Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1888-02-03
THE LEGISLATURE

There has been nothing of Importance
consummated by the legislature during
the past week. This, however. is not to the
discredit, but rather to the credit of that
body. There was really very little, in fact
hardly any general legislation to be trans
acted at this session. The present situation
of the state comfortable If let alone, but
easily made Uncomfortable by the adoption
of large appropriations calls for just as lit
tie as member can do. And this making
that little still less, would be virtue. A
proper railroad bill to give the people of
Commerce act; bills establishing Labor and
Immigration Bureaus, so drawn up as to
elude the professional office-seekers and to
be made practical by practical men; and a
bill for fxing the time to put an end to
funding under the Kiddleberger bill, is
about all there is of real Importance for
this legislature to do-except to 60 through
the form of re-enacting the old tax and
appropriation bills, and coming home.
Under the caption of Legislation Of Lo.
cal Interest,"" we give elsewhere what has
been done of peculiar interest to our PEG.
pie. Of wider interest, is an amendment
offered to the Mechanics Lien law, in ref
erence to a resolution adopted by the
Staunton Labor Convention, and which
amendment reads as follows:
S2477. Any sub-contractor, PARTISAN,
builder, mechanic, lumber-dealer, aud
Other person performing labor about or
furnishing materials for the construction,
repair, or improvement OF any building or
STRUCTURE, permanently annexed to the
freehold, in order to perfect the lien given
him by section 2475 shall comply with the
provisions OF the preceding section, and in
addition, give notice in writing to the
owner OF the property, or his agent. of
the amount ard character of his claim.
But the amount for which lien may be
perfected under this section shall not ex-
coed the amount in which the owner is in
debted to the general contractor at the
time the notice is given.
This act shall be in force on and after
May l, 1888.
The words in brackets constitute the
amendment to the old law.
In the case of the contested seat of Dele
gate McClintic of Bath, Allegheny and
Highland, the Committee on Privileges
and Elections has made two reports; one,
that he is not resident of Bath and there.
fore not entitled to hold his seat; and the
other that he is resident and legal repre-
sentative. Both reports were laid on the
table and ordered to be printed.
Mr.. Roberts introduced bill requiring
every person, firm Or corporation employ
ing more than five men on work that re-
quires more than six months for compile.
ton, and when the employees have been in
their employment for more than sixty
days-to give sixty days notice to en-
plOyees before suspending or discharging
them, or decreasing their wages. The
penalty of violation of the law to be the
forfeiture of sixty days. wages to the en-
ployee. The bill makes no provision that
the employee shall give the employer any
notice before leaving.
The building adjoining the penitentiary
containing the stock and machinery of the
convict-contract Joseph Davis Company
engaged in shoe making, was burned Tues.
day morning, at loss of $175. 600. In the
House of Delegates, Mr.. Williams offered
a resolution to now sell the whole State
prison. buildings and grounds, and remove
the penitentiary to some other part of the
State. The resolution was referred.