Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1892-01-15
legislative Summary.

Delegate Loney introduced bill max
ing it a mIsdemeanor, punishable by a
fiue of not less than 500 nor moro than
$500, for any corporation to blacklist dis
charged employees in order to prevent
them from securing work elsewhere. The
bill empowers any one who may be black
listed to recover damages in civil action.
Mr.. Gibson, of Culpeper, presented a
bill to amend the code so as to allow
Judges and clerks of election one dollar
per day for their services and to pay the
Judge who takes the poll books to the
county clerk ten cents per mile for each
mile travelled.
Mr.. Phil Brown introduced bill to in
crease the salary of the surgeon of the
penitentiary from 5000 to $l200 per
annum.
Mr. Gibson in the house presented bill
to regulate private banking houses and
firms. 1t provides that when such in
situations are started a sworn statement
shall be made to the auditor of public ac-
counts as to the capital available, prop
erty liable for debts, etc. Quarterly re-
ports, sworn TO, shall be made to the
auditor. The bill also provides for a
bank inspector to be appointed by the
governor. The official is to receive $40
per day for each day employed and
travelling expenses.
A bill was introduced by Delegate Phil
Brown to tax each parlOr car, buffet car
and sleeping car that passes through the
state $40.
By vote of 81 to 2 the House of Dele
gates passed a bill appropriating $4,000
for the capstOne of a Confederate soldiers
and sailors monument to be erected IN
Richmond.
A bill was introduced in the house by
Nr. Nolen, of Patrick, to make stealing
from the person less than s. petit larceny
and punishable by stripes-not more than
thirty-nine llcks for any one offense.
Mr.. Philip Brown, of Botetourt, intro
duced bill in the House intended to pre-
vent drunkenness. 1t makes 1t an offense,
punishable by a fine for any barkeeper or
saloon-keeper to sell liquor to a man
already under its influence. Under It's
influence is defined to mean the man who
staggers.
The most interesting discussion the
House has had this session was elected by
the bill introduced By Mr. Koiner, of
Augusta, providing that female physicians
should have charge of the females wards
of the lunatic asylums in this State. Mr..
Koiner, who lives near the Stanton
asylum, made a strong speech in advocacy
of his measure.
Mr.. Saunders, of franklin, spoke on
the same side. He insisted that Virginia
was entirely too conservative in these
matters. he claimed that the time had
come when woman should be given a
show in professions. He pointed out the
fact that at Cambridge last year one of
the gentle sex carried off the highest
bonors for mathematical proficiency.
Speaker Cardwel opposed the measure,
both upon the ground that it IS imrrac
ticable and violated the sentiment and |
time honOred custom of the Old Dominion. |
In the Senate Wednesday Mr.. Nc
Donald, of Lynchburg, presented reso-
luton directing the Committee on Priv
ileges and Elections to investigate the
subject of the Australian ballot system, |
and if in their opinion they deem it wise
and expedient that they report bill en-
grating the system on the election laws |
of Virginia. The preamble to the reso-
lution sets forth that this eystem has been
adopted IN many other States, and does |
away, 1t IS claimed, with many evils.
guaranteeing independence in voting
The resolution was adopted.
10 advocating his resolution, Mr.. Nc |
Donald said that this ballot reform had |
been one of the surprises of the age
few years ago in Australia it |
spread to England, thence TO Canada, and |
now thirty three States Of this Union had |
adopted it, and the next President of the
United States would be elected under ITS |
PROVISIONS 1t had given perfect satlsfac-
ton wherever it had been tried, guaran-
teed absolute independence to the voter,
the bummers and strikers 10
he rear. and seemed to be the very thing
needed to perfect the elective system OF
he country.
The House Wednesday, by o practically
unanimous vote, passed the bill requiring
he appointment of female physicians to
.ttend the women's wards of lunatic !,
Isylums. fMr. Munford, Of Richmond,
made an earnest and strong speech ia
avor of the measure. In concluding his
emarks, the member from Richmond
aid:
81 want the poor women in our asylums
o have wOman's ear and heart, instinct
nd sympathy, into which to tell the
tory of their woes. honor the medical
profession and the noble men who fill its
anks, but a woman Is the proper person
o whom these inmates should be allowed
O po.v |,