The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1899-12-21
THE VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE.
Hon. Thomas s. Martin Elected TO Succeed
Himself In United States Senate.

Monday among the House bills passed
were the following
Relating to the signing, heretofore or
hereafter, Of certain obligations by cor
porations as surety. through duly au'
thorised agents or attorneys In fact,
without the use Of corporate seal, and
declaring the force and effect OF the
same.
Giving courts Of law jurisdiction over
suits on lost past due bonds, notes. or
other written evidence Of debt. and en-
abling said courts TO require the party
in whose favor the Judgment may be
rendered to execute proper indemnify
ing bond before execution is issued.
To legalize primary elections and
conventions in the county of Oulpeper
To amend and re.enact sections 81,
26. aud 40 Of an act entitled in act to
provide for working and keeping in or
der the public roads OF Greene aud
Madison, approved March 8, 1894
Among the Senate bills passed was
one to amend an act to provide for the
appointment Of special prosecuting at
torneys In proper cases
MARTIN REELECTED.
The election Tuesday Of Hon. Thomas
s. Martin TO succeed himself in the
United States Senate passed of without
incident. There were few spectators III
the Senate and fewer in the House to
hear the speeches nominating that gen.
tleman. In the Senate Mr.. Martin Yves
nominated by Mr.. Flood, OF Appomat-
tox, and in the House by Speaker Saun-
ders, Of Franklin. The only feature OF
unusual interest in connection with the
election was the fact that the independ-
emit members who are not yet admitted
to the Democratic caucus supported
Mr.. Martin Senator Stands. Of South
ampton, said that be was for Governor
Tyler. but that as the nominee Of the
caucus he would support Mr.. Martin.
In the House Mr. Powell. Of Bruns'
wick, another applicant for admission
to the caucus, followed Mr. Stands
example. Mr.. Dinwiddie, the only
Republican in the Senate, refrained
from voting.
There was an interesting discussion
in the Senate to pass by the House bill
imposing a tonnage tax OF 10 cents per
ton on fertilizers. Mr.. Flood, OF APP
pomattox, led the fight for the bill. In
his remarks he said that it was under
stood that the House did not propose to
adjourn for Christmas recess until this
measure was passed. Mr. Wickham,
In opposing receding from the
Senate amendment to the recess reso'
luton, said he did not propose TO
be forced into such position By this
conceded position of the House. The
question of reoeding was lost by ris-
ing vote of 23 to 8. 1t was explained
that 1t is important to enact law be-
fore January /. Otherwise the State
would lose So, 900 in tonnage tax. The
passage Of this bill will give the De-
partment Of Agriculture fund sufficien'
to enable Commissioner Koiner to do
effective work for the farmers Of this
State. With the money which this
measure will give his department, this
gentleman expects to put IL on footing
which will compare favorably with
that Of other Southern States. He ex-
poets to be able not only to furnish the
farmers with valuable information
which they obtain in other progressive
States, bat to do much in the way Of
attracting desirable class OF immi'
grants to Virginia. OF late years no
attention has been paid to this subject.
A dozen or 80 years ago some effort was
made in this direction, but for want OF
money. little was ever done. Mr..
Koiner is constantly in receipt OF let
ters from the Western and Northwest
ern States, asking for printed matter.
maps and other information and data
about Virginia, which, with the money
allowed his department, the Commits
sioner has found it impossible to sup
ply. The bill will yield fund sufi-
cient to enable the Department OF Ag.
riculture to inaugurate many reforms
along this and other Important lines,
which have been found advantageous
in other States.
The two houses Tuesday passed
resolution suspending the bond tax on
fertilizers. The friends Of the tonnage
tax had this action taken to force
vote in the Senate before the adjourn.
ment.
The epileptic Commission appointed
by the Legislature two years ago met
ia Richmond Tuesday night. A bill
was agreed. upon which is to be intro
duced in the Legislature after the
Christmas holidays making an appro-
priation of sos 900 for establishing and
maintaining an institution for two
wears. There are to be five directors,
two to be appointed by the President
OF the Senate, two by the Speaker OF
the House and one by the Governor.
The bill does not indicate, nor has the
commission agreed upon a site for the
proposed institution Senator LeOato,
of Acoomac, is chairman Of this COM
mission.
NIL nxaot To yntlv Madioina OF the