Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-12-10

ed the printing of q sufficient number
or copies for distribution among all the
members. Several members, among
them Air. Ryan, Mr.. Powell and Mr..
Cardwell. opposed the mstion.
Mr.. Shelton, OF Louisa, favored the
printing OF the bills. provided it would
rot entail too great an expense on the
State. In his argument he declared his
belief that the land grabbers' act. to
which he was evidently opposed. pre-
vailed largely because OF Ignorance Of
the members as to the exnct provisions
OF the bill.
The motion, however, was lost on
vote. M
INSANE ASYLUMS.
Mr.. Hubbard, of buckingham, offered
q concurrent resolution providing for
the appointment of a joint committee,
composed of three Senators and four
Delegates, TO investigate and report on
the crowded condition of the insane
asylums. 1t was referred to the Com
mittee on Asylums and Prisons.
Ihls matter Is regarded as one of
great Importance, and Will doubtless be
acted upon promptly.
TO MERGE OFFICES.
Delegate l.. C. Folles is making n
big fight TO prevent the merging of tho
position OF Register of the Land Office
with that of the Secretary OF the Com
monwealth.
Mr.. Folkes is fully convinced that
there will be no saving to the State
by the proposed change. fIe said to-
day lie Wits convinced that many other
members OF the Legislature were begin
ming to see the matter in the same
light. MIR. Folkes is positive now that
the Office will not be abolished.
VIRGINIA OYSTER BEDS.
There ia no prospect of bill being
passed to lease the Virginia oyster beds
to foreign people. The old members OF
the Legislature, as rule, and most OF
the new ones, who have become ac
quainted With the subject, are we'll
pleased with the report made by the
State Board of Fisheries. The act
passed creating this commission will
be amended i'll some of the minor par
ticulars, but no material changes will
be made.
1t is probable that provisions will be
made for u State Surveyor OF Oyster
Grounds. Chairman Mathews. of the
House Committee on Chesapeake and
Its Tributaries, is heartily in favor Of
the creation of this office. He thinks 1t
very essential for the grounds to be
surveyed and plats made. Mr. Mathews
thinks that the revenues from the
oyster industry during the next fiscal
year will be double that of the last,
provided the commission is permitted to
carry on the work already mapped out.
s AFTER WIFE yBEATERS.
Delegate John Whitehead, OF Norfolk,
will introduce in the House Monday q
bill which will excite the liveliest iu-
terest. The bill. which provides for the
punishment OF wite-beatcrs by whip.
l1lng, with q specified number OF lashes,
Will be prepared by Major Parks, OF
Page. and will be supported by Dele
gates Pitcher of Fauquier; Feather
stone, OF Campbell. and other leaders.
Mr.. Whitehead said to-day that he
had long seen the necessity of such a
law at present there Is nothing for
Judge to do but to send the wife
bcater to jail in default OF his fine, and
this results in the wife spending hours
OF hard work sewing or something else
in order to get hor husband free again.
He believes the bill will become law,
DELEGATE NEWBERNES BILL. (
Delegate Newberne of Norfolk coun-
ty, whose bill designed to abolish the
practice OF hazing has AROUSED the
Blaclisburs cadets to protest, Is not in
clined to discuss the resolution adopt
ed by the students in answer to the
charge that one OF the cadets had been
hazsd at the institution. Mr.. Newbernc
says he has no desire to enter into q
controversy. but added that if occasion
required. he coUTI IIIIh1 II very full tesstst i
complete reply 10 the students. He does
not for an instant believe that young
Pace, OF Portsmouth. was not llazel;
he has the word OF the boys father, as
we'll as that OF the young man him
self. to back him at the outset, besides
other information bearing on the case.
RAILWAY CHARTER DESIRED.
A charter will be asked at this ses-
sion OF the Legislature for short line
OF railway from Smithvil,e, Charlotte
county, to either Keysville, ten miles
away, or brakes Branch. five miles
distant. AT both points the road would
connect with the Southern railway sys-
tenn. 1t is understood that Northern
CAPT al has b=en Interested by Charlotte
county men, who have been working I'm
sentiment in favor OF county SUBJ
scription to the stock of the proposed
company.
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