The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-12-17

The Senate was opened 81 noon yes
terday by an eloquent prayer from rev.
Dr ". G.. starr. pastor Of Broad-stroct
Methodist church. The session only oc-
cupied about two hours. but large
amount Of legislation was accomplished.
Many bills were introduced. the most Inn
portant Of which was one by Mr.. Mason,
crcatns nsh commission for tho state
OF Virginia. and defining the duties. and
fixing the salaries OF iis members.
a FISH COMMISSION.
The hn provides that The commission
snail be- elected hy ioint ballot OF
the two houses OF the General Assembly:
that ii shall consist OF three members,
one OF wlom should Doe the Governor.
who shall loo eX-oncio president OF the
commission and that their term of ole
flee should Dee four years. from the first
day of May next succeeding their election.
The bin provides That the Governor
shall appoint one of the two commissioners
10 act as secretary. The BIN further
provides that 10 shall Doc the duty OF said
commissioners TO establish AN Office or
offices 40 some convenient places iu
their discretion. and 10 apply an laws Of
the State in relation 60 oystering. and
planting and cuitiVating oysters in The
weters of the STATE. and all laws IN rcla-
tion TO The catching of fish within ihe
tidal waters of The state.
SIPfRSEDES THE BOARD
All authority now vested in the Board
OF the Chesapeake ami its Tributaries.
relating 90 the collection of revenue
from Che oyster inspectors. and with
relation to- tag control oi The movements
OF the police boats az the State. ara tho
appointment OF their officers. is trans
fcrFed TO the commissioners. They SNAIL
have power 60 remove from office any
oyster Inspector who i'm their opinion,
s. ncglecunr his duty.
The duty of the secretary shall be TO
keep an records and accounts of the
commission and 20 perform whatever
clerical duties may Doe required of him.
in addition 20 his active participation as
member of The commission.
The following resolution was introduced
by Senator Suhbs. and agreed 10.
EQUITABLE TAXATION.
Whereas from tine annual report OF the
Auditor rf Public Accounts. for the
year ending September go. 1885. only Slil.-
1i0 worth OF "hoats or other Water-crafl
under five tons burden, with their tackle
Tigging. and furniture and all else that
pertains t0 thcm.' assessed FOR taxation
anu only s3lsgg4 worth of "all ships tug
UtuNrs WNItNHs N'NNrf OF NNIl|l hhN'A 81 a. q
OF five tons burden and over with theii
tackle. rigging. and furniture and all
else that pertains TO them. and an other
noatinE property owned by oihc than
express. steamship, or steamboat com.
panies" assessed Tor taxation now, there
fore.
Resolved. That the Committee on Fi-
nance and Banks Doe directed 10 inVesti.
gate whether the above assessments are
correct and make their report TO Tho
Senate.
Iu introducing thi7 resolution. Senator
Stubs said that his object was 10 SEE
cure equitable taxation ON nl vessels ahe
sailing craft of over nre-ions burden
IIe pointed out lhe fact tha' the peopl,
in his section of Virginia were paying q
tax on such vessels Out of an proporicr
10 that paid Bon other portions of the
STATE. anf 10 was time tf4t the Lceis-
laturc of Virginia took holl of the mat
Ter. and found ont whose fault 10 wa.
that $50 many vessels went untaNod. The
amount assessed aeainst Virginia vessels
rai00o when it should Doe at least
100000
RICHMOND AIMOaT EXEMPT
The failure To assess vessels hc said
was espe.. ally noticeable boo ire city OF
Richmond where only 5000 was levied
while tens of thousands OF dollars worth
Of floating property was allowed 20 SO
free of an tax. AN should be- taxed. ano
hc wanted the Finance Committee q
look into .he natter and se' whose fault
81 was that such tax was not imposed
Ile had been hammering az this question
DE said for eight years. and proposed
20 keep on hammoring ar 10 until IL was
settled When the Finance Committee
met. he would furnish them with "a ls'
Of every registered boat of over five
tons burden. in Virginia.
Senator Sands introduced The following
resolution, which was referred TO the fi.
nance Committee aftc~ some remarks
from ts author.
THOSE REGISTERED BONDS.
Whereas the United States Government
now holds registered bonds of the Com
monwcalth OF Virginia. and Il demand
has been made upon A. W. Hartman.
Treasurer of this State. for the payment
OF these bonds and said payment proper
lv refused boy him. under the present
status of unsettled accounts between this
state and the United States Government.
and whereas the Government OF the
United states lis indebted 20 the state of
Virginia for advances made and money
loaned during The war OF 1872 20 an
amount not exceeding The sum OF 81 500 600,
and demands have been made ly I'M
state OF Virginia for the payment OF lhe
amount due. and whereas the state of
Virginia is ready 10 allow the amount
due hy her TO The United States Govern
rnent on account OF the claim OF these
registered bonds 10 go as "a credit on the
Indebtedness Of the United states 20 hcr.
and whereas 30 is advisable that there
should be q speedy settlement and adjust
ment OF these respective claims now.
therefore De 30
Resolved. That this matter ne referred
10 the Finance Committee. with direction
10 report by bin on otherwise, the most
practicable method OF securing settle
rnent and adjustment OF these two claims.
The ioint resolution an regard TO the
Auditor of Public Accounts furnishing The
senate with statement of the receipts
OF Virginia treasurers and clerks and
other officers 20 December J. 1893, was
received from the House and adopted ar
Ter the word "treasurers' had, on motion
az AIR. Keezel been stricken out
The Committee on General Laws re-
,orfed 4 bin which had been referred 10
n from the Committee on Courts Of
Justice making the owner of a dog, or
,he person on whose premises ne stays
liable for the killing or manning OF shcep
hv the said dog.
There was some mcrriment over THIS
bU which had been unioadcd by the
committee on General Laws on the Courts
~ Justice Committee 10 was finally re-
erred 10 the Committee on Agriculture.
Mining. and MANUFACTURING
An INSURANCE COMMISSIONER
Another bill Of some note introduced
W. Dy Senator Mason, 20 create the ONCE
!. "A 4, frI ~