Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-01-29
Of the efficiency e the government government, r N

or tne efnclency OF the government. ne
people did not desire retrenchment AT
such sacrifice.
IL the salaries or the members OF the
General Assembly were TO be cut he hoped
IL would not apply 70 the present session,
Mr. Diggs moved that when the con-
ference adjourned 1t should do so to meet
again next Friday night. The delegate
from King William thought the way 10
arrive at q conclusion in the matter was
to appoint steering committee and let
the latter report.
Mr. Murphy thought that from the way
things were being conducted there was
not going to be a dollar saved. and tnat
the best thing the Legislature could DO
was 10 adjourn the LIST of February and
save the State that much, at least.
The body then, upon motion OF MT
Little. adjourned TO meet again next Fri
day night all
Amendments TO the Craig Bill.
The House Committee Of Ten met yes
terday afternoon I'm Committed Room No.
l. with Judge Watkins In the chair.
The meeting was called together to re-
ceIve the report OF The subcommittee,
composed Of Messrs. Smith, Stubs, and
Craig which was appointed by the Com
mittee on Chesapeake and Its Tributaries
on Thursday to present the Craig Dill,
with the amendments, which 1t had re-
commended.
After some friendly discussion the
amended bill was recommended, together
with two important additional amend
ments. the first of which provides that
the oyster-grounds in the deep waters
of the Chesapeake may be rented to per-
sons outside OF the state after May LIST
next. and all other oyster grounds IN the
State If then approved by the Board OF
Fisheries, after January /. 1899.
The other amendment allows planters
to dredge and scrape on their own oys-
fairgrounds. which is not now allowed,
upon condition that they pay an addi-
tional tax of so cents per acre for the
privilege.
The Committee on Chesapeake and It's
Tributaries agreed to the compromise
between the congressional Bivalve COM
mittee and that on Chesapeake. and de-
cided to report Mr.. Stubbs's bill, allow
ing the taking up by the state OF GER
tain natural rocks I'm the county Of Gl0u-
cester which were omitted from the sur
vey.
Haul Hogs on EIectric-Cars.
The Senate Committee on Roads yester-
day afternoon considered the bill COM
polling the Washington and southern
Division of the Pennsylvania railway 10
deliver hogs over an electric line to the
ROsyn Packing Company, at R0slyh'
midway between Alexandria and WASH
ington. Colonel Francis l.. Smith, or
Alexandria and Mr.. Joynes, of the PENN
sylyania railroad, argued the case iSr
the road, and Mr.. Armstrong for the
packing company. The bill will be fur-
Their considered at the next meeting.
The employers liability bill was MADE
the special continuing order Tor o,cloch
Tuesday afternoon. and the railroad
fence bill for February Sth. Each or
these measures has passed the Senate.
Work of House Committees.
The House Committee on Propositions
and Grievances met yesterday afternoon,
and. without lengthy discussion, decided
to report favorably Senate BIZ No. ~ 10
amend and re-enact section 10 OF the ACT
Incorporating the Buck Horn Iron ana
Improvement Company; Senate BIZ NO.
2l1 to amend section 2S3S of chapter l5I'
of the Code OF Virginia, relating 10 DEAR
ings with students and gaming. ana sen
ate Bill No. 270, to protect electric-ngnt-
ing and power companies, and gas COM
panies and cities and towns from the
theft of electric current or gas or appa-
ratus or unlawful interference therewltn.
A few slight amendments were made 10
the latter bill, principal among when
was the fixing of the penalty for Viola
ton of the act at $25 instead of at $50.
The Committee on Agriculture and
Mining decided to report unfavoraDly
Judge Watkins's bill. which imposes
license OF s. on agents for the safe Oh
fertilizers in incorporated towns.
The Committees on Roads and courts
of Justice decided to report q NUMBER Oh
bills.
The Bill to Abolish Courts.
The bill of Senator Barksdale to abolish
circuit and county courts will be follow
ed by two companion measures, carrying
out the following plan: In lieu OF county
and circuit courts to have district courts,
NOT less than twenty nor more than
thirty in the Stae; abolish all corpora
ton courts in cities of less than 2o,Vo
inhabitants, and to include such cities IN
the judicial districts; abolish the ONCE
of Commemorative Attorney and pro-
vide for one prosecuting attorney for
each judicial district. Mr. Barksdale
says he has interviewed persons from all
sections Of the State on this subject, and'
as a rule. the plan proposed is Favored.
If adopted he thinks it Will save the
state 100000 annually.