Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1892-02-19
The Legislature for the Week.

The most important feature of the legisla-
ture during the week has been the discussion
Of the Kent bill, a summary of which we give
elsewhere. We give below what important
measures have been introduced or passed
those Of peculiarly local interest are given in
our local columns:
FIXING THE CATTLE MARKET DAYS AT
RICHMOND.
Mr.. A. f. Withrow of Bath, presented a
bill in the House fXings Wednesdays and
Thursdays Of each week for the sale Of beef
cattle in Richmond and within one mile
thereof. The sale of any other kind Of cattle
may be made within the same limits on any
other day in the week except Sundays. The
bill prohibits the sale of any cattle ON Sun
days. No agreement for such sales can be
made on that day. The fine is from $50 to $500.
TO PROHIBIT STATE OFFICIALS FROM USING
PASSES.
Mr.. Thos. F. Goode of Mecklenburg. intro
duced bill in the House to prohibit the use
of free passes Oh railroad and other transpor-
tation lines by State officials. The bill makes
it misdemeanor for any member of the Vlr-
ginia Senate, House of Delegates, any county,
circuit, city OF State judge, or any other State
official, to use free passes OF tickets or accept
free transportation in any way from any rail
road, steamboat, or any other transportation
line within the State Of Virginia. The pen
atty for violation of the above clause shall
be a fine of $780, to be recovered on an indct-
ment by grand jury in any of the courts Of
the State, said fine to be paid to the county or
city treasurer where the case is tried, and by
him to the State Treasurer. The preamble to
to the bill sets forth that it is generally be-
lieved by the people of Virginia that most of
their legislators and judges use free passes.
RAILROAD LEGISLATION, sO-CALLED.
A bill was introduced regarding railroads
and the storage of freight, which is precisely
similar to the law now on the statute books
of the State, and which is not enforced. and
will not be unless Railroad Commission is
established.
The committee on Roads of the House,
the same committee that rejected the Kent
bill by to 8, reported "favorably" a bill to
prevent railroads from charging more for a
shorter than a longer haul. 1t is already a
law on the statute books of the State, and is
not enforced, nor will the new one be without
Railroad Commission.
The same committee reported favorably a
bill in relation to the powers and duties of the
present Railroad Commissioner, to afford per-
sons having causes of complaint San easy and
speedy remedy" This is the same bill pub
lished in the VINDICCAToR last week as in
troduced by Mr.. Mason of King George. 1t
in no way makes remedy speedy and easy
and simply gives the present Railroad Com
~ 4l,o Md Of D,,l,1 80
Works as the law now is) the power to take a
railroad company into court and enter on an
endless litigation with it there. The bill simply
undertakes another way of chow not to do it,
however sincere the author of it may be in
Offering it.
THE DEBT SETTLEMENT
The discussion on the debt settlement bill
reported by the Finance Committee of the
House on Monday, was opened in that body
GA Monday by MI. Munford of Richmond, in
favor of it. He was followed ON Tuesday by
Mr.. Saunders in opposition to it, and MI
Williams of Augusta, in favor of it. Mr.
Williams said the bill should be passed as it
came from the committee, and his remarks
we're loudly applauded. The temper of the
House points very strongly to the passage of
the bill.
The Olcott Debt Settlement bill was passed
in the Senate.
The House Finance Committee has reported
favorably bill giving $4,000 to represent
Virginia at the Worlds Fair
Among the new measures introduced was
one to amend the divorce law SO as to change
the length of time Of abandonment to form
cause for separation. from five to two years.
The session of the legislature will expire in
about ten days.