Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-02-06
TRIAL WITHOUT JURY
Inc Bill to Amend the Constitution
Passes the Senate.
HOH TO TAX NINE PRODUCTS.
mr. Fairfax Proposes an Important
Chanrc-May Commute Death senten-
ces-Busy Days Proceedings.

The Senate went through is business
NJ a rafting pace yesterday. Its most
important action was to pass bill en-
hodying the Joint resolution providing for
Changing the Constitution In respect TO
criminal trials so that trials for INSIDE
m"anors may be had without a jury. and
thus avoid the effect Of the decision OF
the Supreme Court OF Appeals in the
Mary Miller case whereby tho powers OF
uial-justiccs were reduced TO the mini
mum ana the criminal expenses increased
10 the maximum. The amendment viii
be voted on in November next. and II
adopted the next Legislature will have
TO change the statute law. wherever it
IL necessary. TO make the latter conform
70 the amended Constitution
REPORTS OF CLERKS FEES.
Mr.. Green introduced a very important
bill bearing upon the collection Of reve-
MUGS cf the Commonwealth derived
through clerks Of courts It provides that
every three months clerks Of county courts
and every six months clerks Of circuit
courts shall make return 10 their respec-
two judges OF the amount OF fees. &C.
collected that the Judges shall certify
these returns to The Auditor Of Public Ac-
counts, and that whenever a clerk fails 10
remit within sixty days after such certi-
hcotion. said clerk shall be removed
from Office
Mr. Miller. who was a member Of the
Mineral-Land Committee. also introduced
bill that has vital bearing uuon the
revenues OF the State II provides FOR
amending the Code 50 "a 10 lis, for taxa
ton the entire output 81 mines for every
year. Now. on the first Of February,
miuc-oWners return Tor taxation the
amount Of coal or ore on hand at that
time. which may represent The raising OF
only one day. ne these products are gene
rally shipped almost as fast as mined.
MR. MILLER INITIATED.
Towards the close of the session there
WAS an cnliyenng incident. Mr.. Hurt. the
president pro tenn. had presided all morn
inc. hut when the calendar had been
cleared NJ called the handsome and popu-
lar senator from Lynchhurg, Mr. Miller.
90 the chair. Mr.. Miller D. now senator,
nni. OF course. tho old. paroWcntarians
could not resist the temptation 10 confuse
him hv al sorts Of motions ana cross
motions. Mr.. Miller took his initiation
in perfect good humor. though es pre-
gliding officer hc adopted the "CIar' Reed
method. His first decision Wa appealed
from. hut nc cOoliy announced that there
was no appeal from the decision Of the
Chair. and ran things pretty much his
Cwn way. He showed his prosecutors
that lie was "a Who'll" library Of para-
mcntary law unto himself AMI that he
didn't care whether school kent or not.
for whom motion 10 adjourn was lost
- on overwhelming vote. he announced
that tho body stood adjourned and Va
Gated the chair
BILLS INTRODUCED
The Senate was called to order 10y the
Ideutcnant-G Governor. and the following
bills were introduced and referred:
Bv Mr.. Green: 10 amend the charter
Of the town of Wythcviilo.
Hy same: To provide the manner in
which clerks Of the Commonw alth shall
report and pay into the Treasury the
amount due the state
By Mr. Buchanan: To amend the Code
in relation to warrants for small claims.
Hy Mr.. Williams. For the relief Of j.
L. Coleman from fine imposed by the
County Court Of Mccklenhurg.
Ey Mr. Echpls. To provide for the
maintenance Of good behavior Of prisoners
jn Jail.
By Mr.. Watts: To amcd the Code in
relation TO whom attachments may be
directed
Ily Mr. Hurt: To amend the Code In re-
lslion 10 unlawful fishing.
By Mr. Fairfax: To amend the Code in
relation to how property shall be listed
for taXetion.
By Mr.. McIlwainc: To amcrd the Code
in relation to murder I'm the first degree
The object of this bin is To- allow the
tcnce when recommendation to mercy is
made by the jury al time OF verdict.
by Mr.. Miller: To amend the code In
relation to licenses. so as To prevent dis
elimination against resident brokers.
Mr.. Hay offered resolution, which
was agreed TO. requiring the Auditor OF
Public Accounts TO furnish the Senate
with statement of how much Of the
tax on circuit-court charters has been
paid under protest.
SENATE BILLS PASSED.
For the relief Of Edwin Cumhie. a
disabled Confederate soldier of halifax
county.
To relieve the Clarksville sufferers from
the fire from tax on such property as
was lost.
TO incorporate the town OF Norton, in
Wise county.
TO amend the charter OF the Baptist
Ministers Relief Fund Of Virginia.
TO incorporate the Virginia Transit
Company.
TO extend the time for building the
Atlantic, Stanton and West Virginia
railroad.
To pension Ellen c. Holler, of shenan-
doah county.
To give j. G.. Gillian. Treasurer of
Chesterfield county. mower 10 levy and
distress to collect certain uncollected tax
tickets in his hands
To give the same authority 10 X. y.
Turner. Treasurer OF GOochland county.
TO authorize Roanoke city and county
and the town OF Salem 10 adjust ana
pay their respective liability arising from
any subscription which may have been
made by the county of Roanoke 10 the
Valley Railroad Company and provide LOT
the payment OF the same.
Repeating the act establishing boards OF
commissioners OF excise.
TO incorporate the Lynchburg Traction
Company. This IL the bill vetoed by the
Governor Saturday on account OF there
being no limitation 10 the commence
ment and finishing Of the road proposeu
10 be built The bill, as now passed. Is
amended 10 cover this objection.
TO incorporate the Virginia Seaboard
and Western Railroad Company.
HOUSE BILL PASSED.
To amend the Code making provisions
for opening a court, or Tor l's sl''liis
where 1t fails to meet on tho day APP
pointed or TO which II adJourns.
AT $50 o'clock the Senate adjourned
House OF Delegates.
The House convened at noon YESTERDAY
Speaker CardweIl occupied the chair
There was no prayer. The session was ue-
voted principally 10 the passage OF biis
which had been previously argued, ana
there was comparatively little debate
The new rules concerning the order IN
which the calendar shall be called. aiio"
Ing each member to take up one bill, went
into effect at 2 o'clock. and 10 a considera-
bic extent expedited the passage OF oiiis'
Mr.. Paxtons bin amending the Code III
relation 10 the collection of certain ices
Of commissioners of the revenue, which
proposed 10 relieve the commissioners OF
the collection OF transfer fees and dess-
gate this duty TO the clerks OF the courts
fzma ut I'm ife massage Mr. Willard (p-