Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-01-13
BOOKS IN BAD CONDITION.

The expert accountants to-day COM
pleted their examination of the books
of the. penltcntiary. The latter is in "A
bad condition financially. and the call
on the state for aid was loudly made
yesterday.
The heaviest sleet in many years in
this sec;ion formed yesterday, and last
night ana in the early hours OF to-day.
The streets We're nearly impossible.
THE PiINITENTIARY FARMS.
chief Farm Supervisor Tillery. of the
reniten,iary, says that he has inspect
cd carefully ali the penitcntiary farms
and finds only one. the Sooner
Vile" in good condition. ON the Roa-
roke river farms he finds 5000 barrels
of corn yet ungathered and no less than
500 bales of cotton unpiclted there.
NEW RAILWAY COMMISSION.
Your correspondent had a special in
tcrNicw with w. X. Allen. chairman of
the Committee on Railway Commits
sion. and asked him what would be the
nature of the bill he was preparing TO
reorganiZe the commission Mr.. Allen
replied: My idea is TO incorporate in
the bin that the commission shall have
in charge railway. banking. insurance
and building and loan companies. and
that its power shall be greatly enlarg-
cd: that it shall be composed OF three
of the best men in the state, and that
most of the power ought to he con-
fcrrcd on the chairman. who ought to
be paid more than the others and to
be required to stay at Raleigh all the
time. and to be given power 10 call the
other commissioners together when
necessary"
BILLS PASSED AND INTRODUCED.
Bills passed in the Senate to-day to
give Iertford county two more com
missioncrs: also bill to repeal act re-
curing officers of all corporations to
make and file oaths.
Bills were introduced by Senator
Wood to provide magistrates for Wash
ington county. and by Senator Stainner
To authorize Elizabeth City to issue
bonds and levy taxes.
IN THE HOUSE.
In the lower house to-day the prin-
cipal bills introduced were to provide
white committeeman for white public
schools and negro committeeman Tor
negro schools to make dcsertion for
twelve months ground for divorce. and
To so amend the law for libel against
Newspapers the suit must be brought
in The county where published. and that
in criminal libel Il retraction. given
equal prominence, shall be sufficient.
and in a civil suit damages can be
agreed on.
The most interesting provision is that
which makes it n misdemeanor to give
anything libelous to a newspaper
The Senate received from Governor
Russell, a batch of nominations for
directors of the Institution for the
Blind. the feature of this being that
all are of we'll known Democrats. 1t
is n matter of comment that he has
ceased to make appointments of Re
publicans and Populists.
The officers OF the Grand Lodge of
Masons were installed to-day, as fol-
lows:
Grand Master. r. L. Noble; Deputv
Grand Master. p. S. Royster: Senior
Grand Warden, II. I. Clark: Junior
Grand Warden w. L. Liddcli: Grand
Secretary. John C. Drery; Grand
Treasurer. William Simpson
Grand Master Noble makes the fol-
lowing appointments:
Grand Chaplain. 4. NJ. Simms: Grand
Lecturer, B. w. Hatcher; Senior
Grand Deacon. f. D. Winston: Junior
Grand Deacon Martin S. Willard
Grand Marshall. II. NJ. Gattls: Grand
Sword Bearer r. c. Lynn Grand Pur-
suvant. W. II. Marlboro. Jr.: Grand
Stewards F. n. Jones and r l.. Far
row: Grand Tyler. II. II. bradley:
Grand Orator. Il. w. Pou.
Noble. Register. Clark. Lidden, Wins
ton and Willard were appointed to rep
resent Grand Lodge at Fredericksburg
next December al George Washington's
memorial ceremonies