Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1904-02-29
Virginia Legislature.
SENATE.

SENATE.
A number of members of the commit
tee on public institutions left Richmond
on Saturday for Stanton and other cities
on tour of inspection. Their absence
left the Senate without quorum, so no
business was transacted beyond the
introduction of few unimportant
bills.
Mr.. Tavenner presented bill which
has for its object the amending OF the
law in relation to fees of justices OF the
peace, constables, sheriffs and other coun-
ty officers in cases in the courts. The
statute at present provides that when
there is no conviction in certain cases
the fees to be paid by the State out OF
the treasury shall be only ons-half what
they are in cases of conviction.
The law was passed many years ago,
at time when it was easy to put most
anyone on the bench in certain sections
of the State, and it was believed that
cases we're padded in order to get tees
out Of the State.
The State is to pay the fees, aud Of
ficers are to get as much in cases OF ac-
quittal as in cases of conviction. But no
fee is to be paid to any person under
any circumstances unless an affidavit Is
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 case from
Franklin and Floyd counties. 1t is
favorable to Turner, the sitting republi-
can member.
If three bills .engrossed by the House
on Saturday become laws--and tits prac-
tically certain that they @ill--the statutes
bearing on liquor will be materially
amended. One strikes out the Jail pen
atty for the sale of liquor on Sunday,
and leaves the punishment fine or revo-
cation of license. A fruitless effort was
made to amend this so as to put social
clubs on the same footing as barrooms,
so far as Sunday selling is concerned.
The second bill allows a 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 dead letter.
The third permits dealers in liquor in
districts which have voted against such
sale, or where a State dispensary has
been established, to receive a rebate on
unexpired licenses and to be allowed
ninety days 10 wind up their affairs.
Mr.. Churchman 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-
msnt.
Mr.. Howe 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 vote of 81 to 20, re-
fused to engross the bill offered by DR..
Powell, repeating all existing game laws.
DR.. Powell spoke vigorously for his bill,
declaring that it was an absurdity to
prohibit man from hunting on his own
land at will.
The Adams resolution, calling on Vir-
ginia's representatives in Congress tC
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. H. d. Flood, o.
Virginia, as the patron Of the measure
instead of Congressman Gaines, o.
| Georgia.
The House devoted some time to the
consideration of the Torrens system o
land registration, a speech opposing II
being delivered by Mr.. Royal. The
opponents of the measure so far have
apparently been ignorant ofthe provisions
of the bill, the only ground for their OPP
position being the unexplained fear thai
the bill will work injury to the countie;
to benefit the cities. So strong in thi:
feeling that the measure will probably
meet defeat when vote is reached.