Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-01-29
THE LEGISLATURE.
SENATE.

9 refused to advance to it's engrossment
the anti-Hirting bill. This settles its
fate. The announcement that the
measure was to come up in the Senate
yesterday attracted large attendance
of ladies to hear the discussion. Mr..
McCune, the patron of the bill, said he
presented it at The request of some of
the best Christian men and women in
this State, who were looking to the
General Assembly to enact law to
protect the young ladies of Virginia.
Senator Withers opposed the measure
as frivolous legislation. The effect of
it, Mr.. Withers said, would be to OPP
press and terrorize the young men and
young ladies, and to give the principals
of schools the highest license to ter
rorizs. To abolish coquetry would be
to abolish woman, and 90 abolish wom-
an would be to take all.the poetry and
beauty out of life.
Mr.. Barksdale introduced copy Of
the Reddy senatorial primary bill,
which is now pending in the House.
The Senate passed the bill relieving
from payment of the collateral inherit
ance tax, the requests made by the
late Lewis Ginter to various charitable
institutions.
The Reddy bill providing a method
whereby the voters may express their
choice of candidates for the United
States Senate was offered in the Senate
by Mr. Barksdale.
A bill was offered by Senator Lowry
| to authorize the board of directors of
the Virginia psnitentiary to erect suit
able buildings upon the grounds of the
said institution for the better care and
comfort of the convicts confined therein.
| 1t is provided that the addition shall
contain steel cage for the accommc-
dalton of about 300 prisoners, to con-
form as nearly as possible to the draw
ings made by architect West. The
board is instructed to use convict labor
as far as possible in the construction OF
the addition and to employ the net
earnings OF the institution for the pres
emit fiscal year, aud to issue certificates
of Indebtedness payable only out of said
earnings.
The Senate passed Senate bills for the
relief of the charitable institutions
named in the will of the late Lewis
Gin,e.; to amend the act relating to
transportation of bodies dead of con-
tagious diseases; to amend section 36G
of the code in relation to term OF enlist
ment.
Mr.. McIlwaine's several bills looking
to cutting down expenses were report
ed favorably from the committee on
courts to the Senate.
I HOUSE.
Capt. Featherstone introduced bills
making reductions in salaries aggre-
eating S25 $50 q year. The heads of
all departments, including Attorney
General and Secretary of the Common
wealth, are cut from 10 TO rs per cent.
The clerks of the Senate and House,
50 per cent, and this is to be followed
| by bills abolishing the Offices of com
missioner of agriculture and register OF
the land Office. 1t is proposed, too, to
abolish the board of agriculture and
transfer its duties to the agricultural
and mechanical college. Another bill
offered abolishes the Office of assessor
of lands, and adds his duties to the
commissioner of revenue, who is to re.
ceive $3.50 therefor.
There was a little tilt between
Speaker Ryan and Mr.. Saunders over
the attempt of the latter to call up his
bill requirog railroads to fence their
roadbeds or pay for all cattle killed.
The House refused to take up the bill
out OF its order. The Speaker desired
to dispose of the Senate bill allowing
the Norfolk and Western road to build
q branch lire from Front Royal, in
Warren county, to Washington city.
The House amended similar bill re.
curing the company to fence its whole
system.
The House, after further discussion,
consuming nearly the whole days SEES
sion, refused by vote of As to 40, to
recommit the five bills from the special
Joint committee on retrenchment, which
bave been under consideration during
half the week. This was the first test
vote, and the victory gives encourage
ment to those who are pushing the
measures designed to cut down ex-
penses. This, of course, does not in-
sure the passage of the bills, but it
makes such action much more likely
than has appeared for several days. The
discussion while addressed to the motion
to recommit, really dealt directly with
the five bills, whichthe committee think
will save the State over 100000 per
annum. Messrs. Withrow and Garter,
of Scott, urged recommittal, while
Messrs. Winbourne, Parker and Car
rington urged that the bills be passed
upon by the House according to their
merits.
Mr.. Bland offered a bill providing
that all persons sentenced to death on
the scaffold shall, after sentence is pass
ed, be brought to Richmond and con-
fined in the penitentiary and executed
at that place. Il is said this will result
in saving of some money to the State.
The House refused to recommit the
bills to place the criminal expense on
the counties and TO reduce those of sher-
ifs and city sergeants.
Mr.. Stubbs offered resolution d.
rectiDg the finance committee to inquire
into the recent assessment of water
craft, which he deems too small. Re-
ferred.
Mr.. Parks presented comprehensive
bill to amend section S of chapter of
the assessment law, so as to provide for
the listing of bonds, notes, stocks and
other evidences of debt subject to tax
alton, approved January 90, 1898.
Bills were introduced to amend sec
ton 5S1 of the code in regard to sub