Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1904-02-20
Virginia Legislature.
SENATE.

viz AoW 80 W 49,
treasurers on tax bills collected, so as
to allow them 3 per cent. on the first
bills collected, instead of 3 per cent as
at present, and runs to 10 per cent. In
order to stimulate efforts to collect diff
cult bills.
Mr.. Walker introduced bill exempt
ing from franchise tax purely local mu-
tual fire insurance associations doing bust
ness in territories having not over lOO,-
900 inhabitants.
Mr.. Hobbs offered bill to make hang
ings public. Itproyides that condemned
persons shall be executed in some in
closure adjacent to jails, and that all
sober, orderly persons who desire to
witness such executions shall be allowed
to do so.
The committee was discharged from
the consideration of two Senate bills and
they were placed on the calendar. One
of these is to require interest to be PAID
on all State, city and county, district
and municipal taxes or leyies remaining
unpaid on June 18th in the year next
after that in which the same were or
may be assessed or sssessable, and to
prescribe the date from which such in
terest shall be charged. The other is to
amend section TAG of the code so as to
limit the right to bring suit upon claims
against the Commonwealth.
On March 5, 1888, the legislature
transferred to the Mount Vernon Asso-
citation a claim against the United States
government, amounting to 1920, 900, for
money advanced to erect the Capitol
building ct Washington, with the un,
Outstanding that the association would
prosecute the claim and collect the
money. Mr.. Wickham offered a bill
Yesterday repeating this act on the ground
that the association has made no effort
to collect the money. 1t is presumed
that the State intends to take steps.
HOUSE.
Some discussion occurred over a bill
making it mandatory for courts to inn
pose a Jail sentence of from two to SIX
months upon all persons found guilty OF
carving concealed weapons. The bill
was engrossed on Thursday. Yesterday
an effort was made to secure reconsider
alton, with the object of amending it 50
as to leave it discretionary with the
courts as to the imposition of the Jail
sentence. The motion to reconsider was
beaten by a decisive vote, the view OF
the House being strongly brought out by
w. r. Duke, who declared that the Jail
sentence should be imposed to make 1t
disgrace to carry concealed weapon.
The opponents of a Jail sentence were led
by Messrs. r. S. B. Smith, NJ. NJ. Green,
A. B. Coleman and Thomas II. Sion, the
latter declaring that man should be al
lowed to carry weapon to protect him
self.
A sensational debate preceded the de-
feat of the bill which requires Common
wealth's attorneys to appear in the courts
Of policejustices and magistrates to prose-
cute parties charged with misdemeanors
and ordinance violations, receiving s.
for each conviction. 1t was pointed out
that by collision between police justice
and Commonwealth attorney in city
it would be possible for the latter TO
make 800 day, and that the persons
Of appeal IS granted only in cases whGRt
the fine imposed exceeds $40.
THE legislature has no right to open
the doors to fraud" said Mr.. Withers,
of Nansemond. "The justices Of the
peace steal enough now"
justices don't steal in my county,"
said Mr.. Duke, of alternate.
"Well, they do in NINE" rejoined
Mr.. Witbers.
"And some do in mine" said Mr..
Royal, of Tazewell.
"Let's have an experience meeting"
said Mr.. Duke, "All members whose
justices steal, stand up"
The challenge was not accepted,
though it was intimated that if secret
ballot was allowed some information
might be forthco ring.
The House refused to engross the bill
by decisive vote.
Mr.. Rev offered bill making it un-
lawful to catch crabs between November
l and March Is, under penalty of fine
of not less than $3.50 for each ofense.
The bill states that the crabs which hi
bernate in lower Chesapeake Bay are
being exterminated and the States crab
industry threatened.
The bill prescribing a method for an
ne1ing territory to towns or cities went
over until Tuesday. with the under
standing that vote will be taken We'd
nesday.
The House passed number of bills
to conform the statutes to the new con-
also one requiring the crema-
lion of animals dying of infectious dis