Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1904-03-11
LEGISLATURES DOINGs.

re DOINGS.
All business will end for this ses-
sion tomorrow Saturday.
A $4,000 appropriation to the
Medical College of Virginia was de-
feated.
Mr.. Jcrdan's bill to tax fishing
devices was recommitted in the
House, which means its death.
Much to the distaste of people and
press of Virginia the House defeated
the Torrens land registration bill.
Carriers of concealed weapons can
continue to carry them around, pro-
vided they pay the regulation fine
when they are caught. The House
killed the bill imposing a Jail sentence
for such offense.
SOME BILLS PASSED.
The Senate passed bills designed
to wipe out certain floating barrOoms
in local option district, especially on
the Rappahsnnock river.
A bill extending the time to May
lstIn which corporations may pay the
annual franchise tax provided for by
the Corporation Commission.
In the Senate Mr.. Walker obtained
unanimous consent for immediate
consideration of a bill for the better
Enforcement of the law in counties
where local option prevails. The
real object of the bill is to reach by
law the FLOATING bar-rooms" on
streams that run through or around
local option ties, especially those
on the Rappahannock river. 1t wac
passed and reported to the House.
The bill providing for the collec-
ton of the Confederate muster rolls
of the State.
The Senate PASSED the Walker bill
prohibiting non-resi dents from TAX
ing fish or oysters In the waters of
this State or from becoming stock
holders in any corporation formed
for such purpose.
To make the 10th of January a
legal holiday, and be known as the
Lee-Jsckson day.
To allow David Lowe to erect g
wharf and marine railway on Pagan
er,county of Isle of Wight, Va.
To exempt eating and lodging
houses, etc., from taxation when same
are maintained temporarily during
religious and other gatherings.
To authorize the Board of Fisher
les to procure for use in its office q
complete list of persons holding oys-
ter planting grounds; aud to extend
the powers aud duties of the Board.
Making it a misdemeanor to desert,
without just cause, or willtully neg
lect to provide for the support and
maintenance by any person of his
wife or minor children in destitute
or necessitous circumstances.
To authorize juries in their discre-
ton to punish with death any per-
son convicted of malicious burning
in the night any barn, stable or shed
containing live stock, in event such
live stock is burned.
All of these bills are awaiting the
Governors signature before becoming
laws.
A WORD OF WARMING.
The Liquor Dealers Association of
Virginia is making q great blunder
to press the passage of the bill reduc-
ing the penalty for the violation of
the Sunday liquor law. Everybody
knows that the Times Dispatch is no
fanatic on the subject of prohibition
but when it comes to the question of
enforcing the law, this paper is un-
compromising. 1t has been decided
by the people of Virginia that it is
in the interest of good morals aud
good government to have the saloons
closed on Sunday, and there is law
to that purport. But in spite of it,
many salooon-keepers do sell liquor
OF Sunday and violations of the law
are outrageously frequent. Now
comes the Liquor Dealers Association
of Virginia with g proposition to do
away with the jail penalty, go that
those who violate the Sunday law
shall subject themselves only to a
line or to a revocation of their license.
Times Dispatch.
OYSTER BILL BEATEN.
When the Senate at it's session
Monday night reached House bill 35.
generally known as the oyster bill,
Mr.. Barksdale, of Halifax, arose and
said: "Mr. President | move that
this bill be dismissed. It's dead, and
there is no use of numbering the cal
endar with it,"
Mr.. Keezell, of Rockingham, arose
to object to the motion to dismiss,
and under the rule under which the
Senate was working the measure was
passed by, but not until Mr.. Banks.
dale had added:
"Certain it's dead. It's so dead it
stinketh."
This statement went unchalleLged
and smile played over the serene
featuresof Senator Sears, of Mathews,
who with Senator Gunter, of Acco-
mac, and Senator Walker, of North
CUMBERLAND, have been on guard all
day to be ready to combat the bill il
it came up. Many of the most influ-
entail members of the Senate admit
that the bill has no prospect of pas
sage at this session. Even should it
pass the Senate after prolonged de
bate, 1t would have to 60 back to the
House for concurrence in the Senate
amendments, aud it is by no means
certain that these would be agreed
to.
Should the bill come up later in
the session it is certain to be talked
to death. if pressed. Representatives
from Tidewater have enough up
landers with them to effectually
IL 81 l.