Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1902-07-26
LEGISLATURE.

The House was unable to get through
with the work on its calendar, and adj
iourned over until this morning without
acting upon the Senate's resolution
providing that the body end its work
Yesterday and take it up again Novem-
Der II. Adjournment is not likely to
occ,lr until Monday or Tuesday. The
principal matter yet to be disposed OF Is
the group of election bills passed by the
senate Yesterday, but the House COM
mittee was not able to get through with
them Yesterday morning. The commit
tee held further session yesterday
afternoon. and the bills will be reported
TODAY for final action. Adjournment
will follow almost Immediately.
The features of yesterdays session
were the speech of Senator Barksdale
on his pure elections bill, and the re-
fusal of the House for the sixth, and
perhaps last, time to adopt a resolution
providing for codifying commission.
Mr.. Barksdae sought to have com
mittee on privileges and elections dls-
charged from the consideration OF his
bill. and he made characteristic
speech. which was greatly enjoyed by
his colleagues.
The commission resolution, defeated
in the House, was offered by Mr.. White
head. of Norfolk, and provided for
body composed Of three members OF the
House and two of the Senate, to sit not
more than seventy-fye days, the mem
bers to be paid 81 per day, and report
10 be made at the November session OF
the legislature. A large number Of
bills were pissed in the House, among
them those of Mr.. Wallace, of Rich
mond. so amending the law with refer
ence to bribery prosecution as to ON
power judges to grant immunity to
rivers of brides who turn States evil
dence
Mr.. Moore called up the bill prohibit
ing the sale of cider within one mile OF
Appomattox Court House, and 1t was
passed. Then Mr.. Whitehead's COM
mission resolution came up. After sew
eral speeches Mr. Cabell offered sub
stitute providing for the appointment oil
commission of lunacy to inquire into
the mental condition of the next MEM
Der who said anything about appointing
a commission to codify the law. The
, resolution was defeated by vote of AZ
? to 81.
, The following Senate bills were pass
? ed by the House:
To authorize and empower the town
council of the town of Shenandoah, Va,
to borrow money by the issue of bonds
, for the construction and establishment
of a system of water works in and for
the issue of said town, and so construct
I and establish such works and sewerage
, system if needed. TO amend and re-en-
act sections and of an act entitled an
act to appoint board of trustees for the
. Virginia Female Institute, at Stanton,
, and to provide for the future government
of said institute, approved March II,
I 1874, rs amended by an act approved
- January is, 1896.
The lower branch also passed the fol-
= lowing bills. originating in that body:
: To designate and establish certain
2 days as public holidays, and to establish
and declare Saturday, after II O'cloch
e noon, a half holiday, as regards the
transaction of business generally, with
certain exceptions. Bill to amend and
: re-enact section 2S44 Of the code of Vir-
ginia. in relation to public holidays,
= and as to when bills, notes, &c, other
wise presentable on any such holidays,
are to be presentable To validate all
acts done under chapter 45S of the
acts of the General Assembly of Vir-
sinia of 1901-02, approved April 2,
. 1902, providing pensions for soldiers
= sailors. and marines of Virginia who
> were wounded or disabled in the war be
tween the States, and for widows o
soldiers. and sailors, and marines of Vir
giuia who lost their lives in said ser
, vice or byIreason of wounds received, OF
disease contracted therein. To provide
: a rule of evidence in prosecutions undel
(, sections 3744 and 3745 of the code ii
=. cases of bribery, &c.
The Senate at its afternoon session
! passed the bills of Mr.. Wallace designed
q 10 aid the Commonwealth attorney il
= procuring evidence i'm bribery cases
: The Senate received from Attorney Gen
eral Anderson a lengthy opinion regard
ing the assessment of railroad property
for taxation for local purposes. Th'
resolution to which the opinion is re
J., Spouse asks the attorney general to fur
Il nish the Senate his opinion in writing
" ~ to whether or not, under section lO
. Of the new constitution and under thu
Il law in force January l, 1902, it will b'
{ competent to assess any railway above
c $40. 600 per mile for the purpose Of loca
# taxation. no matter what the real yalu'
of said railway may be. The attorney
general sums up in his opinion: 81 an
of the opinion, therefore, that the onl!
h limit upon the valuation of the propert!
I. of such companies for the purposes o
: local taxation is that it shall conform t
D the valuation assessed 4nd ascertained by
d the board of public works until January
r |. 1903, and thereafter by the State cor
: poration commission"
The Senate committee on the courts o
iustice made an interesting report yester
: day as to the use Of passes by State or city
Il officers. The construction of the com
' mittee is not in keeping with theoPinior
of the attorney general. The resolution
, of the Senate directed the committee Il
, construct section l6l of the constitution
+, of Virginia in 50 far as the same may
affect the right of any member of thu
general assembly to hold or use an an
: - Ill .rI,n,, IL. -. !.