Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1897-12-09
THE LEGISLATURE.

judges nominated in Tuesday nights
caucus until the excessive criminal
charges in many of the counties can be
looked into. The delay may be for
only few days, or it may extend until
after the Christmas holidays. In the
latter event the regular terms of the
| judges, which are for six years from the
January succeeding their election, may
be somewhat interfered with. How
ever, it was suggested in the discussion
of the subject that some way could be
found around this, or if not, that it
would be better to elect the judges for
six years and ten months at proper
salary than to choose them in the regu-
lar way at improper salaries.
The Senate adopted resolution to
elect judges, but when the question
came up in the House Mr.. Parker
asked that the matter be pass d by
until certain questions could be looked
into. Mr.. Parker outlined general
plan for fixing large portion of the
! criminal expenses upon the counties
and cities He said there had been
considerable discussion as to the ad-
visibility of settling the criminal eX-
penses on the various counties instead
of the S ate treasury. This could only
be done, however, if these expenses
| were materially reduced. A general
bill should be prepared, fixing the sal
aries of all judges and other salaried Of
fcers and have them charged to the
State in order that all other huctuating
criminal expenses might be charged to
the counties aud cities, so That they
could be carefully scrutinlzed by the
local authorities.
SENATE.
Senator Parr introduced bill for the
establishment OF an industrial home for
girls. The eligibes must be between
! five and eighteen years, who may be
committed by their parents as incor
rigible. The bill also provides that
any girl within the ages named con-
| victed of felony or misdemeanor pun
| shable by Imprisonment may, III the
| discretion of the Judge, be sent to the
home. Every girl committed to the
| home shall remain until she is twenty
one years OF age.
Senator Barksdale proposed to make
radical change in the present law
regarding the sale of delinquent lands.
Instead of being bought in by the
Commonwealth, he presented bill
providing for the sale outright at pub
lie auction.
A bill was introduced in relation to
the practice of pharmacy. 1t is de.
signed to perfect the existing act, and
to make it less possible for any one
+, other than registered pharmacist to
prenare physicians prescriptions.
The frat oyster bill of the session
was that presented by Mr.. Barnes to
! amend the present law with regard to
dredging. Under the present law
there are only few places in the wa
tiers of Virginia where dredges can be
used. The amendments in Mr.. Barnes
bill give 10 all planters who own one
hundred or more of contiguous oyster
grounds the right to use dredges, the
only part of the oyster waters excepted
in the act being the ocean side of Acco-
mac and Northampton counties.
HOUSE.
The House adopted resolution ap-
pointing joint committee to investi-
gate the criminal expenses of Buchan-
an, Dickinson, Greensville, Franklin,
Scott, Warwick and Wise counties.
These are some OF the counties in which
reports show excessive charges. The
resolution permits the committee to in
vesligste such other counties as it may
see fit.
Mr.. Bland presented bill providing
for the employment of all able.bodied
convicts in the State penitentiary and
other persons imprisoned in the jails
of counties, and to provide for working
and improving the public roads,
county prisoners sentenced for more
than thirty days shall be employed on
the roads of the county, or, if not need.
ed there, be hired to some other county.
All the penitentiary convicts not EN-
braced in the exs ing contracts which
caDnot be revoked are to be furnished
to the counties, not less than five nor
more than twenty-five to go to any one
place. 1t is provided that no new con.
tracts shall be made for the employ.
ment Of convics in the penitentiary.
The House passed, and it will be.
come law so soon as Governor OFFER
rail- approves 1t, the Senate bill repeal
ing the law which fcrbd5 the shooting
of cartridges in Virginia the remainder
of this season. There are about twenty
counties, many of them in the valley
and near this city, excepted from the
provisions Of this bill. The names OF
the counties were published on Tues
day.
Mr.. Maupin introduced a bill
which provides that the nature Of al
coholic and other narcotics and their
effects on the human system shall be
taught in connection with the various
divisions of physiology and hygiene as
thoroughly as other branches in all the
schools under State control. No mon
ey, the bill provides, shall be appor
toned by the superintendent Of public
instruction for any school until such
officer shall have satisfied himself, that
the provisions OF this act are being
complied with.
Mr.. Blanton introduced a bill to
alter and change rule of evidence in
Virginia.
Mr.. Cooke introduced bill provid.
ing that every city treasurer, at the
time he qualities, shall in addition to
any bonds required of him by his city
under its charter aud ordinances, give
a bond, with sufficient surety, 10
penalty double the amount of the State