The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-03-04
GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
THE SESSION TO BE EXTENDED
FOR THREE DAYS.

The Tax Bill Passed with Amendments
Meat Inspection Bill Eepealed-ralI
About the state Debt. Oysters and Othei
Matters-Sleht Sessions.
In the Senate yesterday the House bill
to provide for the assessment Of taxes on
persons. property. and incomes. and on H.
censes TO transact business, and imposing
taxes thereon for the support Of the govern
ment and public free schools, and 70 pay
the interest on the public debt, and pre-
scribing the mode Of obtaining licenses "a
sell wine, ardent spirits, malt liquors OF
any mixture thereof, in cases where court
certificate is required, was taken up as a
special order. Several amendments OF
more or less importance were adopted, and
the bin was passed practically IN the shape
in which it was reported from by the ri.
nance Committee.
The only important change made in the
recommendation Of the committee wac
with reference 10 the tax on express COM
panies. Instead Of a scaled rate Of taxa
ton the bill as passed taxes companies
operating on railroads exceeding one
thousand miles 500; companies doing basi
ness less than one thousand miles, $500.
The bill was communicated TO the House
VIRGINIA AND MARYLAND.
Mr.. subbs offered a joint resolution, a.
follows:
whereas the General Assembly Of Mary
land has forwarded 10 the General Assembly
Of Virginia an act passed by that Oody calling
20 our attention the sinking or vessel ia ths
Potomac owned by citizen OF MARYLAND
ano claiming that the sinking Of said vcsse
was done by the Virginia authorities, and
asking that Virginia should pay to said citi-
zen damages for said vessel; ana whereas sald
| act Of MARI land was received too lase IN tne
session 10 be considered; and whereas this
General Assembly has appointed commit.
tee on the boundary line between Maryland
and Virginia, and the question Of the bound
ary line may arise in considering the ques-
| tiOn Of damages for said vessel; and further
there t. now before the General Assembly OF
| Virginia Il claim asserted by & *. Lewis iOf
damages Occ.siOncd by the icieal OF lle ~"
| known a. "IlOs Island Flats ana as the
question Of the boundary line may arise Ia
| 1assing on the claim of &. X. Lewis, and the
| sinking Of said vessel IS claimed was done IN
| protecting the rights said Lewis had acquired
under q law passed by the General Assembly
/ OF Virginia: now, therefore.
| ]. BE IL enacted by the senate (the House
Of Delegates c0ncuuingl, That the joint COM
mittee appointed by the General Assembly
/ Of virginia 10 meet similar Committee from
| the Icgislature Of Maryland. besides tho
powers and duties conferred on them as sel
! forth in the Joint resolutions creating SAID
committee, shall, In addition thereto, con-
| slider the claim OF 3. H. Leach. asserted Ia an
act of the Maryland Legislature, which has
been presented 20 this Legislature. and said
act of MARYLAND Legislature Is referred q
said cOmmlttC p 10 reprrt , the next General
Assembly whether irginia IS liable for dam
1 60. I.|.t rrI
D. That the claim asserted by G. r. Levi.
! for damages. arising ON the repeal Of Tie
law leasing TO him Hog Island Flats" IN The
| Potomac river, be referred 10 the said com
| mittee also, 10 report to the next General As
sembly whether 4. r.. Lewis rs entitled L
any damages. ana If so, how much.
| 3 The committee Is authorized 70 make
/ these investigations during the recess Of the
General ASS mbly, and shall nave full power
10 send for persons and papers In order tt
make a thorough investigation Of said mat
/ tiers.
/ 4. The said committee shall not receive
any compensation for their services excep
/ The ordinary expenses IN executing the duile'
/ impO sed IA meeting The committee non
VI Maryland Legislature and in executing ihs
duties imposed ia these resolutions.
ON motionof Mr.. stubbs, the rule requir
| ing the resolution 10 lie over one day wa
suspended. and then, at the suggestion oil
Mr.. Moore, the subject was passed by.
Subsequently The resolution was taken up
Mr. Blackstone objected 10 the Levi.
claim.
MIR. Stubs agreed to strike this part ou
Of the resolution, after which 1t wa
adopted.
TAX on PISTOLS.
The bill TO require a special tax for the
sale Of pistols by Wholesale and retail wa,
taken up and passed.
RAILROAD STOCK.
Mr. Smo0t offered a Joint resolution au
| thOrizing the Board Of Public Works 10 sci
and transfer the stock and dividend Obliga
tions owned by the state in the Richmond
| Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad Com
pany. if, in their Judgment, such sale be bes
| for The interest of the Commonwealth.
Mes5rs. Turner, Nickbam, Barnes anl
| Mills vigorously opposed the proposition
declaring that il wOuIG be imp0litic to dis
pose of what has proven % be the state
most profitable investment, which fol
/ tWenty-three years has yielded seven-and-a
half pcr cent. Their idea was that such an
! important matter should not be considered
i'm the closing hours of the session.
Mcssrs. Smoot, Berry and Harrison spokl
I'm favor of the sale. which. they said. wa,
practically approved by the Finance Com
mittee.
After a heated discussion, a motion made
by Mr.. Wickham % pass by pre,ailed-ayes
Is noes, -.
CORRECTING THE REPORT.
Mr. Stubs rose 10 object 10 the report
recently made in the Alexandria Gazette
written by the Richmond correspondent
which he thought UNJUST 10 the Eastern
| Lunatic Asylum He had looked into the
matter and found the charge made 10 be a
big mistake.
Mr.. Moore subsequently arose and stated
that he found the report as published IN the
paper 10 have been inaccurate and no re-
lection on the asylum was intended by the
correspondent
Oh BOUNDARY LINZ.
The Chair appointed Messrs. Stubbs and
| EchOs as the committee ON the part of the
Senate under the Senate joint resolution
providing for the appointment of a special
| joint committee 90 meet a similar commit
Zee from the state Of Maryland relative %
the boundary lines between tine two states.
THREE DAYS.
The Senate concurred in the amendment
of the House TO the resolution extending the
present session Of the General Assembly.
ine amendment provided for three days.
The original resolution mentioned five days.
This causes the session 10 last until Thurs
day.
REGISTRATION OF VOTERS.
Dir. stubbs called up his bin 10 amend
section 50 of the Code of Virginia in rela-
ton 20 q change Of residence and registra-
ton of voters, and the bin was passed and
sent TO the House.
OYSTER INTERESTS.
Mr.. smoot offered the following, which
lies over one day:
Whereas The oyster interests Ofthis state
Is one Of lis most important Industries, Civ
ing employment 10 many Of her citizens haV-
ing large sums of money invested therein;
and
Whereas, III is reported that recent inyos-
legations have shown mn the oyster beds II
the state have been seriously iljuIed by
oyer-dicdeing, and are in danger Of being
destroyed at am carly day, unless checked by
remedial legislation, and
Whereas. Tue present Legislature has not
reliable and sufficient information upon the
subject, and 10 is important mat the next
General Assembly have laid before 10 the
question OF the extent OF the oyster beds and
of the oyster business Of the state and the
condition OF the same. and any such other in
formation as Will enable that body 10 devise
such laws for the immediate protection Of