Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-02-05
THE LEGISLATURE.
SENATE.

passed the House bill requiring the
railroads to fence in their roadbeds OF
paw for the stock killed. The action
of the upper branch of the assembly on
this measure was reached after com.
promise. The amendment forbidding
an Injunction from being issued by the
courts to compel the payment for such
stock made it acceptable to the friends
of the roads. Mr.. Pitcher presented
and had passed by both houses con-
seouential bill relieving the rail-
roads from the obligation to fence cuts
or lands which in having condemned
the owners agreed not to hold the road
liable for injury tn stock.
The bill 10 appropriate $4,000 for
additional cell buildings at the peni-
Tertiary was further debated, but a
vote was not reached.
The Senate committee on privileges
and elections presented bill changing
the time of appointing judges of cleo.
ton from March l to May l.
Mr.. Lecato offered a bill providing
that the examination of persons
suspected of insanity shall be
conducted by county or cor
poration judge or two justices, and
two physicians, one of them when
practicable, the physician of the sus-
pected person. and neither shall be in
any manner related to him or have any
interest in his estate.
The Barksdale bill for Senatorial
primaries was reported adversely to
the Senate The report was unanimous.
A bill was introduced to amend
section 1900 of the code to authorize
minors over IA years of age to nominate
their guardians.
The Senate passed the House bills 10
incorporate the town of Wiehe, in
Fairfax county; to prescribe the amount
of license tax to be paid by peddlers,
and the Senate bill to amend section
1888 of the code in reference to allow
ances in criminal cases.
The Senate committee on courts will
| GU Monday take up the Barksdale bill
providing for amending the constitu-
ton so as to abolish county and circuit
courts and to abolish not more than 80
nor lees than 20 district courts in Vir-
ginia.
HOUSE.
The House refused to begin the work
of reform by eliminating some of the
duties of Col. John Bell Bigger, its
clerk. The proposition, as submitted
by the committee on retrenohment,
was to take from that gentleman the
position of keeper of the rolls and
impose it's work upon the Secretary Of
the Commonwealth. The object of this
} was in order that the salary of the
clerk of the House might be cut down.
The House rejected the proposition by
an almost unanimous vote. The ques-
ton will come up later as to the reduc-
/ ton of the salarv of the clerk.
Mr.. Pitcher t'oduc d a bill to for
BID ticket scalpers or others IMAM en-
ployes of railroads from selling railroad
tickets. The bill requires that the
companies shall redeem all or parts of
tickets not used, if presented within
thirty days after they are sold. The
measure is in the line with the bill now
pending in Congress.
At the afternoon session the House
made its first start 10 the direction OF
cutting of expenses. This was the
adoption of the committees recon-
mendaton to abolish the Office of reg
lister of land and impose its duties upon
the Secretary of the Commonwealth
and to reduce the fixed salary of the
latter officer from $4,000 to 81 500. The
suggestion to abolish the Office Of sec
ond auditor and require the first audi
tor to perform the work was lost.
The General Assembly elected John
S. Mason, member of the Senate from
King George, Judge OF the tenth judi
cial circuit, TO succeed the late Judge
Barton. ]. 0. Shepherd was reelected
judge of the Corporation Court of
Buena Vista.
The House passed the bill requiring
bonds, notes and stocks to be listed for
taxation. Mr.. Parks explained certain
amendments which the committee had
made. One of these is to make the bill
embrace bonds of railroad companies
Instead of bonds due from such compa.
MES. This, he said, had been done on
account of misconstruction, which
had been placed upon them by certain
courts which construed that it indi-
Gated the maturity of the bonds. The
other amendment was one which made
it clear that stocks of banks were not
taxable under the act.
A bill was introduced to amend and
re-enact section 1868 in reference to
what articles on death of householder
vest absolutely in his widow, minor,
and children, and unmarried daughters.
The following House bills were pass
ed To amend sections III and us of
the code relating to fines and costs be.
fore justices of the peace; to amend
section 5S1 of the code in regard to sub
mitting the question of liquor licenses
to the qualified voters of counties, cor
porations and magisterial districts; to
amend the first subdivision of section
S, chapter l, of an act to provide for
the assessment of lakes on persons,
property and incomes, and on licenses,
and to amend section 1859 of the code
in relation to what portions of their
road bed need not be fenced by the rail
way companies.
The Joint conference which was to
have been held in the hall of the House
of Delegates last night, for the purpose
Of discussing retrenchment measures,
did not materalize, not over dozen
members being present.
There is more catarrh in this section of the
country than all other diseases put together
| Sba l.cf fat nd IN