Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1904-03-10
Virginia Legislature.
SENATE.

scaling down the increases in salaries rec
commended by the House
The appropriation OF $3.50 a year to
keep the State library open at night and
provide an assistant librarian was de-
feated, the statement being made that
such policy had been pursued in the
past and there was no public demand for
it. There was some little dissatisfaction,
when it was found that the Southern Bell
Telephone Company had increased its
charges more than 100 per cent. for the
four phones in the State Offices, making
the tax s2SS year. The item, how
ever was allowed.
Messrs. A. A. Phlegar, of Montgomery,
George Wayne Anderson, of Richmond,
and George w. Keezell, of Rocking
ham, were named as the commission on
the part of the Senate to oversee the
erection of the Capitol.
The appropriation bill passed the SEN
ate at the afternoon session, but the
House refused to agree to the amend
ments and a conference committee was
ordered.
An amendment aimed at lobbyists was
adopted by the Senate as stated in yes
terday's Gazette, and incorporated in the
general appropriation bill. 1t was Of
fered by Mr.. Walker, of Northumberland,
and provides that no portion of sums APP
propriated to State institutions shall be
spent by them in paying persons to APP
pear in their behalf before the general as
sembly. 1t is said that for many years
it has been the practice of State lnstitu-
tons of learning and others to employ
experienced lobbyists to stay at the Capt.
toll during sessions of the Legislature and
bring pressure to bear upon the mem
bers to secure appropriations asked for
The features of the afternoon session
were the passage of the Machen general
primary bill by vote of 19 to 10, and
the refusal of the Senate to take up the
bill in relation to the Baylor survey, and
providing for a commission to investigate
the report as TO the barren, exhausted or
depleted oyster rocks, beds and shoals
therein. The passage of the Machen
bill was communicated to the House,
but there is little prospect of its being
taken up there before the session ends
At the night session of the Senate
about thirty local bills were passed.
Practically all the uncontested and the
local and private bills were disposed OF,
thus almost clearing up the calendar
HOUSE.
The most important action of the
House was the passage of the Ryan bill
reducing the State tax on real and per-
sonal property cents on the 800, to
become effective January |, 1907.
Speaker Ryan, patron of the bill, made
a strong appeal for it, saying that it
should be passed now so that the next
legislature might be prepared to econo-
Dlize 20 meet the consequent decrease in
the revenues. Seventy-two members
voted for the bill, and only one-W.
A. Willeroy, of King William-against
it.
The expected move to extend the ses-
sion came in the shape of joint resolu-
ton offered by Mr.. Smith, of Clarke,
providing that the legislature adjourn
March 49, instead of March II. The
resolution, as stated yesterday, was
passed by.
The Griffith resolution instructing the
attorney general to bring suit against the
auditor OF public accounts and his sure
ties to recover $37, 900 embezzled by
Joseph H. Sheppard, clerk in his Of
fee, was reported so amended as to in
struct the attorney general to inquire
whether the auditor is liable, and, if so,
to report the fact 10 the governor, who
shall order proceedings to be brought.
The House recommended the vote
whereby the bill was defeated, which
provides for the appointment of joint
legislative committee to investigate the
methods of accounting of State and coun.
ty officers The bill again failed to pass,
lacking a constitutional vote. Under
the new constitution a measure must be
enacted providing committee to audit
the accounts of State officers. 1t was
pointed out that some years ago, after a
similar bill had been defeated, State
officer was found to be short $40, 900.
The House agreed to the request of
the Senate for conference on the bill
which allows the governor and treasurer
to select any bank as a State depository
which can give the bond of $500, 900 re-
CURED.
The bill fixing the fee to be paid by
applicants for examination before the
State medical board was passed after be-
ing amended so as TO read $40 instead
of SIS.
The House passed the bill providing
that the qualification of voters in special
elections shall be the same as in general
elections, with an amendment exempt
ing those towns in which elections have
been authorized by special laws.
Other bills passed included the fol-
lowing:
To amend the law in relation to collec-
ton of fees of commissioners of revenue
To arbitrate damage arising between
owners of stock when atrespass has been
committed by said stock on the lands of
another.
Both branches of the legislature held
three sessions yesterday in anticipation Of
final adjournment next Saturday
March, IL.
The House killed the bill allowing the
Circuit Courts to appoint commissioners
Of revenue.
The House last night engrossed the