after If the first day Of Janua,y of any year
should be Sunday then it shall meet on the
next day thereafter. It shall sit at the Capitol
in the city Of Richmond, but may adjourn to
any other place
This act shall be IN force from and after the
expiration of the present session.
OYSTER BILL.
The House Of Delegates, after a weeks dis
cusSion, has at length passed the bill providing
for a tax on oysters. The bill has been strip
ped of some Of its most objectionable fea-
lures, but it is doubtful whether more revenue
will be derived uuder the new than under the
old bill. Members from Eastern Virginia say the
bill will be very unpopular with their constltu-
ents, and may loose the Conservative party
some votes Wcarc compelled to raise revenue
from some where, so the Legislature had to run
the risk of making few Radical votes.
ASSESSMENT BILL.
The Senate is engaged on the assessment
bill, aud Senators have an opportunity to get
rid of little of their pcnt up eloluance. The
time of the Senate has BEEN to L great extent
taken up this session by Senator'S INDUCING IN
the pleasure of long Grafton, upon Insignificant
subjects. The most influential man who has
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