Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1894-01-12

| Now that our Virginia legislators have re-
assembled after the holidays and have gone
to work, we give some OF the new measures
that have been introduced in the two houses
and which will be considered
sTENOGRAPHERs FOR THE COURTS.
MI. SDeck of Augusta introduced bill
authorizing the appointment of official stem
ographers i'll the courts. The stenographers
are to be appointed for a term of four years,
and each circuit is to have one stenograpler,
who will be a sworn officer of the court He
shall be considered as the official stenoera-
pher OF all courts in the circuit except for
courts OF husting5 for cities having popula-
ton OF $1,000 or more inhabitants, which NAV
have separate court stenographer. He shall
be paid per diem compensation for each and
every day he is actually engaged, such sum as
the.presiding Judge may deem to be fair the
| same to be paid by the Treasurer of the coun-
| ty OF city, and the amount may be taxed
against the costs.
| PROPOSED CHANGE IN THE TAX ON FERTI-
IIZER.
| Mr.. koiner of Augusta has introduced in
the House bill to amend and re-enact IN
act entitled can Act to protect and advan ,e
agriculture by regulating the sale and puri y
of commercial fertilizers and the guaran. ee
and conditions upon which they are to be
sold, and fixing the penalties incurred for vi
olatng said act" The bill is the same one
introduced two years ago in the Senate. which
provides for change Of the present tax IT
| 500 year, to ten cents a ton The bill VIII i
did not pass during the last session is chang
ed only in few details of minor Importance
1t reduces the price to be paid to the commits
sioner for bags from twenty-five cents to ten
cents.
| DISCUSSION OF FIR. KOINER's FERTILIZER BILL.
| IN THE CoMMIrTEE-IT IS DECIDED
TO REPORT IT FAvoRABLY,
| The House Committee on Agriculture and
Mining held its first meeting on Tuesday
evening"
Mr.. sKoiner of Augusta, read the bill intro
duced by him in the House, which seeks to
| regulate the sale of fertilizers. The bill is
the same one which was two years ago intro
duced in the Senate by Mr.. Jas. W. Marshall
by request. The bill, which failed to pass
during the last session. has received only a
| few slight alterations.
Mr.. Koiner subsequently offered another
bill, which he wanted to substitute for the
| Mr.. S. W. Travers of Richmond city, who
represented the interests Of the manufactur-
ers of fertilizers, stated that there were some
radical differences in the two bills Mr.
Withrow thought the committee had no right
to consider bill which had not been intro
duced in the House. The committee, however.
thought differently, and the substitute bill
was read by Mr.. Charles b. Mann, the clerk
| of the committee.
Mr.. koiner stated that the main difference
between the existing law and his bill was to
change the present tax of $100 per year to ten
cents per tcn to be paid by the manufacture
ers. He claimed that the present law pre-
vented smaller manufacturers from compet-
ing with largo concerns. The bill introduced
by him was endorsed by the State Board of
Agriculture two years ago. but was introduce
ed too late to become law
MI Travers objected to the change of the
tax, Which would greatly inconvenience the
large manufacturers. The bill was not asked
for by the farmers, but by the small manu-
facturers. He thought il The farmer needed
protection against spurious materials, it was
only fair for all to contribute for police reg
ulation. He quoted from the report of the
| Commissioner of Agriculture. which express
ed his qualification at the increase of the fer
tilizer business during the past year. This
certainly did not show that the existing law
was bad one. He himself had up to few
years ago sold only about 400 tons a year,
while last year he had made about 5000 tons
II the tax was increased ths farmer would
have to suffer by it, for the additional tax
would naturally be paid by the farmer. He
had always advocated making good fertilizers
and sell them as cheaply as possible His in
terests were the farmers interests.
A bone dealer from Richmond spoke in
favor of the change proposed by the bill, and
MI. A. S. Lee, the patron of the bill introduce
ed by Mr.. Cabell, said that he would like to
see fertilizers free Of tax, but as long as they
were to be taxed he wanted to see the tax
eqnallzed. lie thought that if the ten-cent
tax was put on the article it would be paid
by the manufacturer and not by the farmer.
Mr.. Crenshaw spoke in the same line as Mr.
TraverS.
Col. Whitehead, the Commissioner of Agr-
culture, gave his. views on the matter. He
thought that it would be to the advantage OF
the farmers and of the State to have as many
fertilizers used as possible. He did not think
there was provision in the bill which would
hurt an honest manufacturer. He thought
the farmers were anxious for the analysis to
be made and more than % per cent. OF those
who bought fertilizers understood the analy-
sis of the article as printed on the labels.
After some further discussion the committee
resolved to report the bill favorably.
CUTTING DOWN THE LIST OF ExEMPTs FROM
JURY SERVICE.
In the House Mr.. WitherS of Danville,
introduced two bills looking to the making Of
more material for jury service. One bill in
creases the time for jury duty, making it 81
and 60 years. and not q and 60 years. as at
present The other does away with the fol-
lowing exemptions : Members of congress,
except when congress is actually in session;
all samplers and inspectors of tobacco all
pharmacists, all telegraph operators, except
i'll an office where only one is employed; all
millers, all bank officers, except cashiers;
all contributing members OF military COM
panies, all members Of any fire department
OF company, except volunteer Department. or
company, and all members or officers of such
companies who have served five years.
NO PARTNERS FOR JUDGES OR COMMON
WEALTH's ATTORNEYS.
Mr.. Logan has introduced in the House
bill to prevent judges and Commemorative
Attorneys from being associated as partners
with lawyers practicing in the courts Of this
Common wealth. The bill provides for the
severance CT any existing partnerships, and
further provides violation of the law shall
be deemed vacation of the Office of the party
SO violating, and in addition thereto shall
subject the officer and his partner to a fine of
not less than S. nor more than $40 for each
day such partnership may exist after the pas
sage OF the act.
WOMAN STUDENTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF
VIRGINIA
In the House. Mr.. Kicks introduced bill
In admit IN tho ITpi ra.Stv of " ;r.r;,,;o