Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1903-02-05
LEGISLATURE.
SENATE.

OF the hottest debates OF the SESSION. o'oi
the Sales bill to allow electric lines to
condemn the property of public institu-
tons for right of way. The surreptitious
manner in which the Louisa Develop
ment Company bill got through the last
legislature again came under criticism,
and Mr.. Opie used strong language. Mr..
Watson, who was advocating the Sales
bill, took exceptions to the manner IN
which Mr.. Opie laid the blame for the
matter Mr.. Opie replied that when
stolen goods were found in the posses
sion of party it was considered as EVIL
dence of theft.
Mr.. Watson made strong speech,
and it was evident was making an i'm
preston on the Senate. When it came
to vote the bill was ordered to its en-
grossment. This measure permits the
companies to run their tracks within 500
feet of school buildings. The discus
sion was even more breezy than yester-
day.
The House having declined to acceds
to the amendments in the dog-tax law, a
committee of conference was provided tor
by the Senate.
Senator Wickham, Of the conference
committee on the disagreement between
the House and Senate in the matter Of
salaries, submitted the report Of that
committee. The bill gives the superin-
tendent of the Central State Hospital
So, 500, while the superintendent OF the
Western State Hospital received 81, $50,
and the Southwestern State Hospital
81 800. Senator Opie could not under.
stand how it was that one man should
receive 81, 500 for certain work when
another man doing precisely the same
work should receive less. The vote wa;
taken and the report was adopted unani-
mously.
Mr.. Barksdale, from the committee on
general laws, reported favorably the bill
to create a bureau of insurance and tc
provide for the election of superinten'
dent of insurance and to regulate fire
and other insurance companies.
Mr.. McIlwaine, from the committee
on courts OF justice, reported favorably
the bill to remove the prohibition upon
persons of 60 years of age or over from
serving on grand juries.
The bill for the commitment to hos.
pitals for the insane of persons who from
the use of drugs had lost control of them
selves was reported favorably by Mr..
Opie from the committee on public in
stitutiOns.
Mr.. Opie, from the same committee,
favorably reported the bill to authorize
the board of visitors of William ano
Mary College to use the appropriation O.
IS. 000, heretofore made for an electric
plant, for that or such other system o
| lighting as the board may deem ex
pedient.
A bill was offered by Mr.. Clayton pre-
scribing the liability Of common carriers
railroads, or transportation companies
for any loss, damage, or injury to prop
erty caused by its negligence, or thu
negligence of any other common carrier
railroad, or transportation company t.
which such property may be delivered
or over whose lines such property ma,
pass.
Other bills offered were:
To authorize the Court of Appeal
of Virginia to direct the clerk of thu
court to destroy manuscript records il
cases when the records are printed an'
to require the binding of the records
with briefs of counsel in each case.
To amend sections 1862 and 1863 o
the code in relation to boards of direct
ors of the State hospitals.
To amend section 2660 of the cod
fixing the order in which debts o
decedent are to be paid.
The Anderson bill in relation to tn
extension of corporate limits was mad
the special order for next Tuesday.
Mr.. West offered, by request, tw'
companion bills relating TO the proposes
head of the University of Virginia. TIL
bills, it is understood, were drawn b
Wyndham Il. Meredith, Henry Taylo
and other members of the alumni
association, and it is understood tina
they represent the views of that body
One bill provides for composite boar
to elect the proposed executive head OF tn
university, to be composed of three mem
bers of the board of visitors, three member
of the alumni association and three mem
bers of the faculty. The other provide
for leaving the fixing OF the salary Of tn
new officers with the composite board
There is another bill pending on tn
subject in the House, having been Offer
ed by Mr.. Boaz, of Albemarle, whic
provides that the board of visitors man
elect an executive head of the universit
and fix his duties and salary.
The Barksdale pure election bill wa
reported in the House with amendments
Mr.. West also introduced bill to re
fund license taxes paid by barkeepers i
local option districts. The House com
mittee on schools and colleges has fixe
next Tuesday at o'clock as the tim
for hearing argument on the bills, an
some lively speeches are looked for.
The sudden death of Mr.. w. B
Clarke. member of the House fror
Surry and Prince George, was announced
Both branches adopted resolutions Q
sympathy and the House adjourne
early as a mark of respect.
Oyster legislation took up an interestin
turn before the committee of the House o
the Chesapeake and its tributaries yesterda
when the bill of Mr.. Edwards to shorten tn
season for taking oysters was adversely n
norted Mr. Sale of Norfolk. representa-