Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1902-03-31
THE LEGISLATURE.

The Virginia legislature closed its
executive session term with Saturdays
session. It will be in session until
Wednesday, but no business OF import
ance will be transacted. The congress
sional spportionmept bill, which
changes more or less nine OF the ten
districts 10 the State, was passed by the
House after hard fight.
The fibusterlng by the opponents OF
the bill, chiefly from the First, sixth,
and Eighth districts, caused the delay
10 itl passage. There is still an intense
feeling OF opposition TO the bill, ana
that there will be 40 effort made to In
duce the Governor to withhold bis APP
proval there is DO doutt. The taking
from the First district of the two
Eastern Shore counties ard adding
them to the Norfolk district, and the
taking Of Newport News from the Nor
folk district and adding 1t 10 the First
district, were important changes. The
changes shift the prospects OF number
OF well-known aspirants for Congress,
and the passage Of the measure leaves
| a number of sore spots.
The next important action Sasur-
day was the passage OF bill repeating
the Wharton law, whereby, for some
years, it has been a criminal offense for
insurance companies to combine and
fix rates.
Both houses adjourned at the close OF
the morning session until today.
Among the measures Of State inter-
est which failed OF passage we're the
bills making an appropriation for the
Virginia exhibit at the st. Louis Ex-
position, and the bill providing for q
legislative commission to revise the
statute law OF the Ststs to conform TO
the new constitution, and the good
roads bill.
SENATE.
The Senate spent most of It's session
wraDgling over the bill amending the
law Imposing fine upon the express
companies In certain cases, and 1t was
finally passed.
HOUSE.
The senatorial reappointment bill
was passed by the House without ques'
ton or change, but there was feeling
aud warmth In the fight against chang
ing the Constitutional districts.
Mr.. Bland, of Poitsmouth, and Mr..
Cation, OF Alexandria, supported the
bill. Mr.. Cston's speech was strong
defense OF the action Of the privileges
| and elections committee. He made q
statement showing how the changes
would benefit the common interest OF
the democratic party. Mr.. Jennings
spoke against the measure. Mr.. Lee
moved to amend by restoring the Eighth
aud First district lines az now, and made
a iorcible speech against the proposed
changes aud pointed out the alleged in'
/ Justice TO his people 10 the bill. He
said he was not surprised at his friend
from Alexandria helping to mutilate
the district, when be recalled that 1t
was that county that bad furnished q
candidate, and joined in go effort to
destroy the democratic supremacy Of
the district. He disclaimed any inten-
ton OF hurting any Congressman and
In rehuttlng the charge that there were
"hsnds behind the opposition to the
measure" declared, with his hands
waving high in the air, 80 far as l am
concerned, there are none save those
you now see before you"
Mr.. Kelley defended the bill, and
| WITH a mere Quorum present, it was
passed by a vote OF Al to 10.
Mr.. Cation In an appropriate adj
dress, presented Hon. John w. Church
man, OF Augusta, chairman Of the roads
committee, with a handsome gold.head-
ed cane, as token OF esteem in which
the chairman is held by his colleagues.