Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-01-29

OF the efficiency OF the government Tne
people did not desire retrenchment AT
such q sacrifice.
II the salaries OF the members OF the
General Assembly were TO be cut he nopeo
IL would not apply 70 the present session,
for II II did he would have TO walk nome.
MT MT Diggs moved that waen ne 20 'ne 9e ,cent cont
again next Friday night. The delegate
from King William thought the way 10
arrive at conclusion in the matter was
TO appoint a steering committee ana let
the latter report.
Mr.. Murphy thought that from the way
things were being conducted there was
not going TO be dollar saved, ana tnat
the best thing the Legislature could do
was 10 adjourn the ist OF February and
save the State that much, at least.
The body then, upon motion or MI
Little adjourned 10 meet again next Fri
day night. AN
Amendments TO the Craig Bill.
The House Committee Of Ten met yes
terday afternoon In Committee Room NO.
l, with Judge Watkins I'm the CHAIR.
The meeting was called together to re-
ceive the report OF the subcommittee,
composed of Messrs. Smith. Stubbs, and
Craig, which was appointed by the COM
mittee on Chesapeake and Its Tributaries
on Thursday to present the Craig bill,
with the amendments, which II had re-
commended.
After some friendly discussion the
amended bill was recommended, together
with two important additional amend
ments. the first of which provides that
the oyster-grounds In the deep waters
of the Chesapeake may be rented to per
sons outside of the State after May ISL
next and all other oyster grounds in the
State, If then approved by the Board OF
Fisheries, after January !. 1899.
The other amendment allows planters
to dredge and scrape on their own oys-
fairgrounds. which Is. not now allowed
upon condition that they pay an addl-
tional tax of so cents per acre for the
privilege.
The Committee on Chesapeake and It's
Tributaries agreed to the compromise
between the congressional Bivalye COM
mittee and that on Chesapeake. and de-
cided to report Mr.. Stubbss bill, allow
ing the taking up by the State OF GER
tain natural rocks I'm the county Of Glou-
cester which were omitted from the sur
vey.
Haul Hogs on EIcctric-Cars.
The Senate Committee on Roads yester-
day afternoon considered the bill COM
pelling the Washington and southern
Division of the Pennsylvania railway 10
deliver hogs over an electric line TO the
ROslyn Packing Company, at koslyn'
midway between Alexandria and Wash
ington Colonel Francis L. Smith, or
Alexandria, and Mr.. Joynes. of the Penn
sylyania railroad, argued the case LOT
the road, and Mr.. Armstrong for the
packing company The bill will be FUR
ther considered at the next meeting.
The employers liability bill was mace
the special continuing order for o'clock
Tuesday afternoon. and the railroad
fence bill for February Sth. Each OF
these measures has passed the Senate.
Work of House Committees.
The House Committee on Propositions
and Grievances met yesterday AFTERNOON,
and. without lengthy discussion, declueu
"a.
amend and re-enact section 10 of the act
incorporating the Buck Horn Iron ana
Improvement Company; Senate BIZ NO
oil TO amend section 2S3S Of chapter l5I'
of the Code OF Virginia, relating to deal
ings with students and gaming, and SEN
ate Bill No. 275. to protect eleetric-ngnt-
ing and power companies, and gas COM
panies and cities and towns from tne
theft of electric current or gas or appa-
ratus or unlawful interference therewltn.
A few slight amendments were made 10
the latter bill, principal among when
was the fixing of the penalty for Viola
tion of the act at s25 instead of at $50.
The Committee on Agriculture ana
Judge Watkins's bill. which imposes
license OF s. on agents for the sale OF
fertilizers in incorporated towns.
The Committees on Roads and courts
Of Justice decided to report q NUMBER oI
bills.
The Bill to Abolish Courts.
The bill of Senator Barkscale TO abolish
circuit and county courts will be folloW-
ed by two companion measures, carrying
out the following plan: In lieu of county
and circuit courts to have district courts,
not less than twenty nor more than
thirty in the Stae; abolish all corpora
ton courts in cities of less than 2o,Vo
inhabitants, and to include such cities In
the judicial districts; abolish the office
of commemorative Attorney, and pro-
vide for one prosecuting attorney 1or
each judicial district. Mr. Barksdaie
says he has interviewed persons from al
sections Of the state on this subject. and,
as a rule. the plan proposed is favored.
III adopted, he thinks it will save the
state 100000 annually.