Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1900-03-05

THE LEGISLATURE.

Both branches held three sessions on
Saturday and we're at work until late
at night.
The wheels of legislation will pro.
badly cease to turn to night at IL
O'Clock. The session will end on We'd
nesday, but there will be no business
transacted after the close of today q
journal. At least, this is the program.
me, il the House will agree with the
plan outlined by the Senate. The
lower branch adopted joint resolution
to extend the session to Wednesday in
order to give the governor time to sffix
his signature to the bills before him,
with the understanding that no bills
should be considered after Tuesday,
but the Senate amended this to stop &C.
tual work to night, and there the mat
ter rests.
THE SENATE.
An interesting feature of this session
WAS joint resolution, offered by Mr..
Pattison, 10 the House, requesting the
Virginia senators to use their efforts to
secure an amendment to the constitu-
ton OF the United States providing for
the election OF U. 8. senators by di.
rect vote OF the people. The resolution
passed the House with few dissenting
votes, but in the Senate it created a
lively debate. Senators Morris and
Opie opposed the resolution, because
they we're, on principle, not in favor of
this proposed change in the cOnstitu-
tiop. They contended that the people
under the present plan really elected
the senators, and the system has work
ed we'll 10 this State, and there was no
reason for change.
Senators Blakeley, Bruse and Clayton
supported the resolution.
Senator Wickhsm opposed the reso-
luton, and said he did not believe the
people wanted the proposed change 10
be made. He argued that the last ref
uge of State sovereignty was in the
provision of the constitution it Was
sought to repeal.
Senator Lumpton opposed the bill,
on the ground That the people already
have ample opportunity to select their
senator's. An argument for the resOlu-
was made by Senator Tyler.
Senator Glass opposed the resolution,
and stated that Senator Daniel was OF
posed to election of senators by the
people. He referred to the May con-
ference as "pure hnmbug."
Senator Cogbill defended the May
conference, of which he was q member,
and ably and earnestly advocated the
passage of the resolution.
The Senate adjourned while the re
solution was pending. At the after
noon session it was passed without dis
cussion by recorded vote of % to 2.
Some OF those opposed to it were alb
sent.
The Senate passed House bill for ap-
pointment of commissioners for the val
uation of personal property 10 the coun-
ties of the State. This measure, it il
thought, will largely increase the re-
ceipts from personal taxes. II creates
a personal sup srvision and espionage OF
the tax payers business affairs, that il
bound to create their bitterest resent
ment. The bill was passed by vote
OF 16 to IA, and those who opposed il
predict that it will create howl from
one end to the other OF the Common
wealth.
Mr.. Wickham said the bill would pre-.
vent tax lodging. He did not think il
entirely wise TO pass harsh laws taxing
personal property. He said the law
passed creating the office of Commits
sioner of Records had added the enor-
nous sum of $50 000, 900 TO the taxable
values of the State and he had no doubt
his law would add great SUM.
10 opposing the measure Mr.. CoRbill
made the ablest speech he had deliver
ed this SESSION. He declared he was op-
posed to the passage of bill creating
125 new Offices. The passage of the bill
would endanger the supremacy of the
democratic party 10 Virginia. The bill
he denounced as outrageous.
"The land OF this State pays 81, 200,-
900 into the Treasury every year." said
Mr.. Morris in the course OF speech for
the bill. "The personal property of the
State pays in taxes every year the sum
OF 1920, 900, while the bonds. notes and
ether evidences OF debt pay only $780,
600. shall vote for the bill in the hope
of making more OF this property bear
taxes"
1t will be particularly obnoxious 10
commercial centers.
The bill allowing husband and wife
to unite in waving "pOor mans exemp-
tion," was defeated by vote OLA ayes
10 IL roe,.
The oil passed on Friday extending
the terms OF superintendent of schools
SO as to take the election of their sue.
cessors out of the hands of the present
Board of Education was recensidered
on Saturday and indefinitely postponed.
This was done because the measure is
clearly unconstitutional.
Senator Mann secured the passage of
bis bill to amend the act 10 relation to
the assessment OF taxes. The change
proposed affects only the method of as
sessing timbered lands.
The Senate during the afternoon
session passed the three election bills
from the House. There was good
deal of discussion over the election law
and methods in the State. One amend
ment makes registrars elective every
two years instead OF every four, as at
present. The two other bills make
slight changes in the election law.
A Joint resolution was offered by
:ena,or VIM, and adoped, requesting
the Virginia Senators and Represents
tives 10 Congress to use their Influence
with the proper officers of the govern
ment to take all proper and necessary
action to induce foreign governments
using the Reggie system of purchasing
tobacco to substitute come other means
OF securing revenue for that product,
and, il necessary, to make tariff con-
oaasiona 10 indnca anoh acfinn