Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-01-04
THE LEGISLATURE.
SENATE.

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Albemarle, introduced q bill which is
intended to remedy the defect found in
the anti-pool-seilipg act passed at the
last session-that prohibiting the bat
ting or wagering of money on any race
or other trials of speed of horses or
other animals within or without the
State. A test case was made under the
style of Lacy vs.. Palmer, sheriff of AL.
eXandria county, and carried to the
Court of Appeals, which held that the
title of the act did not, as the constitu-
ton provides, set forth all of its objects.
The betting or making of pools without
the State was only embraced in the title
in the words "and go forth" These
words, the court held, had no meaning,
ard that part of the Law became in
operative. Mr. Morri5's bill is intend.
ed to remedy this defect.
a bill was introduced by Senator
Maynard to authorize the United States
government to purchase lands on the
South Braach of the Elizabeth river,
adjoining the Gosport navy yard. The
lands are TO be added to the Norfolk
navy yard, to be used az a wet dock
for ships under repair.
The Senate passed two House bills
designed to give to Boards of Super
visors the right to levy a tax on rail
road, canal, telegraph, aud telephone
companies for district school purposes.
1t will be remembered that the Court
of Appeals rendered a decision 10
which it was held that the supervisors
had no authority to impose such tax.
The bill passed yesterday gives to the
supervisors authority to levy the tex,
and a companion measure passed
amends the act in relation to the pow
ers of supervisors.
Mr.. Jeffries introduced bill amend
ing the code in relation to appeals in
misdemeanor cases. The bill allows
.en days for the appeal.
2r. Barksdsle introduced bill to
authorize the summoning of linguistic.
-isl grand juries by county and corpo-
:. ;on courts for correcting erroneous
assessments. The jury is to sit on the
10th of July, the Judge and Common
wualth's Attorney to act with the Jury.
Bills were introduced to validate
judgments and DEGREES of courts; to
amend chapter 365 of the acts OF 1891
rs in relation to divorces; to appropri-
ate 1000 for the support OF the Nir-
ginis Home for Incurables; to amend
section 525 of the code 10 relation to
the collection of the fees of the con-
missioners of the revenue, approved
February y, 1896.
HOUSE.
Judge Watkins introduced a bill to
prevent dealing in futures, and declaE-
ing such transactions to be gambling
The bill makes it unlawful to deal in
futures in cotton, grain. or anything
else for the purpose of gaining the
~.Acrence between the rise and fall OF
the prices of such articles. A fine OF
not less than 500 nor more than 500 is
imposed for the violation Of the statute.
House bill, to make the 20sh OF Jan
uary legal holiday, to be known as
Lee and Jackson Day, was passed.
Mr.. Stubs, who is the grand COM
mauder of the Confederate Camp Of
Virginia, introduced bill defining
what constitutes sufficient disabilities
to enable an ex.Confederate to be ep-
titled to pension from the State. The
same gentleman introduced another bill
requiring counties to levy tax to sup
port -Snd maintain disabled ex-Con-
federates.
Mr.. Barley offered a bill providing
for fee of SIS on every charter grant
ed by judge to non.residents.
Mr.. KiZsr offered bill providing
that in action to recover for personal
services an additional sum of not less
than 81 so nor more than SO shall be
entered for attorneys fees. If judg-
ment is confessed no fee is to be 81
lowed. No property of any description
is exempted from this law.
Mr.. Cookies bill, providing for appeals
on behalf of the State in case of errone
Gus assessment, was engrossed. The
The bill allows the auditor to appeal 10
Circuit Courts and to the Court OF Ap
peal5 il he deems advisable.
Mr.. Diggs introduced q bill to amend
section 1897 of the code in relation to
what shall be taught in the public
schools, and as to how textbooks shall
be selected. The measure provides
that the furnishing of the books shall be
"let out to the lowest bidder" bids ior
same being received, and that not less
than three textbooks On any one sub
jsct or branch of learning shall be
placed on the list, in order that there
may be competition.
Mr.. Williams introduced bill re.
curing all distillers of apple brandy
to pay license tax, the same 10 be in
no case less than $40. Under the pre-.
sent law, dislillers making not over
forty gallons of brandy are not required
to pay a license, and, on account of this
provision, it is difficult to enforce any
tax, nearly all distillers claiming that
they do not make more than that guam
tity.
Mr.. Stubs introduced bill provid-
ing for the appropriation of $1,000 to
have copied the muster rolls of Vire inia
troops 10 the Confederate army, this
sum to be under the control of the
governor, to be used as in his judgment
be may deem best to accomplish the
desired object.
Bills were introduced to amend sec
tions 4077 and 407S of the code as to
guarding iails and pay of guards, etc.;
to amend section SSl of the code, in ref
ence to poor to be kept at poorhouses,
and when and how assistance to be
given at their homes; to amend the
coda in relation to Yenire faeias in cases