Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-01-17
THE LEGISLATURE.
SENATE.

day was very short, but the number of
/ bills passed was much larger than usual.
These were not of general importance,
however, and were passed without de-
bate of interest.
The following were among House
bills passed:
Limiting time in which warrants
drawn by supervisors may be paid.
| In relation to action of assumpsit.
Among the Senate bills passed were:
To amend section 492 of the code, by
whom property listed, etc.
To authorize board of supervisors of
Culpeper to make special levy.
On motion Of Mr.. Mushbach, bill
providing for the working of the roads
Of Fairfax county was passed, under
suspension of the rules.
Bills were introduced to amend sec.
ton $50 of the code in relation to max
| ing deeds to purchasers for land sold as
delinquent for taxes; to amend section
1908 of the code relating to how term
of confinement or amount of fine of
person convicted of felony is ascertain
ed. The bill provides that if the &c.
cused she'll plead guilty the court shall
ascertain the punishment and give ser
tence accordingly; to prohibit combina-
tions among insurance companies to in
crease rates. This is the same bill as
the one now pending in the House,
General Wharton patron.
The Senate accepted the invitation of
Lee Camp of Confederate Veterans to
attend the exercises to be held at the
hall on Wednesday in honor of G en
Lees birthday.
HOUSE.
Two important measures were re-
committed in the House. The first
was the Murphy whipping-post BILL
which was referred back to the com
mittee, with all the substitutes thereto,
including one offered by Captain R. S..
Parks, which was accepted by the pa
tron of the original measure.
The second bill which was again
placed in the hands of committee,
was that of MIR. Stubs, authorizing the
county supervisors to make, in their
discretion, a special levy of 40 cents for
tho support of manned and disabled
Confederate soldiers. Mr.. Featherston
moved that the bill be recommitted, in
order that this burden shall fall equal.
ly upon the entire State, instead Of
upon the various counties, some of
which have very few old soldiers,
while others have quite number. Mr..
Featherston also thinks that the cities,
which the soldiers shed more blood to
defend than they did for the counties,
should be required to pay fair propol-
ton of this fund for the support of dis
abled Confederate veterans.
The Murphy bill came upas special
order, AMI Captain Parks opened the
discussion by opposing the bill in it's
present shape, and offering u substitute
thereto. One of his reasons for doing
this was that under its provisions q
man over 60 years of age could not be
punished for petit larceny. He be.
lieves the N asure waslunconsti.utional
Captain Parks said also that he was not
in favor of the idea and did not feel that
the enactment of such law would be
good public policy. The measure
which he offered as substitute pre-
vided that magistrate could not send
u man to Jail for patti larceny over thir-
ty days. In the second offence of petit
larceny he shall be punished with not
less than five nor more than thirty
stripes.
Mr.. Saunders suggested that for the
second offence they be convicted of
felony and sent to the penitentiary.
There was some objection to this on
the ground that the penitentiary was
already overcrowded.
Captain Parks said it was left option
al with the jury as to whether stripes
were to be administered or not, the re-
suit would be that the colored man
would be slashed, and the white thief
would not be. He believed that both
should be put upon the same footing,
and if anything, the white man de-
served the punishment more than the
negro. This remark was greeted with
considerable applause. He incorpc-
rated in the bill the provisions exempt
ing women, and also men over 60
years Of age, from punishment of
stripes. If any other bill could be de-
vised which met the needs Of the case
better, he was perfectly willing to join
hands in its support.
Mr.. Diggs moved to recommit the
original bill, and all of its substitutes.
The pending question was called and
the original bill and substitutes were
reoommitted.
Mr.. Cooke introduced bill to pre-
vide method for assessment of tax
against the stockholders of insurance
companies and associations, chartered
and doing business in this State, and 10
provide for the collection of the tax
assessed against said stockholders.
The measure requires such companies
Incorporated in this State to give list
of their stockholders, and to be taxed
in the same manner that banks now
are.
Bills were introduced to amend sub
division of section $3.50 of the code in
relation to execution of property of
householder or head of family from
levy, seizure, punishment, or sale for
dobt or liability on contract.
To authorize the filing of petition
in a pending chancery case in the
clerks Office, and to motion the same
at rules.
To amend section 1862 of the code
in relation to jurisdiction of partition.
to amend an act approved March s,
1888, to provide for the payment OF jug