Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1903-12-23
THE LEGISLATURE.


SENATE.
A sensation was created in the legisla-
ture yesterday by the discovery that the
law in regard to the issuance OF marriage
licenses had been so changed that many
persons who secured licenses and we're
married since the 18th Of the month are
living out Of wedlock, so far as the valid
ity of the license is concerned. Ii has
been an active marriage season and
many prominent people have been wed
ded since the new law went into effect
The discovery was made by the new sena-
tor from Bedford, Mr.. Campbell, and the
Senate hurriedly passed bill to valid
ate marriages that have taken place since
the date named, but it failed in the
House because of the lack of quorum.
The blunder came about through the
laws governing the new judicial system
of circuit courts, which provided that all
marriage licenses shall be issued by clerks
of the circuit courts. This law vent in
to effect on the 18th, and all licenses is
sued by county court clerks since that
date are invalid.
The bill was rushed through the SEN
ate and rushed over to the House, but
number of the members had dispersed
and a quorum could not be secured.
The bill will no doubt pass the House
so soon as quorum appears.
The House presented to Clerk j. W.
Williams, of that body, a handsome
silver berry bowl as a token of the
season.
The Senate, as stated yesterday, agreed
to the House joint resolution to take a
recess from the 23d to the 18th.
Senator Barksdsle declared that the
recess would cost the State $l5, 900, and
TO no purpose.
The report from the House that that
body had declined to concur in the SEN
ate amendments to the Edmondson road
bill was submitted in the Senate. A
conference committee was asked by the
House. President Willard named SEN
ators Halsey, Campbell, and Keezell.
The conferees on the part of the House
were Messrs. Edmondsen, Cardwell and
Green. The conferees were in session
for some time, and at the hour for adj
iournment had not reached an agree
ment.
HOUSE.
The House, us stated yesterday, by a
vote of "A to 8, extended the limit al
lowed the jamestown Exposition to raise
the necessary funds to make up the 81, :
900, 900 requisite to secure the States
appropriation to that enterprise from
January to July l, 1904. The
company lacks 5000, 900 of the neces-
sary amount and felt almost hope
less of raising it in the time allowed.
The total vote in the House was
81, just a quorum, and when the ques-
ton came up and the friends of the bill
counted noses and found they were
several members short there was some
tremendous beating around for quorum.
Chairman Boaz, of the finance COM
mittee, who has consistently opposed
the appropriation, was hunted up and
showed into the House bodily by FIVE
stalwart Tidewater members and an
nounced by one of them az present but
not voting. Thus the quorum was made
up and the bill saved. 1t is understood
that the measure will be fought in the
Senate, and the Jamestown exposition
is hanging in the balance. The bill
went to the Senate yesterday and vote
was taken on the question of discharg-
ing the committee 80 as to take it up at
once, but was lost by vote IA to 5,
lacking two Of quorum, and went to
committee.
Mr.. Stearnes offered resolution re-
citing that the action of the House in
adopting the recess resolution in such
form as to entail the per diem cost upon
the State was "inadyertent," and pro-
viding for such adjournment to the Both
as would not carry pay. The resolution,
of course, was not acted upon.