Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-02-16
THE PIL0TAGE LAWS.
HOUSE OF DgLEGArEs ORDERS The BILL
TO BHaaossMEkT.
Discussion OF the State Commerce Bill in
the House Insurance Law En-
crossed in the Senate.

crossed In the senats.
The Senate was called to order at l.
o'clock NJ. yesterday by Lieutenant
Governor John T.. Massey. No prayer
The bill passed by the Hotise on Tues
day to protect rabbits or hares in the
counties OF Hanover and Henrico was
placed on the calendar.
DELINQUENT OFFICERS.
The President laid before the Senate a
communication from the Auditor OF Pub.
lie Accounts i'll response to q resolution
calling for information rs TO officers in
debted to the Commonwealth. Laid on
the table and ordered to be printed. The
batch of manuscript, which covers the
period from 1871 to 1885, inclusive,
weighs about two pounds
COMMITTEES WORK.
Among the bills reported from COM
mittees were the following To provide
n system of pleading in actions at com.
mon law adversely; TO prescribe rule
of evidence in certain cases adversely ;
to further define the duties and enlarge
the powers Of the Commissioner OF Agri-
culture, with amendments for the pro-
lection of farmers against spurious and
worthless fertilizers, with amendments ;
to prevent frauds upon travellers.
This last-named bill was on motion Of
Mr.. Edmunds recommitted, as It's oppo-
nents desired further hearing.
On motion Of Mr.. Hurt the House
bill authorizing a vote on the question
of the removal Of the court house Of said
county was recommitted to the Commit
tee on County, City, and Town Organiza-
tons.
BILLS PRESENTED.
BY Mr. Cornett For the relief of Will
liam Gore, with accompanying petition
By Mr.. Ellyson TO give effect to sec
ton of Article VI. of the Constitution Of
Virginia. This is the bill adopted by
the Bar Association requiring the opin-
ions of the Supreme Court, when deli
vercd, to be filed and preserved.
BY Mr.. Harrison: 70 repeal an act
approved March u, 1884, to equalize
the taxes for the support of public free
schools in the municipal school district
Of Bedford county.
By Mr.. Stubbs For the relief of the
sureties of c. ]. Hill, late treasurer of
King William county.
By Mr.. Gillespie To incorporate the
Jacksonville Street Railway Company.
BY Mr.. Harrison To amend sections
3 and 6 Of an act to incorporate the Mar
tinsburg and Potomac Railroad Compa-
ny, approved July 9, 1870.
SENATE BILLS PASSED.
To amend the charter of the Sherwood
Female Seminary, Of Stanton.
For the relief of Lillias ID. Womack,
lunatic. IWomack is an inmate of the
Western Lunatic Asylum from Pittsyl-
vania county. He has been there for
twenty-seven years, has paid over three
thousand dollars to the institution, and
suit against him for one thousand eight
hundred dollars more is now pending in
the court Of Pittsylyania county. The
bill simply makes him free patient for
the remainder OF his life.
To incorporate the Virginia and North
Carolina Construction Company.
TO incorporate the Roanoke and
Franklin Turnpike Company.
TAX on VESSEL PROPERTY.
Mr. Stubs, under a suspension OF the
rules, called mp out of its order Senate
bill to amend the act TO provide for the
of taxes on persons, property,
&c, aud imposing taxes thereon, &c.
The amendment provides for assessing
for taxes boats or water craft under five
tons burden aud the aggregate value
thereof the number of all ships, barges,
boats, &c, of five tons burden and over,
sc.
While speaking nfavor Of the amend
ment Mr.. Stubs said that there are
eleven vessels from the city Of Richmond
valued at from S25, 600 to $50, 900 which
are not listed for taxation, and there are
about 1000 water craft now sailing on
the high seas and the waters of Virginia
in value from 800 to S25, 900,
aggregating in value about y, 100000,
upon which not one cent of revenue is
derived by the State of Virginia. He
wanted the owners of this property
brought up and made to pay taxes on
this property.
Mr.. Blackstone stated that there is
some doubt as to whether such law Is
and that subcommittee
had been appointed by the Committee
for Courts of Justice to inquire into its
cOnstitutionality, which committee will
meet this morning at the library of
the Court of Appeals to examine into the
matter. He was perfectly willing, how
ever, that the committee be discharged.
Mr.. Stubs pressed the matter and the
bill was ordered to its engrossment.
TWO SESSIONS A DAY.
On motion of Mr.. Rhea it was
Resoired, That on and after to-day
the Senate will meet at IL A. NJ. and
continue in session until 2 p. NJ, taking
a recess from then to 4 y. NJ.
Mr.. Koiner had just before this drawn
the attention of the Senate to the impor
lance of either acting on the important
measures OH the calendar or of allowing
their patrons to withdraw them and have
them introduced in the House.
FIRE INSURANCE.
Soon after ] o'clock Mr.. Bib called
for the special order, which was the fol-
lowing bill introduced by Mr.. Edmunds,
of Halifax:
l. BE IL enacted by the General as
semJyo Of Virginia, That it shall not be
lawful for any insurance company doing
business in this State to insert in any
policy of insurance on property, real or
personal, in this State, against loss by
fire or other casualty, any clause, under
taking, or provision to the effect that in
Ease of loss the said insurance company
shall be liable for less than the actual
oss sustained to the amount of the in
,urance thereon actually paid for by the
insurers. All such clauses, provisions.
)r undertaking in any such policy, or
otherwise in conflict with this act, shall