Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-02-14
THE LEGISLATURE.
SENATE.

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The session of the Senate on Salur-
dav was occupied exclusively in the
consideration of the employers liability
bill. Mr.. Withers was the only speak
er and held the floor for two and a-half
hours. He spoke 10 favor of the meat
ure. Messrs. Flood, Jetfries, Mushbach
and Wickham are to speak in opposl-
ton to the bill and MIR. McIlwaine will
close the debate in favor of the meas
ure. The bill will be defeated. 1t is
understood that the majority against it
will be seven or eight.
! Mr.. Munford introduced bill to au-
thorize the Governor 10 appoint com,
mission to compile all the laws made
for the improvement Of the public
highways and to investigate the opera
ton of such laws and to make report
with recommendations to the next gen
eral assembly. The commission is TO
consist of seven persons to be chosen
from the grand natural divisions of the
State and the bill carries an approprla-
ton OF 500 to defray the expenses Of
the commission.
A Joint resolution passed both houses
extending TO congressman Joseph W.
Bailey invitations to address the gen.
eral assembly on the political questions
of the day on February %.
MIR. Fairfax had taken up and passed
under suspension of the rules Senate
bill, defining in whose name property
shall be listed and taxed. The bill had
passed the House, where it was amend
ed, and also received additional amend
ments in the Senate.
There is q bill pending before the
Senate committee on finance and banks,
of which Mr.. Kane is patron, which If
passed will result in imposing tax OF
$500 on every real estate firm in Vir-
ginia. 1t requires every private bank
ing concern to pay the same license tax
as it requires of stock brokers. Real es-
tate agents, who lend money on proper
ty, as all do, are classed as private
bankers.
HOUSE.
The House defeated q joint resolu
ton offered by Mr.. Willard, providing
for the appointment by the Governor
of commission of FIVE to consider re-
form measures during the vacation OF
the legislature and report at the next
session. The sentiment was that the
appointment OF such body would be
misunderstood by the people. They
would, it was said, consider the adop-
ton Of such a resolution an admission
that the legislature was unable to cope
I'll h. of ratr
The House passed ali three OF the
Winston bills amending the present
laws incorporating the Virginia State
J Prison Reform Association. These are
intended to prevent the punishment or
imprisonment at the Laurel Reforma-
tory of boys not convicted by court.
The term of Imprisonment ia limited to
term which may not be exceeded by
the prison authorizes.
Mr.. Buford introduced three bills in
relation to electoral boards and the ap'
pointment of registrars and judges OF
election. The first bill is intended to
abolish electoral boards; the second
provides that registrars shall be ap-
pointed by the county and corporation
courts, and the third provides that the
election officers shall be selected by the
same courts. 1t is provided that two
of the judges for each precinct shall be
appointed on the recommendation OF
county and city chairmen of the two
parties that polled the largest votes at
the preceding November electioa.
Mr.. Reddy has withdrawn mis- bill to
incorporate the Petersburg, Richmond
and Northern Railroad Company and
has introduced one to incorporate the
Richmond and Petersburg Electric and
Steam Railroad Company with the
same corporators as were named in the
original act. The bill authorizes the
construction and operation of q rail
road to be operated by electricity or
steam between Richmond and Peters
burg.
Bills were introduced by Mr.. Whar-
ton making the possession OF United
States license to sell liquors without q
State license prima facie evidence OF
sale of liquors in Montgomery.
Mr.. Parker introduced bill to in
sure that no railroad or other transpor-
tation company in this State can charge
more for freight and passengers over a
portion of their lines within the State
than they do for the same class OF
freight and passengers over q longer
distance over the same line and in the
same direction.
AS stated in the Gazette on Saturday
the House, after considerable discus
sion on the Murphy whipping post bill,
the substitute offered by Mr.. Parks,
providing that stripes shall be inflicted
only for second olfense Of petit lar
ceny, and Mr.. Saunders's bill, making q
second offense of larceny felony, and
providing that the person so convicted
shall be sentenced to the penitentiary,
engrossed the latter and rejected the
othels. This ends attempted legisla-
ton on this subject during the present
session. The vote was by no means
closets to 81. 1t looked three weeks
ago as if the whipping post act might
be passed, but the bill has been con-
stantly losing its advocates.
Wit Sing a Chinese girl. was murdered at