Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1894-02-26
LEGISLATIVE.

O more equitable assessment of taxable
property in the State came up in the
Senate on Saturday. Mr.. Walton
spoke against the bill and contended
that the plan was expensive without
being practicable and that the people
of Virginia believed in home rule and
would resent any attempt on the part
OF the State thus to interfere with their
local affairs. Mr.. Fairfax made a strong
argument in favor of his bill and said it
was a bill to catch the fellow who did
not list his property. Mr.. Hay thought
that the bill was in fact q bill to increase
taxation. Mr.. Fairfax replied that that
was true, but he proposed to accom-
plish this by taxing property that had
hitherto escaped. Ifhis bill was passed,
he honestly believed that the rate of
taxation would be decreased. The
question went over till to-day.
MIR. Parrish offered a bill to create a
Board ofImmigration to be composed of
the Governor, the Acknowledgement
and the Secretary of the Common
wealth, and.a agent of the bureau to
be appointed by the Governor and to
be known as the commissioner of immi-
grafton.
Mr.. Mushbach introduced a bill to
authorize the city of Alexandria to issue
sewer and street improvement coupon
bonds.
The Governor sent to the Senate on
Saturday a special message announcing
the resignation of N. II. Hairston as
judge of the county court of Henry.
The hall of the House was crowded
when the discussion on the local option
question was resumed. Mr.. Nicol made
q short argument in opposition to any
change in the existing law.
MIR. Patteson appealed to the House
to vote down both bills.
At the close of Mr.. Patteson'sremarks
the pending question was called, which
was on Mr.. Gibson's amendment to the
substitute bill, providing that the sigma
tGres of one-third of the voters in the
last preceding election shall be neces-
sary to order an election on the question
of the sale of intoxicating liquors.
This was defeated by a vote Of ~ to so.
Mr.. Nelson proposed an amendment
providing that the substitute should ap-
ply only to the city Of Staunton. This
was voted down and the vote YVES taken
on the substitute and resulted ayes,
Is; noes GO.
Mr.. Bendheim, by request, offered a
substitute which, he said, was in the
nature of a compromise. 1t received
no votes.
The vote was then taken on the Mil
Ter bill as it came from the Senate
which proposed to relieve cities from
the operation of the local option law
and resulted, ayes, 10; noes, II.
The result of the vote leaves the To-
cal option law as it is at present.
Mr.. Bendheim introduced a bill to
protect fish in the Potomac river by
preventing fishing with any fixed de-
vice in the mouth of that river and its
bays and creeks. He also offered a
joint resolution requesting the Senators
and members of the House of Repre-
sentatives in Congress from Virginia,
to aid in scuring the passage of the bill
providing for the building of a bridge
across the Potomac river from Wash
ton to Arlington.
Bills were introduced to amend sec
ton 2137 of the code relative to oys-
tiers. This bill seeks to quiet the title
to all oyster-shore which has been as
signed, except in cases that are now
in court. The section az it now stands
has been construed several different
ways; to prevent preference among
creditors; to authorize the killing OF
dogs found upon lands without the
consent Of the owner of the land; to
amend the code of 1887, changing pen
atty for unlawful selling of liquors.
The House passed the House bill to
incorporate the Culpeper, Rappahan-
mock and Madison Railway Company,
and Senate bill to amend sections 2477
and 2479 of the code in relation to the
lien of mechanics; to amend the law in
relation to appeals from justices; to de-
fine the powers and limitations of
building and loan companies; to amend
the present laws as to appeals from
justices in small claims; to provide for
the payment of debts due by commits
sion merchants; in relation to the buy
ing of goods with intent to defraud.
Bills were introduced in the Senate on Fri
day last by Mr.. Fairfax, authorizing the Lou
doun National Brick, Paint and Manufactur-
ing Company to construct a railway.
By Mr.. Hay to repeal section 1926 Of the
code, in relation to fees of attorneys for the
Commonwealth. The object of the bill is to
take away from the attorneys for the Com
monwealth the fee of $50 per annum for ap-
pcaring in Circuit Courts.
The Senate on Friday night last passed
Senate bills to amend the code in relation to
the appeal from justices on warrants for small
claims.
To empowcr the courts to order a suit in
equity or action at law to abate as to any I'M
properly-joined plaintiff or defendant, and to
proceed thereafter by or against the others
as if such misjoinder had not been made.
To amend the code in relation to the ap-
pointment Of commissioner in chancery.
And House bills TO amend the code in re-
gard to articles not exempt from taxes or
levics.
To provide how appeals from justices and
warrants removed shall be tried, and how de-
fects, omissions, and Irregularities in the pro-
ceedings below may DO corrected in the court
to which tho appeal is taken or the warrant
removed.
To amend the code in relation to the sale
of lands returned delinquent for tho non
payment of taxes.
To amend the code in relation to the fees of
justices.
To amend the code in relation to giving in
formation of the violation of penal laws to
the attorney for the Commonwealth.
To amend an act relating to working roads
in Prince William county.
To amend the code in relation to the COM