The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-12-05
REF0RNERS RULE
1HE LEGISLATURE
SIvNg Disposition 10 A1OIISh SGV-
GT0I Sole O1iceSS.
BRISK DISCUSSION OF Mr.. COOKIES BILL
hVifOIk and Portsmouth Belt Line Railway
10 be Chartered,
Numerous thnngcs 10 Re Made In
committee Chnirn,anships- Per.
sonnl Sketches BiII 10 Regulate
the Size orTruck isnrroIs-Vctc on
constitutional Convention Cans
Hnss"d- Norfolk Man on vcternns'
History Comm fttcc.
Especial Dispatch TO The vIrginiono

>'~iN>'''' ''''betNi ~ lle Nlt.lnlQn.)
Richmond. Va, Dec 1. 1897
Alr. Cooke, OF Norfolk. offered bill
in the House to-day to amend the
| Charter of the Southampton and At
lantic Railway company. One amend
ment changes the name 10 the Norfolls
and Portsmouth Belt Line Railroad
company. The corporators are Alvah
IL Martin. Patrick Mathews. Frank
lin D. Gill Benja min y. White, 4. II.
Herbert and II. j. Wool II Is provided
that the capital stock shall be not less
than $4,000 nor more than $500. 900. The
company is authorized Ia construct Il
railway from Primers Point. and the
Norfolk and Carolina railroad, by such
route rs the directors may select
through Norfolk county. across the
southern Branch of the Elizabeth river
to'a point on the Norfolk and West
ern, between the Eastern and South
ein branches OF The Elizabeth river.
Authority is given 10 construct n bridge
across the Elizabeth river: To build and
operate tramway not exceeding ten
miles in length. Work is to commence
next April and it is to be completed
within five years from the passage Of
the act.
There was not very much Of public
interest in the Legislature to-day. Tho
senate refused tn concur irI Mr.. Park
ers resolution providing for Il icint
special COMMITTEES 10 consider amend
rnents to the constitution, ana II w,s
referred. Mr.. Saunders resolution for
JOINT committee to investigate and
"a tn
expenses was also referred in the SEN
ate.
me retrcnchment and reform fever
appears TO he spreading. Mr. Mason.
IN Inc Senate, offered n resolution look
me 10 the appointment of Joint spe-
ciaI committee To make n report rs to
how State. county and municipal offices
may he consolidated or abolished i'm
order TO save money to the CommCc-
wealth This paper at the authors re-
quest was referred to n commjttee
senator Blakey cndeavOred TO have
n special committee appointed at once
10 report as 10 whether or not the office
Of second Auditor should be abolished
lie was unsuccessful and his rcsolu
tion was referred TO IL standing com
m!ttee
II looks as If the Legislature might
abolish several Offices. In fact. there
is danger of he rcformcrs running al
most mad. Not only is the Office of sec
Cnd Auditor In danger but the posi-
lions OF Adjutant General Register of
Land Office and Commissioner of Arrj
culture may he abolished 1t is almost
certain that the Board Of Agriculture
Will be dispensed with. Senator Opie
appears TO be the leader of the re-,
irenchment and reform element in tho
Senate. Should the position Of Regis.
Ter o! Land Office he abolished the Sec
retary of the Commonwealth will be
designated TO discharge the duties now
imposed upon the Register
There was lively debate in the
House to-day over Mr.. Cookies bill to
require corporations asking n renewal
ot their charters to pay the same fees
as companies granted new charters
Mr.. Ryan tried to have the bill amend
ed so as not TO include corpora tions
mat had begun work but he was un-
successful in his fight. Mr. Cookies bill
passed by aG overwhelming majority.
1t VIII bring considerable money into
the State Treasury
Ii leaked out tonight that there will
he u shaking up of the chairmanships
of the SeEate Committees Senator
Flood, as expected. will he chairman of
the Elections Committee and therefore
the Democratic leader on ,thc floor, SEN
ator Fairfax, of Loutloun. is stated for
the chairmarShip OF the Finance Com
m!ttee. instead Of Senator Wfckham. of
Hanover. who held it last session. Mr..
Wickham has been made president pro
TEN OF the Senate and the Steering
Committee consider that he was not en-
titled to Craftsmanship. Senator Nc
1lwaine. OF Petersburg. will receive the
Judiciary Chairmanship, although Sena-
tor Sands, of Richmond, was In line OF
promotion. Mr.. Sands will remain as
chairman of the Committee on General
Laws. Senator Muahback, of Alexan-
dr!a. will retain his old Craftsmanship
One OF the most wide-awake MEM
bers OF this General Assembly is the
Hon. Chares II. Bland. OF Portsmouth,
He is just as energetic as he was last
session, when he won an envlablc rcpu-
tation as speaker, a hustler and all
round firSt-class representative He
has in course of preparation a bill In
reference to the much-dlscussed and
complicated question of delinquent