Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-01-13
PAY OF OFFICIALS.
THE JOINT Committee Is GETTING
TO WORK IN EARNEST.
TO SUMMON ASYLUM ATTACHES
NH Proposed TO Reduce the Cost of
commitment of Insnnc--lmportant
Rctrcnchmcnt Bills - Sugar-Bcct
min 10 lie RcNtVcd-A Dog Law.

The ioint legislative committee ap-
,o,ntcd to prepare list OF the officials
- Tho state who draw salaries. met yes
,.r5a, afternoon, Senator Barksdale pre-
siding.
Nr. Wthrow. chairman OF the sub-com-
nHtec appointed TO formulate plans for
CARRYING out the object OF the joint COM
,.,ttoc. reported a list Of interrogatorles 10
D., submitted TO the heads Of various
state institutions. seeking information
.s to the salaries OF executive officers
and aI attaches. II is probable that the
committee will summon before II In a
short time the superintendent of the
STATE hospitals Tor the purpose OF elicit
ink information upon which the COM
r,ttec can act in formulating a bill de-
..cr,d TO reduce the cost 10 the state OF
s8ndcing an individual insane. Under
she present law, such person must be ex-
smnei by a commission Gle mnatico.
composed OF q doctor, two magistrates.
and "a constable. and when adjudged of
.n-ound mind the patient is taken to
,ts county jail by the constable and to
,re nearest railway station by the Sheriff.
where DE SIS received by an attendant
.ram Che institution to which he is con-
ssacd. -
j. Was stated last night that mem
b. of the committee had in mind a bill
s,s..nci 90 reduce the number of magis-
tratss composing a lunacy commission
to one. and TO place the charges for the
same as we'll as for Incarceration in
tI where necessary. and the cost of
importation TO the railway station,
mon the counties. \ delegate who has
-rn this subject attention says that
bis Tor taking a lunatic from the jail
-a th. station. often drive of only a
fw miles frequently amount to SO or SIS.
If paid by the counties he thinks these
would Doe much less.
The committee Will not meet again for
several days. desiring to first near from
,ta officials to whom the letter Of inter
rotation regarding salaries have been
addressed.
INFRINGEMENT AND REFORM.
The joint Committee on Retrenchment
and Reform and Constitutional Amend
ualts Senator Mason chairman. held
meeting yesterday afternoon. with a full
attendance. SIX important bills looking
10 ecOu0mizing in State expenditures,
and constitutional amendments We're
considered. The committees session was
private. Meetings viii be held every
Wednesday afternoon and Saturday morn
.re ID is not thought that its work viii
b. completed until late in the session.
Tla bill Incorporating the Virginia
sugar refining Company. which was
passed bv for an indefinite period on the
notion Of its patron. Mr. Flood in the
Saale Tuesday, is not dead. which is
usually the effect OF such a motion. 1t
.s understood that an effort will be made
to-day TO have the body reconsider the
vote by which the bill was passed by. 1t
.s not known whether Mr.. Flood Will en-
daf0r TO have stricken out the amend
ue1t against which he fought Tuesday
TAX on SOCIAL CLUBS
The passage Of Mr.. Maupins bill re-
CURING social clubs that dispense liquors
% tllr members TO pay a license tax
is bound 20 excite quite general Interest.
Ila commonwealth. Jefferson, West
mo-.and. and Albemarle clubs, in this
cty VIII be affected by the law, us Wen
s, -le Deep Run Hunt Club. just outside
fha CIty limits. There are a number OF
such clubs in the cities Of the State, and
r is said that many bogus organizations.
.r the purpose Of evading license exist
u various sections. II is thought that a
stro1g fight viii be made against the bill
il tle Senate.
MY bin requiring railroads TO fence
their tracks will pass the House" said
Nr. Saunders yesterday. Further than
fhat cannot say. positively, but l have
tn f.lf pgf fhToTlgb tho
Senate. ] am sure the bill is right in
principle and ] am equally sure that
ttc sentiment Of the people Of the State
is In IT'S favor. II is the same law that
s on The statute books OF many States,
and Virginia cannot afford TO lag so far
behind in this matter Of protecting her
citizens"
ST. Matthews. OF Accomac county, has
Introduced bin in the House imposing
taX Of 50 cents on every male dog in the
Commonwealth. and Of 81 upon every fe-
male. The proceeds Of this tax law are
to be paid into the State Treasury for
tte benefit Of the school fund, after the
deduction Of the amounts needed TO reim- !
tlrse farmers for sheep killed by dogs. !
lr Matthews thinks the bill will pass,
and says it would bring in 100000 reye-
l.e annually.
l0 ABDllSf1 l1ANAlNiI.
1Ir Berrey. Of Stafford, introduced in
the House yesterday, a bin abolishing |
capital. punishment in Virginia subst |
il,nr life imprisonment al hard labor |
therefor Mr.. Bcrrey is very earnest in |
Dds advocacy Of this bin, though by no |
means certain Of it's success.
Ia. WlIppiug-pOst bill, which viii come |
ap .n the House to-day. IS not certain of /
ee but il has afforded practically |
an eEhaustless topic Of conversation |
among members. Various amendments |
have been suggested. making the punish |
mont apply 10 other crimes-wife-be beating, |
Tor instance-but IL is not known that /
amy viii be offered. A senator proposed !
90 delegate that the bill be made to !
aflly 90 defaulting county and State Of |
i..aIg attorneys. and bank cashiers. the |
whipping 20 be supplementary 10 the sta
utDry punishment already provided. The |
delegate agreed TO offer such amend |
meat bat when the senator had drawn !
% f0r him backed down.
TO ANNEX RIVERMONT.
There .s now being agitated in Lynch /
burg a proposition to annex Rivermont. |
little town Of about 500 inhabitants, |
ann thc City Councils will be asked TO /
petition the Legislature 10 take action TO 1
iat end IL Is understood that the en- |
hrr legislative delegation from Lynch !
burg and Campbell county, are opposed /
90 such action Campbell county has /
fre. bonded Indebtedness. representing /
Sub. cription TO the Lynchburg and Dur /
tm railroad and II is argued that il /
would Boz manifestly unfair 10 deprive the !
county ~ the ,ottepua from foxaffon tinou /