Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1894-03-16
TINsLEY & MORTON. Proprietors.
FRIDAY MORNING. MAR. I6, 1894.

FRIDAY MORNING., MAX. 10, 1894
THE WORK OF THE LEGISLATURE,
The legislature which has just adjourned
though the billiards were in the usual ma
jority, and though the exclusively local bill
statesmen labored under the usual deusion
that a failure to get through neighborhood
bills-which should have no place in State
legislation at all-would bring ON the de-
luge, vet had much to commend it. Not
withstanding the fact that they became
possessed of the knowledge early in
the session, that the State was do
ing business with an annual surplus
in her treasury Of 100000 clear,
they abstained from looting it, and the in
crease of appropriations over the last ses-
sion was not over $4,000. And Of that
increase one fourth went to the Blacksburg
College. the only farmers college in the
State, and another fourth went to Confed-
crate veterans, which was very commend
able. In addition to being economical, it
developed some coming men among the
new members, men like Randolph Harrison
of Lynchburg, and Eugene Withers of
Danville, and some others that we cannot
recall at this moment. The sudden leader
shin into which these men sprung-Harri-
son in opposition to the West Virginia
debt scheme and Withers on the eXtrava-
giant government of the State, showed that
the new brains Of Virginia are equal to the
old. Though the farmers were largely III
the majority in the membership OF both
houses. it seems to have had Il warm side
for the railroads which generally got
what they asked for without much trouble
Including the Richmond & Danville reor-
ganization, and the defeat of the "fellow
servant bill. Some of the local bills
which passed had charters which COW
cred the whole earth, and some ''saW milf
bills had railroad charters concealed in
them. Fortunately these last got no
further than the Governors mansion.
where Governor O 'Ferrall read and prompt
ly vetoed them.
We have as the session progressed, given
such full statements Of its work that there
is not great deal to give now, but what
there is, is more OF less important. The
Excise Boards devised to prevent the pay
ment of liquor licenses in coupons. were
abolished An act was passed providing
that no defects in any Indictment, present
ment OF other criminal accusation shall be
considered unless the same are presented
in writing to the attention of the trial court
before the jury is sworn. By another act
the Commonwealth S attorney is forbidden
to 60 into the grand jury room, but may
advise members of the jury us to their du-
ties in the presence Of the court.
Among other measures which have be
come laws and are of more than local in
terest is the Pitcher law, declaring guilty
of enlightenment any banker OF bank officer
who, knowing the insolvency of his bank,
receives deposits. The stealing of beef
cattle has been madea felony, like horse
stealing, a measure which is of special i'm
portance in this Valley. Hereafter,
law partners of judges shall not practice
law in the counties where the judge holds
court, and clerk or deputy clerk of a
county court cannot practice law in the
circuit court of his county, nor can clerk
OF deputy clerk of circuit court practice
law in his county court. Hereafter three
years. desertion will lie ground for absolute
divorce. All public officers may now have
their official bonds given by surety cOmpa-
MES. instead of having to run around for
fINha 1i0nnca tiV
hereafter for manufacturing an annual out
put of less than one hundred tons of ferti-
lizer will be So The tax of 800 will al
low IL manuf. cturer to register ten differ
ent brands, while for each additional brand
of fertilizer he will have topay an addition
al tax of ten dollars. Legislation has also
been secured for building and loan compa-
MES. One bill, which has been enacted,
prescribes their duties, powers, and limita-
tiO1s, and another, imposing license tax
ing to the capital invested. 1t is eStima-
ted that this measure will increase the lev
enues of the State from $50, 900 to $25, 1000.
Husband and wife will now he competent
to testify for or against each other in civil
cases, except suits to set aside conyeyances
from one to the other on the ground of
fraud, and divorce proceedings. Either
may testify in behalf of the other in Grim
inal proceedings. The right of aperson ac-
cused of a capital offence to elect to be tried
in the circuit court. was abolished. The
constitutional amendment, (necessitated by
the decision in the Mary Miller case,) pro-
viding for the trial Of minor offences with
out jury, again passed both houses and
will be submitted to the people next fall.
The exemptions from jury service were
largely diminished. The principal fight
was on the provision that contributing
members OF military organizations should
no longer be exempt, but they were finally
restored to their former immunity. Bank
presidents. directors and cashiers. however
have been cut off, but they will, no doubt,
secure their old privilege by becoming con
tributing members Of military organiza-
tions. An attempt at rape is ROW punish,
able by death at the discretion of the jury.
The unatic asylums Of the State will here
l.
als.''
A number OF valuable bills were lost eth
er by defeat, or ia the committees. The bill
to prohibit preference in mercantile assign
ments-the Randolph Harrison bill endors-
ed by the Staunton Chamber of Commerce
and other commercial bodies, was lost. The
Withers bill for calling constitutions
convention was lost in the House by two
votes. The Miller bill to limit the Local
option law to cities of 5000 and nnti.sr
passed the Senate by two to one and was
lost in the House by seven to one. Ths
woman physician bill was lost in the
House committee. The Fairfax liii fol
equaliZing lie taxation of land in the State
most important measure which wGujl