Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1894-02-10
Legislature of Virginia.

Legislature of Virginia.
The Virginia Senate has by q vote
of II to 10, passed the Miller local
option bill. 1t exempted cities of
5000 population and over from local
option.
Senator Williams has offered a bill
to reduce the license tax on real es-
tate agents in the country and III
towns of less than 1900 inhabitants
from $50 to SO and TO require the
payment by them of one fourth OF
per cent. on gross sales.
The Senate has agreed to the Joint
resolution submitting to n vote OF
the people an amendment to the con
stitution which provides that misde-
meanors may be tried by justices Of
the peace. House bill to carry this
resolution into effect was also passed.
This question will be submitted at
the regular election next fall.
A bill was introduced in both
houses of the Legislature last Mon
day, which provides that in a trial
for murder in the first degree, when
the jury returns verdict of guilty
they may, ut their discretion, recon-
mend the prisoner TO the clrmency of
the court, which may then commute
the sentence of the accused to inn
prisonmcnt for life.
Mr.. Richardson, of Louisa county,
has offered resolution, which was
referred, providing for Il joint spec
ial committee of Two Senators and
three Delegates to Investigate and
report as to what legislation is neceS-
sary for the improvement and keep
ing in repair the public roads OF the
Commonwealth. The occasion for
this resolution is that the Court OF
Appeals on 1st inst. declared uncon-
stitional the general road law of Nir-
ginia.
Mr.. Thomas introduced Il bill
Tuesday in regard TO Il general road
law. The bill provides for the APP
pointment OF II general State engi-
neer and divides the State into three
sections, over each of which one
engineer is to have control. These
engineers are TO examine the roads
of the counties over which they have
charge and report to the Board of
Supervisors of each county the result
of their examinations. The coun-
ties may then appropriate the neces
Sary money for the proper repair OF
the roads, and the State engineers
are to supervise their working.
The bill TO make the survey of the
oyster grounds final came up before
the Joint committee on the Chesa
peake and its tributaries Monday.
Mr. Boykin. Il submitted Il
substitute for the bill drafted by
Captain Baylor, who made the sur
vey Of the oyster grounds. The sub
Stitute says upon application OF
twenty-five persons in three months
from the passage of the act to the
County Court, alleging that there
has been fifty acres of oyster rocks
left out of the survey, that the Judge
shall appoint three commissioners,
who shall have the alleged rocks. sur
veyed and report of the commission
ers when filed in the clerks office of
the SAID county shall be final. The
committee adjourned without max
ing any report.
Mr.. Watts, of Roanoke, has offer
ed Joint resolution in the Senate
requesting the five gentlemen recent
ly elected TO constitute the new
Court of Appeals TO prepare and draft
new constitution for this State,
containing such changes and amend
ments 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 Gen
eral Assembly at the present. or an
extra session, and the Governor is
also requested to state his views upon
the proposed changes. The resolu-
ton, which was referred to the COM
mittee on courts of justice, suggests
the appropriation OF $4,000 to pay
the five gentlemen for their ser
vices.
In the House, Mr.. Pretlow has in
troduced a bill to encourage the cul-
tivation of oysters on those grounds
which are now unfit for such cult
Walton and which can only be put in
to condition favorable for the
growth of the oyster by the eXpendi
ture of a 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 vii. enclose them and
undertake to raise and cultivate oys-
tiers on them. The State derives no
benefit from these grounds at pre-
sent, but under Mr.. Prctlow's bill, as
soon as they are occupied, they are
to be assessed and taxed in the same
manner as agricultural land in the