Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1898-02-05
Legislative Notes.


Legislative Notes.
Mr.. Cooke, of Norfolk, has offered
in the House resolution looking to
amending the constitution by recuc,
ing the number of Senators to 80
and the Delegates to GO.
The bill offered by Mr.. Withrow in
the House to prevent preferences in
favor of creditors in deeds of assign
ment has been defeated in the House
by that body refusing to order the
measure TO be engrossed.
1t is proposed to honor Gov. Tyler
by creating a county to be named
after him. A bill having this end in
view has been introduced in both
branches. The proposition is
to establish the county of Tyler ont
of parts OF Montgomery, Giles, Floyd,
and Pulaski.
The committee that has been in
vestigating the public institutions
be cut down in the aggregate one
4 II.
State Hospitals will suffer most. 1t
is said the report will present many
/ interesting facts.
Mr.. Saunders bill to require rail
road companies to fence their tracks
or pay for the cattle killed has been
] ordered to its engrossmenJ In the
House. There was q big fight made
on it by the corporations, but when
the vote was taken the members
were nearly unanimous.
Mr.. Parks, of Page. has introduced
in the house two bills to reduce
criminal expenses. One reduces the
fees for arrests in trials Of misde
meanor cases from so to 20 cents, and
in other allows officers making arrests
in misdemeanor eases q fee of one
dollar, if made out of the prisoner,
but only 40 cents instead of so as
now, if paid out of the treasury.
The House Monday passed to en-
grossment, by a decided majority. the
Wharton bill, forbidding fire in
surance companies doing business
here to combine to fix their rates. a
| fight was made to recommit, but
without success. The insurance men,
particularly the home companies.
have fought the Wharton bill with
great vigor. This antagonism will be
transferred to the Senate.
McCune's anti-flirting bill has been
defeated after a-debate covering
two hours, in the Senate, by vote
of "a to 8.
The Senate chamber was crowded
when the bill came up. Most of those
present were ladies, many of whom
had come to the city to hear the dis
cussion. McCune, Flanagan and
Hartley supported the bill, while
Barksdale, Withers and Hale, all
bachelors, opposed.
Mr.. j. S. Craig has introduced g
bill to amend section lS4 of the Code
in relation to pay of officers and mem
bers of the General Assembly. so that
for a regular session members Of the
Senate and House shall receive $27(
instead of $500, as at present, and the
President and Speaker of the respec
tive bodies $3.50 instead of 5000, as al
present. For special sessions it pro
vides that members shall receive the
sum of 800 and the two officers before
named the sum OF $3.50.
The reporters got Just a little biz
mixed about the action OF the House
Tuesday on the LeCato fishery com
mission bill. This measure passed
that body at the morning session
and was sent over to the Senate wed
nesday for that body's concurrence
in the amendments OF the lower
branch. The amendments are not
all material They limit the salary
of the secretary to 81 200. These OIL
GERS are also made chief inspector
and assistant inspector of oysters
! With these exceptions, the bill is just
as it was passed by the Senate.
Mr.. Keezell has introduced bill
making one material change IN the
election law. 1t amends sections
and 10, of the act approved March 4
1896, by providing that there shall be
,hree ballots for each precinct which
shall not bear the seal of the Elector
al Board. On the morning of the
election sealed packages containing
the tickets are broken ana tne DallOJs
carefully counted. Here is 4he way
the amendment read: And the
three unstamped ballots contained in
said package shall be securely posted
by the judges of election in three
conspicuous places without the poll
ing place, where they shall be open
to the inspection of the voters, and
ir shall be the duty of the judges to
prevent the destruction, removal or
defacing of said ballots as long as the
polls are open. Any person who shall
unlawtully remove, deface or destroy
any of said ballots as long as the
polls are open shall be deemed guilty
of a misdemeanor and upon conyic-
ton thereof shall be punished by tine
of SO and imprisoned for thirty days
in The county jail" This is the only
change proposed.