The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1900-03-08

Upon O comparison Of the work OF
this session OF the General Assembly
with that of any previous session since
the war, the investigator will be struck
with the enormous number OF statutes
classified under the popular description
Of local acts. On contrast witt the
bulk Of these acts, the aggregate SIZE Of
the general statutes is trihlng.
1t is simply amazing that in the
short space of three months so many
towns and cities have applied for and
secured changes and notifications in
their charters; so many local and gen.
eral companies have obtained charters
of Incorporation so many counties In
the distribution Of legislation nave
received fence laws, hog laws. road
laws, school laws, relief bills Of every
sort. kind, and description, and even
dispensary bills. for among the other
experiments Of this session is an estab-
lishment OF the South Carolina dis
pensary system in one Of the counties
Of the State. The general public will
look forward with some interest TO tie
progress and result Of this experiment.
In general legislation. code amend
ments, and amendments Of other eIist-
ing statutes the General Assembly has
been rather conservative, but some ex.
cellent work has been done.
The Wharton law Of last session,
aimed at the abolition of the South
eastern Tariff Association among the
insurance companies. remains un'
changed. though an effort was made to
repeal it The long.standing contro'
versy as to the exact effect Of the pro-
visions Of the Code upon the status OF
married women, as to their property
rights and contractual powers, has been
ended By a statute which declares that
they may sue and be sued, contract ard
be contracted with hold, use, control.
and dispose of property as If they were
unmarried
The statutes for the discovery Of pr
sonal property for the purposes Of tax
alton have been amended and strength
ened. and an additional one has been
added, which will prove most effective
This is the bill which requires that all
chartered companies shall furnish the
Auditor Of Public Accounts with the
names Of the shareholders in the COM
panies, and the value and amount #
their holdings, as we'll as the place OF
residence Of the shareholders.
The Auditor is then directed 70 fur
nish the proper offices Of the counties
and cities with the information from
these reports which affects them, SO
that the local resident shareholders may
have their holdings listed for taxation.
Bv a statute Of this session, tele-
graph companies are rendered liable in
damages for grief and mental anguish
caused by their negligence in the trans
mission Of messages. Moreover, they
are forbidden to provide against the
consequences of their negligent trans
mission by the provision now found
upon their kilograms that the sender
must have his message repeated at hi'
own expense IL he wishes to have the
accuracy of the transmission guaranteed
SEPARATE CARS; sEABOARD BILL.
The passage of the separate car ant
steamboat bills was due to large ant
increasing demand for legislation Of
this character. The pressure Of the
public demand in this direction could
not be resisted longer.
The State has finally entered into
conditional arrangement for the dis
position Of its holdings in the Rich
mond, Fredericksburg and Potomac
railroad, the last remnant Of its $40. 900,
900 subscription to works Of internal i'm
proyement in this Common wealth
Time alone will show whether thi
action was wise or unwise.
In the criminal laws but few change
Of interest have been made. The courts
are no longer required to have sum
moned more than one venire, IL the.
consider that with one yenire they cal
dispose Of the felony and other crimina
business of any one term
Commonwealth s-Attorneys are al
lowed a fee for prosecuting to convic
tion an indictment certified for trial Il
justice.
Some changes deemed necessary AM
wholesome have been made In the sys
tenn Of selecting jurors for service il
the circuit courts.
The present session of the Genera
Assembly is notable for its unite
action upon call for convention 7
reyiss our organic law. The time TO
popular vote upon the clIl has beei
fixed for May, and it is evident thA
the people and the newspapers OF tn
State will take up this matter in seri
ons earnest.
A telephone company applying to tn
Legislature for charter with enlarge
and compendious powers but promisip
q large return in taxes and an elaborat
local service throughout the entir
State, was offered in the Senate an
lost
INCREASED APPROPRIATION.
The ap. ropriations at this sessio
for public institutions have been large
but necessary Every lunatio asylum
full to oveifi wing and provision ha
to be made for the accommodation OF th
unfortnnafa who are now VlinlV kn( Ch