Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-01-24
GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
REMARKS IN rHs HOUSE ON TIE LOVE
oVERBY CONTEST.
wiliiamsburg's Petition-staunton's Char
ter-Gams taws-Road Laws
Convict Labor.

wiliiamsburg's Petition--staunton's Char
ter--Gams taws-Road Laws
Convict Labor.
.--------------
The General Assembly having on Fri
day last adjourned over until yesterday,
many of the members of both branches
went home TO spend the two days with
their families and friends. The conse-
ouence was that the attendance in both
houses at tue hour OF meeting yester-
day was small.
The Senate was called to order at II
o'clock NJ. by President pro tenn. John
l.. Hurt. Prayer by Rev. S. =. Lambeth,
of tho Broad-Street Methodist church.
on THE CALENDAR.
On motion OF Mr.. Hodges the bill
passed by the House on Friday TO nu-
thorize the Council Of the city of Ports
mouth to issue bonds for the purpose Of
retiring and refunding certain outstand-
ing bonds of said city was placed on the
calendar.
Mr.. Gordon endeavored to have placed
on the calendar House bill authorizing
the Board Of Visitors of the University
TO commute gifts, devises. and requests
to said University taking effect in future,
and TO settle questions arising in rela-
ton thereto by arbitration or suit.
Messrs. Heaton and Berry thought the
bill had better be referred to the Com
mittee for Courts of Justice, and the
bill took this course.
SENATE BILLS REPORTED.
To incorporate the Pocahontas Towing
and transportation Company to lncor-
porate the Big-Stone Gap Water Com
paDy.
INSANE CRIMINALS.
On motion OF Mr.. Jones:
ResotUcd, That the Committee for
Courts Of Justice be instructed TO inquire
as to the propriety Of providing by law
that any person charged with crime and
tried in any of the courts Of the Com
monwealth who shall be acquitted on the
ground of insanity shall be confined in
one of the lunatic asylums for period
of not less than ten years.
ELLIS PRESENTED AND REFERRED.
By Mr.. Ellyson: To amend and re-
enact section 13 of the charter Of the
city of Manchester.
By Mr.. Dudley: TO amend sections
A, 40, and SO, chapter So, Code OF 1873,
for the protection of farmers against spu-
rious and worthless fertilizers.
Bv same To amend and re-enact sec
ton 4, paragraph 2, act of March 20.
1877. to further define the duties and
powers of the Commissioner of Agricul-
ture.
By Mr.. Gillespie To amend sections
2947 and 2948 Revised Code Of 1897,
fixing the time in which action shall he
brought on evidences Of debt, official
bonds, &c.
By Mr.. Harrison: TO provide sys-
TEN of pleading i'll actions at common
law.
By Mr.. Acker: To secure protection
to the cemetery and property of the New
Erection Memorial Association in the
comfy OF Rockingham.
BY Mr. Cornett Bill and petition for
the relief OF Orville Anderson, of Gray
son county.
BY Mr. Acker Petition of citizens Of
Fairfax county relative to the age OF con-
sent.
WILLIAMSBURG.
By Mr.. Stubs: Petition of citizens
Of Williamsburg asking for the passage
of Senate Bill No. 149. The memorial,
which is signed by over fifty tax payers
of that city, sets forth the fact that the
petitioners have for a long time been
suffering from an unjust and onerous
taxation imposed for city purposes
whereby the whole burden of city gov
eminent is placed upon property, while
the whole mercantile business Of the
town, including retail liquor dealers and
bar-rooms, is exempt from taxation that
there are now eight liquor merchants,
thirty-one retail storekeepers, and two
hotels, not one of whom pays q special
license tax, while a license tax is re-
Quired on wagons, carts, and even wheel
| barrows engaged i'll carrier business.
The bill referred to amends section 507,
Acts 1SS3-'S4, approved March II. 1884,
so as to read as follows:
as 6. The powers and authority OF
the said council shall be such as are
mentioned and prescribed by section 81,
chapter 81, Code of Virginia, 1873
except said council shall not levy g
greater tax ON property for corporate
purposes than at the rate of 40 cents on
the 300 value of real and personal pro
perry within the corporate limits; 81
cents of which shall be for general pur-
poses and 10 cents for schools !; and il
shall be the duty of said council tC
require and impose a special license tax
on all merchants and liquor dealers doing
business in said city equal to at least one
half the amount of license tax required
by the State for said businesses"
PoUND-NETs.
Mr.. Stubs presented u petition of {
large number of citizens of Middlese,
county asking that the present laws il
regard to the taking of fish be so amend
ed as to permit the pound-nets to be
used in the Rappahannock river for the
purpose Of catching fish to be used as
food FIR man, thus enabling the people
OF that section to obtain a good and
wholesome food at low prices The pa
per says: "Our rivers are teeming with
fish which we believe God has provided
for mans sustenance, and we believe il
to be in harmony with the progress of the
age to allow the use Of the pound-net by
which they can be most easily taken, thus
enabling a few skilful fishermen to sup
ply the many consumers engaged in
other pursuits.
Referred.
VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA coSsTRUC-
TON COMPANY.
! BY Mr.. Houston; To incorporate the
Virginia and North Carolina Construc
ton Company. The corporators are ID.
L. Houston, II. S. Trout, p. L. Terry,
e. Ii. Stewart. j. NJ. Gambill, 5. +. Ty-
Ter, G. j. Aragin, s. A. Crozen, II. G..
! Lester. John ID. Spencer, John A. Brown,