Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-01-27
THE LEGISLATURE.
SENATE.

SENATE.
In the Senate the bill amending the
constitution so as to consolidate the 10.
cal elections brought out decided Oppo.
sition to this move from the represeC-
tatives of the black belt counties. IL
| was claimed that such consolidation
would be hurtlul to the democracy in
that section. The measure was passed
| by. Mr.. Opie introduced bill to au-
| thorize the Governor or board of public
works 10 hire out convicts to competing
| concerns who propose 10 manufacture
beet sugar.
The Senate passed the bill to in-
crease the Jurisdiction of county courts
as to all matters pertaining to contracts
and the amount o. damages involved in
tort cases coming before them. This
will enable lenders of money in the
country to obtain it as quickly as if
loaned in a city. During the debate
Mr.. Mushbach said he Was surprised to
hear the Senator from Nelson { Mr.. Mas.
sie) say it was even now difficult to get
men TO take the Office of county Judge
He had always found, and the exper.-
erce ofthe present legislature was that
it was difficult to prevent every lawyer
from being candidate. He thought it
bad thing that judges should practice
low, but there was no law to prevent it..
He thought the bill should pass.
The Senate ordered to It's engross-
ment the bill relieving charitable and
religious institutions from the payment
of the collateral Inheritance tax upon
bequests.
AS stated yesterday the Senate COM
mittee Oh courts decided to report fl
vorably the Withers bill, providing for
submitting to the voters at the election
next November the question as to
whether or not convention shall be
called to revise and amend the consti-
| tuition.
The Senate passed the House bill to
amend the license law relating to sales
by peddlers; also senate bills to protect
electric lighting and power companies;
to amend the act making husband and
wife competent witnesses for and against
each other; to amend sections 2945-49
Of the code as to warrants for small
claims; to amend section 3045 in rels-
ton TO terms of county courts to amend
section 3046 in relation TO the jurisdic-
ton of the county courts.
HOUSE.
As stated in the Gazette, the House
ordered to its engrossment the bill pre-
hibiting the sale of trading stamps in
Virginia, and will pass it when it
comes up.
The House discussed the five bills
reported from the retrenchment COM
mittee. MIR. Minter said what was de-
nanded was that the pay of State Of
/, ficials should be based upon the value
of dollar now compared to what it
was when these Offices were created.
A vote was not reached, but the SEN
{, timent seemed to be in favor of cutting
down expenses upon the lines indicated
or some others.
One of the bills proposes to reduce
the allowance to jailers for the care OF
prisoners from 25 to Is cents per day;
another that in cases of vagrants the
fees of trial officers shall be
charged against the defense and
if not collected only one-half shall be
paid, aud the counties instead of
the State shall pay this (; third that in
felony cases the fees of all the officers
shall be borne by the State, while in
misdemeanors they shall be collected
from either the defense or prosecution,
and if this be impossible, the State shall
only pay only one-half; and still another
a6oishes fees to witnesses in misde.
meanor cases.
Chairman Winborne, in supporting
the bills, said they would save the
State $107, 900 in criminal expenses !;
that the treasury would really gain
$3.50, 900 and the extra burden on the
counties would be S23 600 and he thouh,
this would be gradually cut down.
Mr.. Cooke made a fight to have the
bills recomrnitted in order that those
affected by them might be heard. He
had considered the auditor and the
latter did not think the bills would
save money to the State, while they
might prove a charge on the treasury.
Mr. Berry presented bill to amend
the election law so that an elector, 10
preparing bis ballot, may require the
presence of either or both OF the judges
Of election to see that the ballot is pre-
pared as the elector may direct.
Bills were introduced TO allow insurance
companies to publish their reports in such
newsp,pe as the auditor may direct instead
of compelling them 10 insert such reports in
daily paper as at present; and to provide for
working a contain road in Fairfax county,
and to mako applicable thereto the provisions
of an act approved Feb. 20, 1896.
The House committee on courts has report
ed favorably the bill which seeks to prevent
the preferring of creditors in the case of as.
signments, with the view of defrauding other
creditors.
ANOTHER FIRE IN LOUDOUN.
Correspondence Alexandria Gazette
RYAN, Va, Jan. 26.-About nine
o'clock this morning Bramilton, the
residence of Mr.. G. G. Hutchinson, an
enterprising farmer, situated about two
miles north Of Arcole, was totally de-
stroyed by fire. 1t was supposed to