Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1892-02-26
T.apislativa SUMMARY.

80 NMA 1iOucOo ldot WIN Htt'oSN ~ JNihe
resolution proposing to amend the con-
stltu.ion SO as to permit justices of the
peace to try misdemeanors. The legis-
lation is for the purpose of remedying the
defects in the law in this respect revealed
by the recent decision of the Sureme
Court of Appeals in the Mary Miller case
from Rockingham county.
The democratic legislative caucus, by
decided vote. determined not to pass
the bill before the House requiring the
railroads in this State TO provide separate
coaches for white and cOlored passengers
The debt bill, carrying ont the terms
agreed upon between the Virginia debt
commission and the O,cOtt committee OF
New York, is now law. The funding
under the new settlement Will commence
az soon as the new bonds can be printed
and the other arrangements made for TINS
work.
The Hou.e passed Senate bill retiring
s.. 500. 900 bonds held by the educational
institutions of the State, and providing
for issuing therefor redeemable certifi-
cafes. Some of the bonds of these colleges
bear six Ter cent. interest. The certlh
Gates will carry with them the same IN
terest borne by the bonds which they are
TO retire. This completes the legislative
wo,k looking to the settlement OF VIZ
rinia's financial troubles, which were for
so many years source of annoyance 10
the people of the State.
The Senate finance committee reported
favorably the bill apprOprating S3O,OOO
annually to the Lee Camp Confederate
Soldiers Home. This is made conditional
upon an agreement of that institution to
surrender its property to the State not
later than % years from this time. The
appropriation is made upon the basis oil
$50 for each inmate of the home.
Mr.. Fentress, of Portsmouth, intro
duced bill in the House defining the
qualifications of telegraph operators en-
ployed by railroad companies III trans
hitting messages about the movement OF
trains. This measure proposed that the
reoulrements of these shall be one years
experience, and that they shall be ex-
amined by the superintendent or train
masters. The act is not to apply to any
operator under sixteen years of age now
EMPLOYED in any of the telegraph offices
of this State.
The bills for the reduction of criminal
EXPENSES were taken up, last week, and
Mr.. Blackstone called for the bill to pro-
vide Tor the waiver of the right to trial
by Jury. This was amended so as to
provide that any person accused OF any
''misdemeanor" may waive this right, and
that the waivers consent shall be entered
on the record or noted on the warrant,
and that the court or justice may try such
offence. The bill was passed.
The feature of Saturdays session IN the
Senate was the report of the committee
on pullic institutions and education
with regard to the charges of Senator
Flood against Hon. John L. Massey,
Superintendent of public instruction.
Senator Flood was not IN his seat when
the report was read and on account OF
his absence it was laid on the table. Mr.
Massey was IN the chamber and occupied
a seat near the presiding officer. lie
called Mr. Gordon to him and whispered
something as soon as the clerk bad finish
ed reading the report, and MT Gordon
immediately moved that the rules be sus-
pended and Mr.. Massey allowed to ad-
dress the body. Objection was made on
account of Mr. Floods absence, and the
motion was Withdrawn. The following
is what the committee says in substance; ;
As to the charge that the S5UO appro-
priated to pay the travelling expenses
was intended to cover the expenses Of at
tending meetings of the board of public
institutions. of which the perlntendent
is an ex-officio member, that they are
of the opInlon that the funds cannot
be used for that purpose, as they are APP
propriated to pay his travell ng expenses
while engaged in the duties of bis Office
The officer is not required, in the dis
charge of his duties as superintendent OF
public instruction, to attend the meeting
of the boards OF the several educational
institutions, but does so in accordance
with statutes making him member OF
such boards. The committee are OF the
opinion that the manner in which this
mcney has been drawn, while in accord
ance with precedent, is not IN con- ormlty
with the spirit or intent of the law. 1t
has been the custom to draw this money
in stated instalments Of 500 each. The
law SAYS the superintendent shall not re-
ceive a sum exceeding $500 in any one
year for travelling expenses, and yet 1t
has been the custom for years IN this
Office TO draw the exact amount. The
committee think an itemiZcd statement
shonld he submitted when this money is
drawn from the treasury,
With regard to Mr.. Massey having
gotten ont of the treasury OF the Agrlcul-
tural and Mechanical college money that
under no construction of the law he was
entitled to. the committee quotes from the
code, which roads: "Such reasonable
expenses as the visitor may Incur" What
is meant by reasonable expenses" the
committee think, is expenses actually
paid out in going from the residence OF
the member to the institution and re-
therefrom, and his expenses while
at the institution. Taking this view of
il the committee thinks Mr.. Massey did
wrong in making that Alabama charge
They think he could only charge the eX
nenses he would have incurred from his
Office in Richmond, which is his official
residence, 10 and from the place of meet !
ing. After reviewing the testimony the
committee find that 1t has been the GUS
tom of the Blascksbnrg visitors to render
their accounts for expenses and they have
been paid without question, and Mt |
Massey considered himself justified i'll
doing as he did from his construction of
the law and from presidents. The COM
mittee conclude their report by recon-
mending a bill making uniform law as
TO the expenses of boards of visitors of
educational Institutions. The bill pro-
yides that only the actual expenses in
Cured shall be paid.
The Senate Monday adopted the report
of the committee on public institutions
with regard to the charges against Super |
Of Public Instruction John Z.
Massey. This report in effect says that
Mr. Massey's conduct in draw Ing mileage
for his Alabama trip was improper, but
tine committee b, lieve that he did so COM
The legislative session vii expire by
limitation on next Monday at noon. 1t
nav be that the lawmakers may remain a
few days longer if any bills of importance
are on the calendar at that time. Much
work remains to be done this week and
both houses will have hot sessions each
lay. There is not the slightest chance of
the passage Of Mr.. Kent's bill, but that
measure is being discussed daily. The
patron Tuesday concluded his speech, be-