Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1903-01-28

SENATE.

Judge Mann, in the Senate, yesterday
declared that he did not favor the Clay
tor dispensary bill. He declared ne
would favor bill that licensed the sale
of liquor. If liquor had to be sold, the
dispensary law was the best way TO
do it.
Mr.. Clayton introduced his bill. IL
allows towns or county districts to
petition the Circuit Court for dispen-
sary, and majority vote will give It TO
them. The dispensary is to be controlled
by dispensary board of three citizens,
and the proceeds are to be given one
eighth to the district or town, three
eighths to the State and the remaining
half to the public school. The dispensary
shall not be opened before sunrise and
shall be closed at shutdown each day.
The price at which liquors shall be sold
shall be fixed by the dispensary.
The bill providing for the licensing
Of dogs in order to protect sheep caused
sharp contest. The bill was finally
amended, so that the measure is prac-
tically killed. The bill as amended was
ordered to its third reading. The COM
missioner of revenue must "willfully
and knowingly" fail to list a dog fol-
taxation before he can be fined for
negligence of duty. In other words,
the commissioner must know that the
dog is upon the premises and fail to tax
him.
HOUSE.
The House set the Leake stock law as
a special order for February 6, and on
motion of Mr.. Jennings the considera-
ton of the general pharmacy bill was
passed by.
The bill for the relief of j. j. Moran,
of Alexandria county, for services rem
dered the State in prosecuting claims
against the United States government,
was passed.
The following bills were introduced:
To amend section 2570 of the code in
regard to workers in coal and other
mines near the land of another without
his consent.
A bill relating to and fixing the pun
ishment for libel. This bill follows
closely the North Carolina libel law, the
main point of which is that where it i:
shown that no injury was intended and
prompt correction is made no damage
can be recovered. 1t is particularly in.
teresting at this time, when heavy dam.
ages in two cases have been recovered
against the Virginia Pilot under the
very restrictive Virginia law.
Messrs. Stearns and Stafford intro
duced very interesting bill which il
likely to raise great deal of opposition
1t relates to the homestead exemption
act, and exempts from levy for debt
laboring mans wages up to $50 month
A number of new bills became laws
yesterday by the signature of the Gov
ernor. Among them are to fence thu
Lee Monument; to extend the time fol
paying pensions; to elbow the Governor
to designate judges in special cases.
The hearings before the committee o
the Chesapeake and its tributaries yes
terday on the two oyster bills, one by
Mr.. Edwards and one by Mr.. Jordan
we're very interesting. The effect o.
either bill would be the shortening o
the open season in the interest of seet
oysters. The general proposition to Gu
out the month Of September was opposed
by Messrs. Armstrong and Kilby, o
Norfolk, and others representing tn,
army of tongers, but they said the!
would agree to cutting out Septembe
above Days Point, where most of tn
seed supply must come from. Tn
committee postponed the discussion
after two sessions without reaching
conclusion.
The House and Senate committees OF
counties, cities, and towns last nigh
took vote OH the various plans for tn
annexation of territory to cities ant
towns, and the result was that tn
House committee voted 10 to 2 il
favor of the Gardner bill, leaving thu
matter to popular elections. The Sen
ate vote was to 4 in favor of the An
derson plan providing for the jurisdic
ton of nonresident circuit judges
Senator Halsey voted with the majority
There will be two reports in the Senate
but it looks as if the Gardner bill viii
pass the two Houses.
The elections committee of the Hous,
has fixed Thursday morning at II
O'Clock as the time for considering thu
various Congressional reappointmen
bills.