The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1904-03-01
AMENDS LIQUOR LAWS.

Strikes out Jail Penalty Osfalcatior
Of Former Auditors Clerk Shep-
herd Announced as $37 ,e1A.i4-Ef-
fcrt May be Made to Recover Par'
eFIt-BnI Offered TO Prohibit Ons
Person Paying Poll Taxes Of An
other.
The full extent OF a deIalcatinn for
which Joseph H. Shepherd, formsr
clerk 10 the Office Of State Auditor Nor
ton Marye, now serving g term in the
penitentiary, is S37 ,9l4 ii. The state
ment OF the case was IN response 10 d
resolution offered in the house bJ Dele.
gate Griffith (Republiean), OF Ruesell
lie later followed il by All additional
resolution instructing the attorney gen
eral to proceed against some property
owned by Shepherd and also against the
auditor to collect the amount stolen. II
developed that under the law 10 effect at
the time Shepherd was appointed, clerks
IN the auditors office were not required
to give bond. Mr.. Griffith commended
that the auditor, having the appoint
ment OF these clerks, was responsible Tor
their actions.
The resolution providing for suit
against him was reported TO the house
and recomitted to correct some clerical
error. Coming from Republican source,
II il not regarded with favor by the
Democrats, and may be pigeOnholed.
II three bills epgrOssed b. the house be
come lawE-aud II is practically certain
that they will-ihe statutes b airing on
iiquor will be materially amended. One
strikes out the jill penalty for the salt
If lquor on Sunday, aud leaves the
punishment fine or revocation OF license.
4 iruitlees effort was made To amend
this 80 az 10 put social clubs on the same
footing rs barrOOms, so lar as Sunday
selling Is concerned.
The second bill allows q saloonkeeper
accused OF selling liquor TO students or
minors TO set up the defense that he did
not know they were such. BY this change
the law will become a dead letter.
The third permits dealers In liquor 10
districts which have voted Against such
gale, or where State dispensary ha'
been established. to receive rebate on
unexpired licenses and to be allowed
ninety days To wind up their affairs.
MIR. Churehman offered bill TO pro
hibit any person from paying the poll
tax Of another, the object being TO pre-
vent the influencing OF votes. The pen
atty is forfeiture of the right TO vote and
a fine of 500, or ninety days imprisOn.
ment.
Mr.. Howle offered bill TO permit dis
tillers OF brandy to procure licenses from
commissioners ofrevenue and clerks with
out having TO apply TO circuit courts.
The house, by q vote of 81 TO 20, re-
fused to engross the bill offered by DR.
Powell, repeating all existing gamelaws
DR.. Powell spoke vigorously Tor his bill,
declaring that II was an absurdity to
prohibit man from hunting on his own
land at will.
The Adams resolution, calling on Vir.
ginia's representatives 10 Congress to
support the pending bill removing the
federal tax from tobacco, passed the
senate after being amended so as TO In
sert the name OF Hon. II. ID. Flood, Of
Virginia, as the patron Oi the measure
instead of Congressman Gaines, OF
Georgia.
Mr.. Tavenner presented bill which
has for its object the amending ofthe law
in relation to fees OF justices Of the peace,
sherifis and other county Of
fcers In cases in the courts. The statute
at present provides that when there i-
no conviction in certain cases the fees to
be paid by the STATE out OF the treasury
hall be only oDe-half what they are In
cases OF conviction.
The State is to pay the fees, and OF
fcers are TO get as much In cases OF &C.
ouittal az In cases OF conviction. Butno
fee Is to be paid TO any person under any
unless an affidavit Ia
made as to the correctness OF the charge
for which the fee is paid.
The senate adopted the report OF the
privileges and elections committee in the
Keen-Turner contested election casefrom
Franklin and Floyd counties. 1t il
favorable to Turner, the sitting Repnbli-
can member