Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1896-01-11
Legislature Of Virginia.

Richmond. Va, Jan. 7.-There
could be no better evidence that this
session of the Legislature is not to be
curtailed in length than the number
of bills of an unusually important
character introduced during the past
two days. Not only is there TO be an
interesting fight over antitrust, race
track and election bills and the con
stitutional convention question, but
today Senator Withers introduced
three bills to create railroad com
mission. -Four years ago the present
Lieutenant Governor, (hent) who
was then a member of the House from
Wythe county. introduced a some
what similar measure. After de
termined fight by the railroads, who
had representatives. here during most
of the session, the Kent bill was de
feated and the present Mason law
enacted. Mr.. Withers's bill proposes
to create a commission composed OF
three members, each to receive a
salary of $4,000 a year. This com
mission is to have supervision over
all railroads, canals, express and
telegraph companies within this
State. 1t is made a court of record,
TO whom all persons having grievances
may complain. The commission is
vested with power to fix rates. The
Withers bill is modelled somewhat
after the lines of the North Carolina
law.
Senator McIlwaine presented a
resolution directing the committee
for courts of justice to report an
amendment to the constitution pro
viding for a return to the viva-voce
system of voting.
Mr.. Hay, of Madison, introduced a
bill providing for the creation of the
office of examiner of State banks
This officer is required to examine
such institutions at least twice 9
year. He may require the banks tc
report their condition to him. Upon
failure TO do so he may ask the attor-
ney general to proceed against the
delinquent in the circuit courts.
The time has been extended fol
taxpayers to pay taxes to February
LIST, 1896, without penalty.
Friends of Major Baker P. Lee are
urging him for the Judgeship made
vacant by the death of Judge j. N
Peek, OF Warwick. Major Lee is be
ing opposed by Messrs. +. E. Mon
tague, of Hampton, and E. NJ. Brax
ton. Indications are that Major Lee
will win.
ITO promote the comfort of passen
gers on railroads and street railways
is the title of a bill offered by Mr.
Radford. 1t provides for separate
cars for the white and black races, OF
provisions for separating the races
shall be made by partitioning the
cars.
The following statement, showing
the amount of revenue derived from
the oyster industry for the tisca
year ended September 30, 1895, has
been submitted to the House by the
auditor of public accounts: From
patent tongs. $47575; from ordinary
tongs, S7,411S6 from dredgers, $4,439
81; lrOlH reHG Oh pldHGlnS SIOuiluo
$1S,66912; total $30,99G. "A; received
from oyster inspector, $1,S92.19. To
tai $32 ,9SS33.
Mr.. Mason, of King George, has
introduced Il bill in the Senate Great
ing fish commission to have charge
OF the oyster interest. 1t provides
for three members to be chosen by
the General Assembly. They are tic
perform all the duties not performed
by the Chesapeake and its tributaries
The bill is similar to one introduced
before the Christmas recess.