Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1902-07-19
LEGISLATURE.

The Legislature endured the heat Tor
a short time yesterday and adjourned un-
Ill Monday. The sessions of both the
House and Senate we're short, and very
little business was transacted. Indeed,
there will be very little done before adj
iournment next Friday, except the cleo
ton of circuit judges.
The question of selecting a commission
to codify the laws of the State in con-
formity to the new constitution came up
in the House again, but final action was
not taken. There were many hard raps
given in debate. The resolution went
over until next Tuesday. This matter
and the suggestion of the Senate that
the clause in the new constitution against
the use of passes be interpreted by the
judiciary committee were the most inter-
esting features of the day. Mr. Allen,
of Botetourt, offered in the House the
resolution providing that the rules COM
mittee inquire into the matter whether
or not there was necessity for codify-
ing commission or whether the standing
committees of the body can do the work
of suggesting revised and amended
statutes. Mr.. Powers moved to lay the
matter over until Tuesday.
Mr. Gravely opposed the resolution IN
strong speech. He criticised MIR.
Cations speech against taking the oath,
and was loudly cheered. Mr.. Grayely
made an able argument against the APP
pointment of any commission, either in
or out of the legislature, until after the
latter body had completed its work. Mr.
Davis favored the resolution in brief
speech and Mr.. Whitehead, of Norfolk
city. wanted il referred. The latter
pointed out the enormous cost OF a large
commission, and said the committee
might suggest better plan. Mr.. Green
favored the resolution. Mr.. Settle fired
a shot at the committee on rules by in
timating that a majority OF the commit
tee were con the slate" Mr.. Settle
was loudly cheered, and it was again
evident that the commission proposed
was ON its last legs. He and Mr.. Kelly
engaged in brief colloquy as to the
position of the latter, Mr.. Kelly de-
claring that he had not made up his
mind as to whether there should be a
commission or not. Mr.. Hunley offer
ed the resolution. He said if his name
had been put upon any 'slate" it was
done without his knowledge or consent.
He said he was a "slate-smasher" and
not "slate-maker. The resolution
went over until Tuesday.
When the House resolution providing
for recess from Friday until Noyem-
Der ~ came up in the Hot s, Mr.. Opie
moved that it be passed by, and this
course was followed.
Several bills were passed under sus-
pension of the rules. The most import
ant of these was measure offered by
Mr.. Keezell, a member of the board OF
fisheries, and pressed by Mr.. Sale, OF
Norfolk, regarding fisheries on the
western side of the Chesapeake
Bay. 1t is said that the enact
ment of this law will save many thou
ands of dollars. Mr.. Wallace intro
duced bill, which was referred, auth
orizing the United States to acquire land
at Fredericksburg as a site for the pro-
posed monument Of Hugh Mercer.
Senator lie Cato offered resolution
calling upon the judiciary committee to
interpret the clause of the constitution
regarding the use of free passes over the
railroads. The preamble calls attention
to the circumstance that members Of
the Senate received passes from the
railroads upon other considerations
than being members of the Senate.
The committee was instructed to take up
the consideration of the clause in ques-
ton.
Mr.. Lyle offered a resolution pro-
yiding that the standing committees OF
the House and Senate be authorized to
sit during vacation and present such
bills and consider such bills as may be
presented to them. Mr.. Wickham Of
iered a substitute to the effect that a
committee be appointed from the Sen
ate, to act with a similar committee
from the House, to sit during the vaca-
ton and revise the laws of the State to
conform to the new constitution. Pro-
visions are made for the pay of the
committee and all its expenses. Mr..
Wickham spoke at length upon the
necessity Of taking some definite action
of this sort. The matter finally went
over until Tuesday.
Among the bills introduced in the
House was one to provide for the APP
pointment of registrars for the several
towns of the State and providing for the
registration of voters in Virginia.