Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1894-02-02
LEGISLATIVE.

TO INFORM the SENATE ny w nav cunning
the Board of Agriculture has been al
lowed to draw and disburse the revenue
derived from the tax on fertilizers in
addition to the sum of $4,000 appro-
priated by chapter 433, acts lSSI-SS.
Mr.. Miller's bill eXempting cities and
towns of over 5000 inhabitants from
the operations of the local-option law,
which was ordered to its engrossment
on Wednesday, was reconsidered, in
order that necessary amendment
might be adopted, and this being done
the bill was re-engrossed.
Mr.. Watts offered Joint resolution
requesting the five gentlemen recently
elected to constitute the new Court of
Appeals to prepare and draft new
for this State, containing
such changes and amendments of the
present constitution as they may deem
wise and proper This commission is
to report as soon as possible to the
Governor, who shall transmit the same
to the General Assembly at the present
or an extra session and the Governor is
also requested to state his views upon
the proposed changes. The resolution
which was referred to the committee on
courts of justice, suggests the appro-
priation of s., 500 to pay the five gen.
tlemen for their services.
Senator Wickham submitted o joint
resolution to provide for the settlement
with West Virginia of her portion Of
the debt of the undivided Virginia. The
resolution provides for commission OF
five, one Of whom shall be the present
chairman of the Senate finance commit
tee, one the chairman Of the House fl
nance committee, one to be chosen
from the Senate, one from the House
and one to be appointed by the Gov
ernor. The commission is authorized
to negotiate with West Virginia and to
conclude with the proper authorities
such settlement and adjustment of the
proportion of the original debt proper
as is to be borne by West Virginia. In
case no such settlement and adjustment
can be arrived at by amicable negotia-
tiops. the commission may institute suit
in the Supreme Court of the United
States in the name of Virginia against
West Virginia to determine the question
at issue. The resolution was referred
to the finance committee.
The bill introduced by Mr.. Jackson
to change the elections laws was re-
jected.
Mr.. Maynard introduced bill TO
create the office of immigration Com
missioner of Virginia.
Mr.. Lovenstein introduced a bill to
repeal the license tax Of so on book
agents.
AHouse bill was reported, the object OF
which is to prevent those who have
paid fees on court charters from bring
ing suit against the State for recovering
the amounts thus paid. Mr.. Jones
moved to pass by. He denied that this
money did not belong to the State as ii
was the purpose oftheLegislature to tax
court charters and the omission was an
inadvertence. Mr., Mushbach said he
was funder and believed that Virginia
should pay her just debts. The Su-
preme Court had decided that such fees
had been illegally collected, and, there
fore. the money amounting to SOS, OOO)
should be refunded. Virginia, he said,
had gone as far as she should go in the
way of REIMBURSEMENT" The motion
to pass by prevailed.
The Senate passed House bill to
amend the code in relation to when
railroads are liable for injury done to
live stock.
In the House bills were offered to ex-
expt disabled confederate soldiers from
the payment of license taxes to practice
medicine and dentistry; to enlarge the
staff of each regiment and to abolish
the Office of assistant inspector-general;
to allow insane patients to be transfer
red from one asylum to another.
The bill to enlarge the powers of the
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty
to Animals, which has been before the
House for about week, was ordered
to its engrossment.
Mr.. Pretlow introduced bill to en-
courage the cultivation of oysters on
those grounds which are now unfit for
s1ch cultivation and which can only be
put into condition favorable for the
growth of the oyster by the expendi-
ture Of large amount of money. Mr.
Pretlow's idea is to give these grounds,
which are composed of salt marshes
and mud flats, in fee simple to persons
who will enclose them and undertake
to raise and cultivate oysters on them.
The State derives no benefit from these
grounds at present, but under Mr..
Pretlow's bill, as soon as they are oc-
cupied, they are to be assessed and
taxed in the same manner as agricul-
tural land in the State.
The House passed the House bills, to
amend the code making provision for
opening court, or for its sitting when
it fails to meet on the day appointed or
to which it adjourns.
To amend the code in relation to GER
tain officers forbidden to practice law
in particular courts.
Amending the code in relation to
house breaking with intent to commit
murder, rape, arson, or robbery, and
fixing the punishment at not less than
three nor more than ten years.
The House committee on finance
made favorable report on the bills to
establish new courts in Richmond and
Norfolk. The bills having also received
the approval of the committee on
courts of justice are almost certain of
passage.
The House committee on privileges
and elections had under consideration
Yesterday morning the bills offered by
Mr.. Buford, of Brunswick, looking to
reform in the election law A vote was
not reached