Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1884-03-18
General Assembly.
Sen ArE.-Monday. March 10th.

1 WA
panies to fence in the tracks of their roads
was taken up in the Senate and amended
| in several particulars. One of the amend
ments adopted required the railroad compa-
where fence laws do not exist; another ex-
empts such portions of the line as run
through wild lands from the operations of
the bill.
| The Senate concurred in the House
amendments to the tax bill. This amends
the present law in regard to licenses to
commercial drummers It fixes the price
of the license at $75 for every license taken
out by any house.
| HoUsE.-The bill to authorize the Sea-
board and Roanoke Railroad Company to
operate railroad and transportation lines
within this State and in other States came
up in the House of Delegates on it's pas
sage, when Mr.. Fitzpatrick, of Nelson,
moved to recommit the bill. He said the
company claimed an exemption from taxa
ton, and he indicated his intention to move
an amendment to the bill so as to require
the company to waive all right to exemp-
ton. The bill was recommitted by vote
Of 50 to 49,
| The House passed the Senate joint reso-
luton providing for final adjournment of
the Legislature on Saturday, the 18TH.
| SENATE.-Tuesday, March 11th
The Tax bill came up as the unfinished
business.
| The bill as amended reduces the tax on
drummers to $75 for each and every one.
The present tax is $3.50 for the first and
$50 for each other one employed by the
firm. Ship brokers' license was increased
from $40 to $50. The tax on merchants
81, 900 and less than $4,000; the tax at
present is 40 cents. A merchant who buys
$50, 900 worth of goods under the present
law pays 1902, and under the new law he
pays 1854. The tax on purchases of over
$780, 900 remains the same as before, 10
cents on the $1O0.
On motion of Mr. Edmonds, the license
tax on agents for the sale of fertilizers
whose sales be less than 100 tons was plac-
ed at $40 instead of $50. The bill as
amended was passed.
House bill to provide for the assessment
of the real estate of this State in this year
1885 and every fifth year thereafter, being
the special order of the day, was taken up
and passed.
The bill provides for the appointment
by the Auditor of Public Accounts of as
many assessors IN each county as there are
commissioners of the revenue in the county.
The pay of the assessors to be So per day
of actual service.
Mr.. E. L. Spillman was elected Judge
Of Fauquier county in the place of Judge
W. G. B. Shumate removed
The Electoral School Board bill came
back from the House of Delegates with
certain amendments. The bill was taken
up and the amendments agreed to.
Mr.. Atkinson called up House bill to in
corporate i. E. Lee Camp, Confederate
Veterans, and, on his motion, the bill was
read third time and passed.
The Senate then went into executive
session.
At the night session, the University bill
from the House, was taken up, and, on
motion Of Mr.. Atkinson, eighteen cars
Of age was struck out, and the section so
changed that the University Except the
professional sehools) shall be open free to
ali Virginia students over s'sixteen years
of age" who can pass the necessary exam
nation for admission-ayes Is; noes 10.
The bill (the Senate substituted for the
House billy was passed.
The House bill gave $500, 900 Gin two
years. and allowed them to borrow $40, 600.
This substitute gives $50, 900 lin two years)
and $4,000 additional for water-works
&e-total, $12o, 0oo-and permits no NOR.
ey to be borrowed hereafter without con.
sent of the Legislature.
The institution now gets $50, 900 a wear
hereafter it will get $40, 900 year.
HousE.-The Appropriation bill was re-
sumed, and Mr.. Anderson, of Tsockbridge,
earnestly and eloquently spoke in favor Of
the motion to reconsider the v ote by which
the House struck out the ap propriation to
pay the arrearages of interest due the
Washington and Lee University.
Mr.. Marshall of Craig, opposed the mo.
ton.
Pending the consdera ton of the matter
the chair was vacated
At the night session, the consideration OF
the appropriation bill was resumed. and
the motion to strike out the arrearages of
interest to the Washingt on and Lee Univer-
sity section was voted down.
An amendment appropriatng $500 to
employ assistance to the Commonwealth
attorney of Richmond i'll coupon cases was
inserted
The appropriation of $40, 900 for electric
lights at the Eastern Lunatic Asylum was
reinserted. The bill passed to its enpross-
ment.
The joint resolution providing for an ad-
JoHrnment sine die Saturday was tabled,
SENATE.-Wednesda March 18th.
The tax bill was received from the House
with concurrence in Senate amendments tr
merchants tax. They non-coneurred i,
Senate amendment raising the tax on in
surance companies from $500 to 1850, an,
the Senate receded from it's posatic N n
that point.
On minor points committee. of COME,
ence was asked.
The House returned t. 10 sHnro ,priatio
bill to the Senate with srnendme ITS. an
the Senate took it up.
The Senate conClurred in the anne, ldmer
authorizing the expenditure of 81 800 ft
counsel to assist the Commonwealth IS Al
torney of Richmond in coupon case S.
hor nlselculture the Senate T 70 pose
S4'oco; the House proposed $3.50 O. NJ
mccormick hoped the Senate would irsis
MI. holner took the other view. MY. M