Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1896-02-20
THE LEGISLATURE.
SENATE.


In the Senate yesterday a bill was
presented by Mr.. Clayton to authorize
the Governor to advertise for bids and
enter into a lease of all the natural
oyster rocks, beds and shoals in the
waters of Virginia. 1t provides that
the lease shall be for not less than ten
wears nor more than twenty years and
the rental shall be paid annually in adj
vance. The lease is not to grant power
to take oysters by dredging in waters
of a less depth than twenty feet. No
bid is TO be considered that offers less
than 100000 annually. A certified
check of $4,000 is to accompany the
bid.
Mr.. Stubs addressed the Senate in
opposition to the fish commission bill
and it went over until Friday.
Mr.. Stubs introduced bill to pro-
vide for increasing the efficiency of the
Virginia Volunteers. The bill provides
that the present organization OF the
volunteers shall remain 80 now estao.
lished; but the commander-in chief
shall have power to alter, divide, an
mex, consolidate, disband or reorganize
the same whenever, in his judgment:
the efficiency of the State forces will be
thereby increased, and he shall at any
time have power to change the organi
cation so as to conform more nearly 10
anv organization which may be here
after adopted by the U. S. army, and
for that purpose the number of officers
of any grade in regiments, battalions,
troops, batteries, or companies may be
increased at the discretion OF the COM
mander-in-chief, up to the number au-
thorized by the q. S. army.
Mr.. Flood introduced bill to amend
the code in relation to pay of electoral
boards. It provides that each member
shall receive 50 per day, but no mem
Der shall be paid more than $40 per
year, except the secretary of the board,
who shall receive not over $50 per year
HOUSE.
Nearly all of the session of the House
was taken up yesterday with the con-
sideration of the Bland bill, the object
of which is to have any natural oyster
rocks omitted in the geodetic survey
lately made included in that survey.
Eight or ten members spoke. 1t was
argued by the friends of the measure
that to pass the bill would be simply
an act of justice to the tongers, who
have been robbed of part of their
rights. The opposition contended that
the passage of the measure would
reopen the whole oyster question. a
vote was not reached.
A resolution was offered calling Oh
the superintendent of the penitentiar,
for certain information concerning the
management of that institution.
A bill was introduced to amend sec
ton Cos of the code in reference to du-
ties of treasurers in collecting taxes. &c.
Mr.. Reddy introduced bill and had
it placed on the calendar amending the
code in relation to the stats of major
generals, &C., and repeating the sec
lion in relation to the non-c commission
ed stats of regiments.
The House passed the Senate bill to
amend the act to incorporate the Alex
andria and Fairfax Passenger Railway
Company.
Mr.. Saunders has succeeded in get
ting his bill looking TO the appointment
of female physicians for the female
wards of the State asylums through
the House, and it is now in the Senate.
1t passed the House few days ago
with very little opposition.
The fight for fair election bill is
now at its height in the Legislature.
The House committee on privileges
and elections last night discarded
the bill prepared by the Senate CON-
mittee, and passed Monday by that
body. The Senate bill abolished the
special constable of the Walton law,
but does not meet the demands of those
who want ballot for the benefit of the
illiterate voter. The House committee,
carrying out this idea, yesterday even
ing adopted the Craig bill. This meas
ure abolishes the constable feature,
provides for the judges to assist litter
ate voters in preparing their ballots,
the candidates of each party to be
printed in separate columns and over
the party emblem, and copy of the
official ballot is to be posted conspicu-
ously at the polls. The bill will, it is
said, be voted for by the democratic OPP
Dosition