Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-01-04
ARE BACK At WORK.
SENATE AND ROUSE OF DELEGATES
GET DOWN TO BUSINESS.
IMPORTANT BILLS CONSIDERED,
The Upper nranch Passes she nils
provsding for Taxation OF Rail-
roads for school rurposes--A Bili
to Pension ola Soldiers.

OF bills was introduced in each branch,
rbut few were finally acted upon
Lieutenant Governor Echols presided in
the Senate. and gave assurance that he
Will make a courteous, graceful. ana
thoroughly satisfactory officer. lie was
rongratulated by his friends upon the
success OF his first day.
y The Senate passed two companion
House bills, authorizing boards Of SUI
pervisors to tax railroad and other pro-
-porty OF a kindred nature for dy"trict-
school purposes. This bin was introduced
at the last session. but was not reached
by the committee.
" In the House MIR. Stubs introduced
bill which will be of great interest to the
people of the State generally. and par
ticularly TO ex-Confederate soldiers, since
1t gives 10 boards of supervisors the
mower to make special loyies for pen
sions. Mr.. Stubs promises TO make
strong fight for the measure.
Both tho Senate and the House or
,oered that 500 copies Of the inaugural
address be printed for the use Of the
members of the bodies.
~ The Day in the SENATE.
IIeutenant-G Governor Echols called the
senate to order yesterday without about
..iwo-thirds Of the senators in their seats.
The following bills were introduced ana
sent TO committees:
BY Mr. Nunford: No. 12S. To confirm
gand quiet the title OF John Elson and
those claiming under him in the lot OF
land fronting ~ feet by l37 feet, more or
less at the northwest corner of Broad
and Third streets, in the city OF Rseh-
mond.
BY Mr. Flood; No. 2s9. To validate
judgments and DEGREES of courts.
BY Mr.. Jeffress: 30. 100 To provide
for new registration of the voters OF
the town of Culpeper.
BY same: No. 12l. To authorize the
Board Of Supervisors of Culpeper county
10 make one special lien to provide Tor
the payment of the interest and principal
Of the bonded Indebtedness Of Catalpa
School District in said county, and to
authorize the Board Of School Trustees
for said district to apply the proceeds
thereof to said Indebtedness.
BY Mr.. Parr: No. l22. To amend chapter
3G5 of the Acts Of 1854 in relation TO
divorces.
by Mr.. Maynard: No. 12s. To authorize
the United States Government to pur-
chase lands on the south branch of the
Elizabeth river, adjoining Gosport navy
yard.
By Mr.. Jefrries: No. 12L To amend
and re-enact section 4l07 Of the Code OF
Virginia in reference to appeals and mis-
demeanor cases from judgments OF
justices. The bill gives period Of ten
days in which appeals may be taken
instead of requiring them to be noted al
once. as at present.
BY Mr.. Turnbun Coy requests a bill
apprOpriating 5000 for the support of the
Virginia Home for Incurables.
BY Mr.. Tate: Senate Bill No. 126. TO
amend and re-enact an act to amend and
re-enact section 525 of the Code Of Vir-
ginia in relation to the collection Of the
fees of the. commissioners of the revenue,
approved February q. 1886.
ERRORS IN ASSESSMENTS.
Mr.. Barksdale introduced a bill pro-
viding for the summoning by the Judges
OF county and corporation courts of in
quisitorial grand juries for the purpose OF
correcting erroneous assessments Of per-
sonal property. The jury, ii IS proposed
shall sit on the 18th Of July of every
year the Judge and the Commonwealth
Attorney to act with it. and each juror
TO take a special oath set forth in the
bill.
ANTI-GAMBLING MEASURE.
Mr.. Morris introduced bill to prevent
the wagering Of anything of value upon
the result Of any trials Of speed. or power
OF endurance, or skill, of animals 81
beasts, taking place without the limits
of the Commonwealth. Mr.. Morris said
TO the Dispatch reporter that the Legis
lature had stopped horse-racing in tn,
State. and he proposed by this bill tC
stop gambling. The measure IS INTENDED
10 meet the decision Of the Court of APP
peals in the case OF Lacy vs.. Palmer, II
which the title of the act passed at thu
last session was found TO be defective
the court holding that the act simply
prevented pool selling, the words 'anC
so forth" meaning nothing The new bill
gives a different title TO the act.
TAX FOR SCHOOL PURPOSES.
The Senate took up and passed, under
a special order. two House bills relating
TO the taxation of railroad and othel
property for district school purposes.
MI Wickham spoke in support of the
bills. At the end Of the last session, h'
said, there were upon the calendar a
number Of bills which failed to become
laws. owing to lack Of time for the com
mittees TO give them consideration
Among those which failed TO receive the
attention OF the committees were the
present bills. The object of these is tC
give to- boards of supervisors the right
|, 10 levy a tax upon railroads, and Other
similar property for district school pur
levy. MIR. Wickham read letter from
Melville u. ingalls,. president Of the Ches
.apcake and Ohio railway. saying IL was
not the wish Of his company to avoid
any Of the public burdens, and that h'
did not wish any attempt TO be made
in this direction. though II had been de
.cided by the Supreme Court that boards
OF supervisors had not the right 10 levy
such tax.
The bills simply give supervisors th'
right TO make the levy. and require thu
Board Of Public Works 20 send down e
them the valuation of the property II
their jurisdiction. The railroads arc ais,
required 10 report the value OF their pro
perty in such district.
THE GOVERNORS ADDRESS.
Mr.. Maynard offered resolution pro
yding for the printing of 900 copies OF
Governor Tylers inaugural address fo
the use OF the Senate and that IL be in
.corsorated I'm the journal. The resolu
ZION was unanimously adopted.
BILLS PASSED BY.
Major Clements bill which provides
that the boundary line between farms
shall constitute a lawful fence, was re
ported from the Committee on Counties
cities and Towns. with the recommends
fion that Il do not pass. Major Clemen
asked that the bill be passed by. whicl
WAS agreed 70.
The Senate bill authorizing the Count.
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