Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-02-27
Two SESSIONS EACH.
''' Saa's and House Both Put In 4
Hard Days Work.
REPORT ON THE ROAD LAW.
submit Two Ellis and Ash
er ''me--rsses ON Boom Prop.
er's-wcst virrinia's Debt.

aay's oensral Assembly put n big
49,, work yesterday. Both branches
A., 'wo sessions and disposed of a grea,
aeai OF work. 49,
'"e senate was called 70 order a.
oS The Lieutenant Governor and
'o'Iowing bills were introduced;
- Mr' Mushbach: To amend the char
~. he Virginia. Washington and
Sfy'and Ferry Company.
~, "e' To incorporate the Virginia
"s'er and Sewerage Fabrication Com
ny @r. Morris; To make the term Of
oi''Ve OF the Superintendent Of the Peni.
'''S Tour years after January 1895.
same; To make the officers at the
Pen''ehtiary conservators of the peace.
NE same; TO scale the salaries OF the
pehi'entiary guards so as TO introduce
the merit system.
By same 0by requesO: To increase the
salaries OF the Superintendent and other
oiheers of the penitentiary.
By Mr.. Flood: For the relief of James
l. Calm. a disabled Confederate SOL
der
by same: For the relief OF Samuel r..
Hubbard. disabled Confederate sol
der.
BY same: For the relief Of Mrs. sanle
Wade. -----~--------
by Mr.. buchanan: To legaiizc certain
assessments Tor pavements in Bristol.
by same: To authorize the Board OF
Directors OF the Southwestern Asylum
10 release interest in certain spring
In Smythe county.
by MIR. Barnes (NI h: To authorize
the Board Of Supervisors OF Warwick
county TO increase the salary Of the
county judge
BY Mr.. Walton: To amend the charter
OF Luray
BY Mir Weis: To allow Il. r. Redwine.
late Treasurer Of Wise county. further
time TO collect taxes
THE PUBLIC ROADS.
Mr.. Berry. from the joint committee
OF the two houses appointed to consider
the question Of a general road-law. sub
United The following report:
The committee directed by joint reso-
luton to take IN consideration the sub
jeet Of public roads in Virginia have
found II impossible amid The closing
duties OF the legislative session. TO be
stow that time and inquiry which a
subject so important requires ana merits
at the hands Of the Legislature. At the
very threshold Of the subject the com
mittee was met with grave troubles and
great conflict Of opinion. and in the
limited time assigned 1t to prepare such
an important matter. IL finds il impos-
slble 20 overcome the former or 20 re-
concile the latter. that any new
general road-law could be framed which
would be more acceptable to the State
than the present The most serious trou-
tie which confronted the committee Is
one of finance. For counties with means
good and suitable road-law could easily
be framed. 'Ghe committee. however.
being aware Of the great financial de
preston in the country. the burdens which
now rest upon the farmers, and the
small prices they obtain for their pro-
ducts. has at this time. refrained from
proposing any hurrledly-prepared system
of general reform. anl contents itself
with soliciting the most available means
OF bridging the present emergency.
The Court of Appeals having decided
that the part OF the road-law which
compels the citizen To labor upon the
public roads without reward Is unconsti-
tutional. the only way 6or the present.
the counties have TO make NJ for the
loss of this labor is through their boards
of supervisors TO Increase the county
levy, II they feel so disposed. and for
the county authorities to see that those
sections OF the law not declared uncon-
stitutional are rigidy enforced and faith
fully executed
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE.
II Is proposed to retain the present
road-laws in force, and empower the
supervisors of each county, instead OF
the maximum-tax as now. to levy tax
not exceeding - cents on the 800 as
provided in the bill herewith submitted.
The increase of 6 cents on the SlOo.
but being levied and expended by local
authority. the people will have safe
guarantee of its tudicOus application.
Special road-laws now in force allow
ing only Is cents tax are to be amended
SO as to authorize the additional rate,
or any county operated under special
law. may adopt the provisions of this
general act by majority vote of its
superyIsors entered of record upon their
minute-book.
In view of the magnitude OF this SUBJ
feet, the financial difficulties which sur
round IT, and the complications attend
ing II, your committee asks that It be
empowered 10 sit after the adjournment
u the General Assembly. subject TO the
sail of the chairman. with the distinct
understanding that each member of the
rnmittee win pay his own expenses.
Respectfully,
TAYLOR BERRY,
w. a. WATSON.
Senate.
J. +. MASON.
J.. ID. PRETLOw,
II. Il. GRAVES
House.
THE BILLS PRESENTED.
AR BERRY then introduced two bills 4
~arrv into effect the recommendation<hat
the levy be increased from Ii to 20 cent.
on the 400, and the recommendation thai
spectal road-laws be amended so as to al
low the increase.
Tho first bin was passed. and the sec
ond referred TO the Committee On Counties
Cities, and Towns.
NE Mushbach's anti-gambling bill wa.
taken up out OF its order and ordered tC
euerossment after being so amended as 4
strike out unnecessary verbage.
OYSTER BILLS PASSED.
AZ 1 o'clock the Harnsberger bill. pro.
viding a more effective method OF collect.
ing the oyster-revenue, was called up and
passcd.
The second special order-the bin I,
make the oyster-survey final after foui
months. but 20 allow In that time the char
ter1ng OF newiy-disoovcred oyster-rocks OF
areas of twenty-five acres In bays AMI
rivers and ten acres I'm creeks-was called
The compromise amendment exempting
from ''the newly discovered area" proviso
areas outside OF the survey taken up prior
20 the act OF February Is. 1872. and now in
litigation. was agreed TO. and the bill. as
smended. passed.
BOARD OF EQUALIZATION.
When the third special order-Mr Fair
fax's bill for the creation OF board OF
equalization Of taxcs-came up Mr.
Watts took the floor and spoke briefly IN
favor OF the bill He said that In his
opinion the bin was not drastic enough
He believed that II the bill should be
\ passed II would add thousands OF dollars
70 the tax-lists IN his section.
Mr.. 81. Clair said the Senator from Lou
doun was mistaken az TO the amount OF
land OF the Southwestern Improvement