Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1900-02-28
THE LEGISLATURE.

| The fight against the bill charterng
the Virginia Telephone and Telegraph
| Company was opened upon the floor Of
the Senate yesterday. The measure
and the amendments offered occupied
the Senate continuously from 1890 to
o. M, with the exception of an hours
recess. The bill went oven until today,
when vote will be reached. Senator
Glass led the opposition. He was aid
ed by Messrs Morris and Opie. Messrs
Flood and Tyler spoke 10 its behalf.
Mr.. Glass predicted that should the bill
become law its supporters would live
| to regret 1t.
Several amendments offered by Sena.
tor Glass were adopted. The most i'm.
portant OF these permits an entry into
the cities and towns, but subject to the
councils OF such localities. These
amendments were approved by the cor
pOrstion counsel of the various cities
represented in Richmond. Another
amendment provides that the company
shall connect with every county seat
and upon the petition OF at least 5(
citizens each OF the magisterial districts
the failure to comply with this provi.
sion is to work a forfeiture OF the $780,,
600 in century bonds which the COM
pany IL to deposit.
The amendment which is being bit
terly fought was that offered by Mr.
Glass forbidding the company from
charging over $35 or less than $40 fol
phone service. This the friends of the
bill vigorously protested against, buI
its opponents insist upon it.
THE SENATE.
The bill incorporating the Agricultur
al Fair Association OF Northern Virgins
was passed by the Senate. This wa;
not done, however, uotil after an
amendment proposed by Mr.. Donohot
was adopted to the effect that nothing
in the act snail DO construed to affect
the operations of the existing antigamb.
ling and bookmaking laws.
The Senate passed the House bill pro
hibiting fire insurance companies from
combining to prohibit their agents from
| accepting more than certain commits.
sion for work which they may secure OIL
seek to secure. 1t was shown in the
discussion that the companies had a
contract with their agents prohibiting
them from accepting more than 10 pei
cent. commission.
The appropriation bill, as amended
on Monday, passed the Senate without
opposition.
The employers liability bill was pass.
ed by until today. There is thought to
be little chance of the bill getting
through at this late stage of the session
The Senate passed the bill extending
the powers of the commissioner of agri-
culture.
The report of the joint committee ap-
pointed to investigate the management
of the Soldiers Home was presented in
the Senate by Chairman Opie. The re-
port states that the financial condition
of the home is splendid, the treatment
&C 3orded the inmates il satisfactory, the
rations as good and sufficient as the sp-
preparations justify, the quarters clean
AID in good condition and hospital we'll
conducted. There ia some slig int differ.
ence 10 the food of the commandant and
the soldiers, and restle sness on the
part of soldiers occasioned by lack OF
| employment or amusement. They IT
commend that the commsndant be paid
a salary and supply his own provisions,
and that library and other amuse =
| ments be provided for the inmates.
These recommendations will be ADOPT
ed.
HOUSE.
The House concurred in the Joint res
olution to submit to popular vote at the
election in May the question of calling
a constitutional convention. The State
democratic committee will meet in
Richmond Friday night, and it is ex-
Dected that the question of making this
party issue will then be passed upon.
The bill Incorporating the Stonewal
Jackson Memorial Association passed
the House. The association proposes
to acquire the Chandler house, near
Guinea station, in Caroline county, in
which General Jackson died, and to
preserve it as a memorial of the great
soldier.
In the House Mr.. Gent, of Russell,
moved to discharge the finance commit
tee from the further consideration of his
bill in relation to bringing prisoners to
the peDitentiary by sheriffs. The House
refused to discharge the committee BY
a vote of Al to 81.
The House spent large part of the
day in discussing amendments to the
insurance bill. The bill provides for
the creation of an insurance commits
sion, and the bill will become law.
At the q ternoon session the bill was or
dered to it's engrossment.
Mr.. Jones introduced resolution
that after Saturday, March 3, no bills
be offered in the House, except by
unanimous consent. The resolution
was adopted.
The House at the evening session
passed the bill confirming the action of
of the City Council OF Alexandria au-
thorizing the use of certain of it's streets
by the Southern Railway and other
companies for tracks, switches, &C..
and confirming rights as to same. The
bill authorizing courts to exclude from
all trials OF felony or misdemeanOr
cases all persons whose presence is not
deemed necessary WAS also passed.
Among the bills introduced we're:
To amend an act 10 provide for the
QarDishment and lew on WAGES and