Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1884-03-17
LEGISLATIVE.

Ia the State Senate on Saturday the
House amendments to the bill in relation 10
Mechanics liens were agreed to, as were also
the House amendments to the bill respect
ing wild game.
The Chair laid before the Senate COM
munication from the Governor in response
to resolution in reference to giving aid to
the Pocahontas sufferers in which he says
| that the superintendent Of the PUcahontas
mine advises him that s., 500w;ll be needed to
supply the immediate wants OF the families
fine victims in the late disaster.
| After debate resolution appropfiating
81 500 for the relief of the sufferers was re-
ferred to the Committee on Courts Of Justice
with instructions TO inquire into the power
Of the General Assembly to make such APP
pr opriation.
The bill to allow King George county to
take the vote of the people on the question
of liquor or no liquor was passed
The Railroad Commission bill was reject
ed, not receiving the constitutional majorl-
ty, as required.
! The Committee for Courts Of Justice pre-
scented report in the matter OF delinquent
collateral Inheritance tax, in which they
say: Undoubtedly the appointment Of spe-
cial collectors Of this tax, as the same was
made, is open to the gravest objections,
which are noticed in the Finance Commit
tees report. The law (Acts 1859, page
1920 requires the compensation OF these col
lectors TO be approved by the Governor be-
fore the service is rendered. This was not
done, but the Auditor alone made the np-
pointments. They were appointed for an
indefinite time, and no list whatever of tax
es or claims for collection was placed in the
hands of the appointees, and no list existed
anywhere whereby it could be known what
claims were held by them. No return OF
this delinquent tax was ever made TO the
Auditors Office or SO far as this committee
is informed TO any other office whatsoever.
The facts indicate the wisdom Of the act re.
Gently passed by the General Assembly abol-
ishing entirely the collateral Inheritance
tax and releasing the supposed claims OF
the Commonwealth arising under former
acts. The committee is further of opinion
that in point of law the tax was abolished
by the Acts OF 1882.
In the House of Delegates bill to lessen
| the danger Of travelling on railroads and 10
require them to erect suitable depots and to
fence in railroad beds was passed.
Bills were also passed to amend the Code
| in relation to collateral Inheritance tax aud
the mode of its collection to cede to the
| United States the right to establish Il gun
foundry in the State of Virginia, and giving
the consent of the State OF Virginia to the
acquisition by the Government Of the Uni
ted States of so much land rs may be ne
cessary for a public building at Newport
| News
The House adopted resolution appro-
priating $4,000 for the relief of the Poca-
hontas mine sufferers.
Mr.. Opie, of Augusta, moved to suspend
the rules and take up the bill to provide
colored trustees for colored schools.
Mr. Harris (colored) protested sin tue
name of colored people of the Common.
wealth of Virginia" against the passage OF
the bill. He said that he hoped that in tie
expiring hours Of the session the democratic
| party would not commit an act which woul,i
wellnigh destroy the perpetuity ofthe schools
for colored people, and thereby put it almost
beyond the power of his race to prepare
themselves for the duties of citizenship
He thought that if the democratic party,
in it's anxiety for power, had made an UNI
wise pledge, it was clear such pledge
would in ure and confuse the methods by
which nearly one-half of the citizens oil
Virginia We're being educated and know
Ing this pledge TO be an unwise one they
should, in the best interest Of all the people
recede from that pledge. The present bill
was Objectionable because it increased the
expenses in running separate school ma
chinery to an untold amount. The asser-
ton that this separation is demanded by the
colored people is not founded in fact, for
the colored people who ask for this separa-
ton are Is one to five hundred. He knew
that there were a goodly number of edu-
Gated colorcd men In the State, but they are
opposed 10 this move in the best Interests OF
all concerned.
After further discussion the House re-
fuse to suspend the rules and take up The
bill
The Senate bill to revise ard digest the
Code and statutes of Virginia was amended
by striking out the names Of T. c. Burks
James NJ. Matthews ard A. R. Blakey as the
revisers and inserting three persons by a
joint resolution of the General Assembly
and the bill ordered to its eugrossment.
The Senate bill establishing a home for
Southern disabled soldiers was made a
special order for to day.