Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-02-26
THE LEGISLATURE.
SENATE.


| time to clearing the calendar.
| A resolution, offered by Mr.. Mu5h'
bach. to allow the special joint COM
mittee on the boundary line between
MARYLAND and Virginia to sit after the
adjournment of the legislature, and to
make its report to the next session, was
agreed to.
The Wharton insurance bill and the
constitutional convention resolution
both went ever again, and it seems
doubtful whether either will be enact
ed into law. Various amendments
have been proposed to the former, and
there will be fight over that which
may so delay the latter as to prevent
the House considering it at all. The
caucus tonight, however, may change
the situation.
The Pitcher bill imposing a tax on
fishing nets was amended so as to ex-
empt those taking fish for their own
consumption and then passed by the
Senate. Mr.. Pitcher accepted the
amendment.
Mr.. McIlwaine reported from the
committee on courts of justice bill
providing for uniform law on the sub
| iect of negotiable instruments. He said
the bill was framed on the lines sug-
| gested by the American Bar Association
years several ago, and was the san as
! the law now in force in New York and
other States. The bill went over. La
ter bill was passed authorizing the
| Governor to continue the commission
appointed at the last session to secure
uniformity of laws in the United States
on various matters, such as marriage,
divorce, insolvency, etc, by working in
conjunction with the commission from
the National Bar Association.
Among the Senate bills passed by the
Senate were these: To require the State
library to be kept open from 9 8. m. to
5 p. M; to dispense with the necessity
for motion for a new trial in certain
cases; authorizing building and loan as-
sociations to change trustees, etc to
protect owners of bottles, &c; authorz
ing the Governor to grant, under rec
ommendation Of the penitentiary board.
conditional pardon to convicts.
Also House bills to amend sections
30S9 and 5000 of the code in relation to
terms of the supreme court; 10 amend
section 1902 of the code in relation to
taxes on railroads.
The bill requiring the beneciaries
under private acts to pay fees to de-
fray the cost of printing and binding
the same, aroused great objection, and
the bill was recommitted.
The Senate rejected the bill to pre-
vent electric and other street railways
from crossing steam railway tracks at
grade.
The House was engaged most Of the
day with the appropriation bill. Per
sistent, but, futile, efforts were made to
engraft in the bill clause prescribing
that -Confederates be appointed for
police duty on the Capitol square. MIR.
Wthrow led the fight, which was along
the line recommended by the
finance committee. 1t was the
sense of the body that the Sc
lections should be left to the appoint
ing power, and that the House should
express its pr. ference for veterans in q
resolution rather than bill.
TIE senate bill prohibiting the imposition
of tax on the publication OF newspapers was
passed
The House agreed to Senate amendments to
bill to amend section 3429 OF the code so as
10 requirs a record to be kept of money ul'
der control of courts.
The House agreed to the renate amend
ment to the bill amending section 1868 OF the
code in relation to attempts to poison and how
punished.
The two houses disagreed on the bill pro-
posing tax on telephones, and conference
WAS ordered.
The session of the Legislature ends
Tuesday next, and it is quite probable
that many measures will fail to be act
ed on. 1t is doubtful whether the two
houses will extend the session. There
is sentiment against it. The appro'
priation bill has not yet passed the
House and when it does it will have to
20 back to the Senate and conference
called on it. The bill for submitting
the question of calling constitutional
convention will not be voted on in the
Senate possibly before Monday. 1t is
doubtful whether it will get through
the two houses now.
The Senate on Thursday passed House
bills:
To amend section 25o7 of the cole as t.
list of writings recorded to be posted by The
clerk.
To authorize the supervisors of RIPARIAN
mock Madison, Culpeper, Greene. Orange,
Warren an spo'sylvania to aid in the con-
struotion of the Piedmont Railway Company.
To amend SECT on 1854 Of he code in rela-
ton 10 allowances of fees of criminal cases.
To amend sections III and us of the
code relating to f aes and costs before justices
Of The peace.
To amend sect on 1881 of the code in re-
lation TO fees of sheriil5 etc.
To amend an act for the better assessment
of personal property urder the control OF
iducaries and the several courts OF the com.
| mOnWealth.
To provide that district school boards shall
not contract to expeud in any one year an
amount III excess of the approximate amount
certified to them.
To direct the County Superintendent Of
Schools to transmit ennuaiy approximate
statements of amount to he expended.
Also Senate bills to give aid II CO. federate
soldiers by imposing special tax OF not ex-
ceeding per cent.
No MINES IN HAVANA HARBoR
view of the widely published report
that the harbor of Havana contains a
system of submarine mines, statement
around which has centered the chief