Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1904-02-06
Virginia Legislature.
SENATE.


The Senate finance committee yester-
day reported favorable the Anderson
bill, appropriating $3.50, 600 for Capitol
repairs.
Mr.. Harman offered joint resolution
instructing the committee on courts OF
justice to frame special law TO better
meet the crime of criminal assaultin this
State. Mr.. Hartman holds that the pres
ent law is inefficient and insufficient, and
desires one more drastic and certain in
its punishment
A bill was offered providing that where
voter shall have paid his State poll
taxes for three years next preceding,
and shall remove to another locality, the
exhibition of treasurer's receipt for said
tax shall entitle him to vote.
A bill amending the law as to sum-
mary punishment for contempt of court
was offered by Mr.. Phlegar. Obscene OF
insulting language addressed to or heard
by the judge is made cause for punish
ment.
The statement having been made that
the States expenses have increased $50,
900 year under the new constitution,
resolution was adopted by the Senate
instructing the auditor to furnish esti'
mate of receipts and expenditures for the
two years ending September 80, 1905.
HOUSE.
The proverbial timidity of the south
ern legislator in dealing with a dog law
was strongly illustrated in the House
yesterday when the Gravely dog law, to
allow each householder to own one dog
free Of tax, came up. The bill was
amended so as to authorize the boards OF
supervisors in the counties to put the law
into effect at their discretion. A good
deal was said on the floor about members
who opposed q dog law of this kind never
coming back again.
Mr.. Jennings expressed that it was SC
plain that all the new members we're
weakened. This aroused q storm Of
protest, and after the storm had blown
over Mr.. Jennings, with sly twinkle in
his eye, asked to withdraw his remarks
and to have them expunged from the rec
ord. The bill finally passed, as amend
ed, by vote of Al to 30. The opponents
of the bill declared that it was virtually
doing away with the present Matthew;
dog law, and was equivalent to no dog
law,
The House passed the bill requiring
boards of supervisors to publish their
receipts and expenses.
Mr.. Reed introduced bill TO appro-
pirate $50, 900 for the contingent expen-
ses of the State board of health to COM
bat epidemic diseases. The bill requires
that a member of the board shall visit
the infected locality and superintend the
battle against disease and the expendi-
ture Of the fund. At present there is nc
available fund on which the State board
of health can draw, and an epidemic OF
smallpox threatens several localities.
The disease exists TO some extent in
nearly every county in the State, and
the State board of health fears greater
epidemic.
The House general laws committee
presented favorable report on the bills
making it unlawful to entice laborers
away from places where they are work
ing, and forbidding circuses from, adver-
Using features which they do not pre-
sent.
A joint resolution was presented by
Mr.. Harrison and referred, reciting that
as the present law for the punishment OF
rape fails to prevent or check the crime,
the courts of justice committee frame
and report some drastic measure on the
subject.
Other bills offered were:
By Mr.. Caton--Allowing any corpora
ton subject to the franchise tax approx
ed April 16, 1903, which reduces its
capital stock in the manner provided by
law before May /, 1904, to pay the tax
for 1904 on the amount of capital as re-
duced. The corporation commission is
given until June !, 1904, to assess the
franchise tax, and the time for its pay
ment is extended to July !, 1904.
By Mr.. Adams-To establish graded
schools in rural districts so as to fit the
pupils to take advantage of normal
schools.
The House courts of justice committee,
to which was referred the Jordan oyster
bed bill, which provides for leasing out
the States barren oyster rocks, yesterday
evening decided that the measure is con-
stitutional, and will report it favorably.
The only amendment of importance made
was that the work of resurvey done by
the legislative commission, which the bill
shall be ratified by the follow
ing legislature.
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