Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-02-09
THE LEGISLATURE.
SENATE.

bnc OSHolO JOoSeAe'y
ton proposing to submit to the voters
the question of amending the constitu-
ton so as to consolidate the county and
State elections. To become law, it will
have to be adopted by the next legisla-
ture and then be submitted to o vote of
the people.
The chairman of the Senate ar
nounced the resignation of MIR. Mason
from the committee on the Virginia
Mary land boundary line, and the ap.
pointment of Mr.. Fairfax to fill the va
cancy. Mr.. Mushbach becomes chair
man of committee.
The bill to charter the Fredericks-
burg Battle Park Association was pass
| ed.
The consideration of Mr.. Lecato's
proposed amendment to the constitu-
ton making the payment of capitation
tax prerequisite to voting, was taken
up, and the patron spoke very briefly
in its behalf. 1t was ordered to its en-
| grossment.
Gov. Tyler sent message to the
Senate, vetoing Senate bill No.
235, which provides that rail.
roads may straighten curves in
their tracks without special per-
mission. The Governor thought the
powers conferred were too sweeping,
as they would enable railroads to
change their rosdbeds almost COM
pletely.
Senator Musbbach introduced bill
to incorporate the Mary Gusts Lee
Children of the Confederacy.
Bills were introduced to amend TIE
code in relation to what property may
be distrained for taxes, and 10 amend
| the code in relation to the pay and
mileage of iurors.
The bill introduced by Mr.. Folkes in
reference to the punishment of city,
town and county officials, and which
passed the House, was unanimously re-
ported by the Senate committee. The
bill was further perfected by Senator
Mushbach. The bill gives these Of.
ficals all exemption that are allowed to
other citizens but nothing more. The
majority of officials are heartily in
favor of it because the present exemp-
ton impairs their credit.
HOUSE.
As stated in yesterdays Gazette the
House committee on elections agreed
almost unanimously to report adverse
ly the Reddy bill, providing for the
nomination of candidates for United
States Senators by primary elections
The committee held that this was q
party question aud should not be de-
termined by legislative enactment. 1t
was the sentiment of the committee
that these party contests should not
mingle with general election. A
similar committee of the Senate has
also reported against the primary prop
osition.
There YVES an interesting debate over
that portion of the report of the COM
mittee on retrenchment, proposing to
cut down the salary of Mr.. Button,
secretary of the Senate, and Mr.. Big
ger, clerk of the House. The PROPOSE.
ton was to reduce Mr.. Buttons pay
from 81 600 to $500 and Col. Bigger's
from $1,000 to $3.50. The vote was
taken on substitute, which practical
ly restored the old salaries, which the
House voted down by the very close
vote of 43 to 40. The opponents of the
reduction made determined fight and
will no doubt win. The House passed
the bill reducing the salaries of other
State officials.
The FeatherstoDe bill relating to SAL
aries, mileage, and other allo wances of
certain State officers, which was dis
cuased section by section last week, and
finally engrossed, came up as d special
order and was passed, those voting
against the measure being Messrs.
Folkes. Reddy, Wallace, Newberne,
SDratt aud Surgener.
Mr.. Withrow submitted several bills
| intended to carry out the recommends
tions contained in the report Of the re-
trenchment committee. These are in
tended to curtail expenses of the State.
One contemplates the reorganization
and management of the insane hos
pitfalls. The salaries of the superin-
tendents OF these institutions are fixed
at reduced amount 10 that now re-
ceived by them. Another bill proposes
to appropriate $500 to William and
Mary College on the condition that
course of normal training shall be in
stituted for the education of white
teachers for the public schools, each city
and county to be entitled to one pupil.
A third bill abolishes the department
of agriculture and the commissioner
and imposes the duties of the same
upon the board Of visitors of the Vir-
GINA Polytechnic Institute, at Blacks.
burg.
This group of bills is intended to
carry out the suggestions of the re-
trenchment committee, so far as they
apply to the institutions.
The House passed tho bill amending
the road law of Alexandria county.
Mr.. Withrow Introduced joint reso.
luton instructing the finance commit
tee to limit the appropriation for Will
liam and Mary College to $500, and
to omit the S. 900 appropriation to the
Medical College of Virginia.
A substitute for the House bill fix
ing jailors' fees was presented and Or
dered printed. 1t fixes the fees at IS
cents each for from twenty to fifty pris-
oners, and at 16 cents for all over fifty.
Members of the leading clubs In all
the cities were present when the COM
mittee on finance of the Senate took up
the Maupin bill imposing tax upon
social clubs that sell or give away
liquor. 1t was decided to report sub.
stitute for the Maupin act. The bill as
it passed the House imposed q specific