Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-01-28
THE LEGISLATURE.
SENATE,

SENATE.
The Senate yesterday made Senator
Witbers' bill providing for submitting
to the voters the question of calling q
constitutional convention the special
order for Tuesday next. The impress
sion is that this measure will pass.
AS stated yesterday, Capt. Mushbach
introduced bill authorizing the trus-
tees of the Protestant Episcopal Thee.
logical Seminary, at Alexdria, to confer
| the degree of bachelor of divinity.
The Senate passed the bill exempt
ing charitable, religious and education
al institutions from the collateralinher-
itance tax on requests.
Senator Barksdale offered joint res
olulion proposing amendments to the
constitution, abolishing circuit aud
! county courts, and substituting in lieu
thereof district courts. There are not
to be less than twenty nor more thsn
thirty districts, embracing as nearly es
possible the same number of inbabit-
ants in each, and court shall be held in
each county every month. Mr.. Barks-
| dale estimates that the change would
save the State SIS, 1000 per annum.
HOUSE.
The House passed the Murphy anti
trading stamp bill, and the fight will
| now be transferred to the Senate.
The House adopted the report of the
committee on elections recommending
the continuing in his seat of DR.. R. W.
L. Blanton, of Cumberland. The contes
tee was Mr.. r. B Lssuer, of Bucking
ham. whom the committee reported not
entitled to the seat.
Judge Watkins offered joint resolu-
ton proposing to cut down the salaries
of all State officials 10 per cent. and di-
| recting bill to be drafted for this pur.
pose.
Messrs. Saunders, Parks and With.
row made speeches in opposition to the
| bills that have been drafted by the spe-
cial committee on retrenchment. Mr.
Saunders took especially strong ground
| against the bills, which be declared
was defective as to titles, repuguant to
the constitution, and against public
policy.
MIR. Stubs presented a bill changing
| the rate OF taxation, and to provide for an
increased fund for soldiers and widows
of soldiers. The bill proposes to reduce
the State levy for general purposes from
80 TO 26l cents, keeps the school levy
at 13 cents. and makes one of 81 cents
for pensions and the Soldiers Home.
While the House was discussing re-
trenchnent bills, Governor Bushnell
of Ohio, his wife aud his son, John
Bushnell, and wife, entered the hall
aid were accorded the privilege of the
floor, and the chair wa, vacated foi
J five minutes to enable the members tC
greet the Governor of Ohio. Gov
Bushnell bad previously visited Gov
rs Ter.
1t is understood that some of the
| leaders in the retrenchment and reform
movement held an informal conference
in the House yesterday afternoon after
that body adjourned and decided that
in making the general cut in salaries
those of the clerks of the House and u
| the Senate could be reduced at least
half, also that the places of the reg
lister of the land Office and commission
er of agriculture could be abolished
It is likely that bills will be offered in
the House to carry out this object.
Bills we're introduced to amend Sec
ton 1859 of the code, as amended, in
relation to the practice Of pharmacy
to amend section 525 of the code in re.
lation to the collection Of fees of the
Commissioner of the Revenue; to de.
fine who are officers and employees Of
cities, towns and counties, and thereby
subject to garnishmept The bill ill.,
cludes under its head all officers, clerks
and employees who hold office by vir-
tue of city, town or county authority,
election or appointment, and who re-
ceive compensation for such services
to amend section 3705 of the code iu re-
lation to punishment for entering oil
dwellings, vessels, cars, ETC., in the
night time, and to require the Board OF
Public Works to furnish commissioners
of revenue with lists of corporations,
&C., subject to taxation.
The House passed the Senate bill to
incorporate the John Hay Normal and
Industrial School, of Alexandria, and
also House bills in relation to fences in
Mt. Vernon magisterial district, Fair
fax county,; to amend the second sec
ton of the acts for the reorganization
of the institutions for the deaf, dumb,
and blind, aud to regulate the appoint
ment of the board of directors of the
Deaf, Dumb and Blind Institute; for
the preservation of quail in the coun'
ties of Stafford and King George; to
provide for working certain road in
Fairfax county, and to make applicable
thereto the provisions Of an act ap-
nroyed February 20. 1896.