Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-01-11
SAY IT ISA GOOD LAW
LEGISLATORS DEFEND BILL RE-
LIEvING EXPRESS COMPANIES.
ATTEMPT TO RECONSIDER ACTION,
DIR. Flanagan VIII Endeavor 10 Have
the Old Law Filming Common Car
Bill to Garnish officials Salaries.


making an overcharge for the carriage Of
goods entrusted to them.
These papers charge that the repeal
OF the law was brought about by willy
lobbyist working upon inexperienced law
makers.
Following is the bill which was intro
duced in the Senate by Mr. Barksdae by
request:
BE it enacted by the General Assembly
Of Virginia, That section 1920 Of the Code
OF Virginia be amended and re-enacted so
as TO read as follows:
Section 1920. Penalty for violating any
of the five preceding sections: Any corpo-
ration, company, association, or any agent
or employee Of either, or any other per-
son, who shall violate any OF the pro-
visions of the five preceding sections shall
forfeit for each violation not less than
500; one half for the use of the informer
and the other half for the use OF the Com
mOnwealth; provided, however that II
such violation Of the five preceding sec
tions be an excessive charge for trans
porting or carrying any articles or things;
and within ten days after demand. at the
place where paid, such excess over the
proper charge be returned 10 the party
paying the same, then the penalty or for
forced.
3 This act shall be in force from its
passage.
KNEW WHAT THEY WERE DOING.
Those who voted for the bill, or many
of them, say that they did so with their
eyes open, and with a full knowledge of
its provisions and intent. captain Parks.
the patron of the bill in the House. said
he was satisfied the bill was a good one.
,fc Iot
evidently ignorant of the law" said Cap
tain Parks last night. 1T provides that
when at any time it is learned that an
express company has overcharged COM
plant may be made against 1t, and if the
overcharge is refunded within ten days
from the time complaint is made the
penalty shall not be enforced / think ii
unfair in these days. when tariffs of
freight and express charges are so COM
plicated TO compel a transportation COM
pany TO such strict account for mistakes.
The papers which criticise US seem TO
forget that a penalty is still imposed if
repayment is not made within ten days
from the time Of demand"
TO RESTORE OLD LAW.
Mr.. Flanagan Republican, is confident
the law is wrong in principle. and seve-
raj days ago introduced the following bill,
designed to restore the old law:
l. BE It enacted by the General Assembly
OF Virginia, That section l22O of the Code
OF Virginia, as amended by an act entitled
an act 10 amend and re-enact section lZ1O
OF rhe Code of Virginia, which provides
a penalty. upon any corporation. com
. Dany. association or any agent or en-
plOyee of either or any other persons, Tor
violating sections l2l5. 1915, l2l7, 1918, ana
1919 Of the Code Of Virginia, or any Of
them, approved December q, 1891. be
amended and re-enacted so as TO read
as follows:
Section 1870 Penalty for violating any
of the five preceding sections. Any cor
DOratiOn, company, association, or any
agents or employee OF either, or any
other person, who shall violate any OF
the provisions Of the five preceding Sec
tions shall forfeit for each violation not
less than Sl0O-one-half for the use OF
the infOrmer and the other half for the
use OF the Commonwealth.
?. This act shall be in force from its
passage.
Mr. Flanagan says there Will be a good
vote polled for his bill. and while he is
not certain of its success. he is firmly con-
vlnced of its wisdom.
TO GARNISH OFFICIALS.
Mr.. +. c. Folkes's bill to subject all
city, town, and county officials to gar
nishment will probably come up to-mor-
row morning at 10 o'clock before the
House Committee on Courts of Justice
The patron and many others think the
situation for its passage is quite hope
full, as many members OF the committee
favor the measure. All parties interested
are invited to appear Mr.. Folkes, when
asked why he did not include State Off
GERS, neplied that the lawyers said that
if he did it might be thrown out on its
constitutionality, and, therefore, he is
after those whom he thinks he can
surely reach now, and will try to reach
State officers another time. He says
that he can see no reason why a public
officer should be exempt more than an
engineer, fireman, or any other laboring-
man. If you are going to exempt one, eX-
empt all said he. He is opposed to many
things that areElllOwed under the pres
ent system Of creditor and debtor laws
and especially the assignment laws. He
continually harps upon the legal members
of the House for better legislation along
this line.
THE OFFICE OF GAME WARDEN.
There are two bills now pending. pro-
yiding for the creation of the Office OF
fish and game warden of the State. Mr.
WithrOw introduced the second yester-
day. In speaking of hs bill TO a Dis
patch reporter, the Delegate representing
Allegheny, Bath and Highland said that
fifteen States in the Union have similar
laws upon their statute books, which
bring them a revenue in no case less
than 5000 per annum, while few OF
these Commonwealths annually increase
their treasury TO the amount OF $4,000 by
reason of the law.
THE WHIPPING-POST BILL
Mr. Murphy is not certain that his bill
establishing the whipping post as a pun
shment for petit larceny will fail Of
passage. despite the claims of opponents
that a majority Of the members of the
House have expressed themselves
against il. lie says he can make a show
ing for ii so strong that he can hardly see
how il can be beaten. Mr.. Berry, of
Stafford county. will probably offer 10
amend the bill by making il apply 10 Wife
heaters instead OF Of petty thieves. He
thinks this more in line with his ideas Of
right as well as In consonance with the
wishes Of majority of the people Of the
State.
COMMITTEES ORGANIZE.
The joint committee to prepare a list
of State officials. with their salaries. met
at 8 o'clock yesterday afternoon. with
Messrs Barksdale. Withers, Withrow,
and Bauserman present. by special re-
quest of Mr.. Withrow. who introduced
the resolution I'm the House before its
passage by the Senate. Mr.. Barksdale,
author OF a similar resolution in the
Senate, was made chairman. The COM
mittee will meet this afternoon to for
mulate plans for work.
The Joint Committee on Retrenchment
and Constitutional Amendments. appoint
ed under a resolution OF Mr.. Mason's,
met yesterday afternoon. There were