The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-01-10
LAW MAKING AT RICHMOND i
Bills to Reorganize the Norfolk
and Western
in Both Houses OF the Lesis-
lature Yesterdny-The City of Newport
News win Soon Get Its Oharser-Ches-
terheld Railroad Company-skimed
Nu'ses-PrisoDers In Couoty and CITY
JaiIs-rhe Honest Election Law.

RICHMOND, Va, Jan. GA bill was
introduced in both houses Of the legis-
lature to-day, in the senate by Mr.. Mo-
1lwaine and in the house by Mr,
Berkeley, authorizing q reorgsnizA alton
OF the Norfolk and Western Railroad
Company. Il enables the purchasers at
q foreclosure sale to organize q new
corporation md to acquire oil the rail-
roads and properties of the Norfolk and
Western Railroad Company with au-
thority to create such issues of stooks
aud bonds as may be necessary to carry
out any plan Of reorganization.
1t provides, however, that the new
corporation shall not, by reason of It's
former charter, have any exemption
from taxation. The stocks or bonds are
limited 20 500 600, 900. The new cor
porasion, when organized, is required to
hle q certificate of organization in tho
office OF the secretary OF the
wealth. Tho bill contains no unusual
powers and only such "a are necessary
tolenaole 8 re- organization OF the rail-
road company to take place.
Delegate L. T. Powell this morning
succee ded in getting his bill, providing
for q city charter for Newport News.
through the committee OF counties
cities and towns. There 81 is no doubt, Il
appears, thas the measure will be speed.
lily passed by both housed. Newport
News now has q population of $500,
and with the immense increase of busl-
ness there the number OF inhabitants, it
Is expected, will soon be doubled.
a bill to incorporate the Chesterfield
Railroad Company was in reduced by
Mr. Turnbull, In the senate. The COR
porators are. Augustine Royal, j. P.
Gtlliam, George e Gary, R. G. Wood
and III. A. Coghill. The act authorizes
the construction and operation OF O rail-
road from Petersburg to Richmond or
Manchester. The capital stock is to be
not less than $50, 600. nor more than
$500 600 The road Is to be commenced
within two years and completed within
Eve years.
Tho house spent more than On hour
to-day In discussing the bill requiring
shat civil government be taught In the
public schools. Messrs. Booker, Parks.
Z. 3. Powell, Parker, Hundley, Vale,
Simpson, Taliaferro, Carter FL. Har-
fison, Baptist and othors took part in
the debate, and the bill was ordered
to Its ingrossment.
Mr.. Bryant offered in tho house TODAY
a resolution pro Tiding for skilled nurses
In hospitals and institutions in Virginia.
A bill to amend the election law WAS
introduced by Mr. Gallaher. L. author.
izes any elecsor, disabled e~ducasiona,ly
or physically, 20 request one of the
judges to assist him in preparing his
ballot.
Mr. Cooke introduced a bill in the
house to require aheriffs and %sergeants
OF the counties and cities OF this State
to report to the courts Of their re-
spective counties and cities the number
OF prisoners confined in their respective
jails.
The election bill presented by tho
committee on honest elections hag been
printed and is creating considerable
discussion and more or lees consterna-
tion In some quarters. The bill Is quite
o lengthy one and embraces ali the
features of an election and ballot law.
1t provides the Australian ballot, kills
the constable, makes the county Judge
and local party chairmen the electoral
board and demands the posting of q
number OF educational" ballots in con-
spicuous places near the polls. 1t is O
squelcher for the trick player and the
ballot box suffer. The fAse of the bill
is uncertain.
On account of the tremendous rush of
business in both houses, especially In
the senate, 1t iuapparent that the "early
ad adjournment" idea is dissolving into
mist. Nearly one hundred bills have
been introduced in the senate since
Monday. and almost a like amount in
the house. The work of presenting
bills still continues. and the total In
both houses will probably exceed three
hundred for the week. Many OF these
bills will probably die in the commit.
tees, but a majority will reach either
the senate or house. or both to serve as
footballs for forensic kickers. Some of
the solons are already beginning to show
signs Of that "tired feeling" and 1t Is
not an unusual sight to see q staid and
solemn senator seek relief from the cares
of State by casting his dignity to the
winds and sporting with the squirrels
that inhabis the capitol green.
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