Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1904-02-24
Virginia Legislature.
SENATE.

In the Senate yesterday Mr.. Harman
introduced bill to allow veterans who
failed to file claims prior to September
], 1903. to secure pensions.
The Senate debated without final ac-
ton tine Anderson bill to appropriate
$3.50, 900 for repairs to the Senate Capt.
tol. The interesting feature of the dis
cussion was the statement by Chairman
Wickham, of the finance committee, that
the making Of such an appropriation
would result in deficit of $50.
Bills bearing OH the liquor laws were
offered in both houses. In the Senate
Messrs. Mann and Holt introduced one
to require all clubs chartered since
April l6, 1903, to take out regular
liquor licenses, and providing heavy
penalty for failure to do so. Two COM
panion measures will hereafter be pre-
sented. Under them no clubs hereafter
chartered will be allowed to sell liquor
unless they secure regular license
through the channels provided by law.
The law providing for the chartering OF
social clubs will be repealed. BY these
methods it is thought the mushroom
clubs, now 20 thick in the State, will be
wiped out.
Mr.. Mann, from the committee for
privileges and elections, reported the
recommendation of that committee IN
the contested election case of Keen VS..
Turner from the district committee OF
the counties of franklin and Floyd. The
report is in favor of Turner, the sitting
member, republican.
HOUSE.
A sensation was sprung in the House
when Mr.. Griffith, of Russell, intro
duced a resolution directing State Audi
tor Mayre to furnish the legislature with
statement of sums embezzled by
Joseph Fl. Shepherd, late clerk in that
Office, now serving a term in prison, and
also to inform the legislature whether
any legal proceedings had ever been in
stitrted against the sureities, it any, OF
the convicted official.
Mr.. Boaz, of the finance committee,
explained that at the time OF the
defalcation the law did not require
clerks in the auditors office to execute
bonds, and hence the State had no re-
course in the case of Shepherd.
Mr.. Griffith still insisted, however,
that the legislature and the people had
right to snow the amount that had
been embezzled, and earnestly demand
ed immediate consideration Of his reso'
luton.
On the motion to refer the vote was
adverse, but on the motion OF Mr..
Griffith, asking immediate consideration,
the resolution was overwhelmingly
adopted. :,
Joseph H. Shepherd was convicted
June 10, 1901, and sentenced TO term
of FIVE years in the penitentiary.
Since that time law has been passed,
as Mr.. BOaz explained yesterday, re-
curing bonds, not only Of the heads
of departments handling State funds,
but of the clerical forces therein as well.
The House devoted the most Of its
session to considering the bills pro-
yiding method of annexing territory
to towns and cities, aud will take vote
today.
A bill was introduced by Mr.. Lion re-
curing all steam and electric railway
companies to provide separate waiting
rooms for the races in all towns of 300
points, whether of 500 population " ftSt'
The bill requires the rooms to be erected
by August l, 1904
Mr.. Powell introduced resolution re-
questing Virginia's Representatives in
Congress to support the Brownlow bill,
which appropriates s24, OOO,OOO for the
public roads of all the States.
Mr.. Z. w. Owens offered bill requir-
ing all steam and electric lines to heat
their cars between November and
April l..
All societies for the prevention of
cruelty to animals are given the right
to prosecute those guilty OF such cruelty
under bill offered by Mr.. Beatie.
To prevent nepotism, Mr.. Rev offered
bill debarriDg from serving as school
trustees any one whose son or daughter
teaches in the public school of his magis-
terial district. Mr.. Rev also offered a
bill prescribing severe penalties for vio-
lation of law by social clubs,
The laws governing the fire depart
ments of the State, which have not been
overhauled since 1S49, when hand en-
gines were in use, we're amended by a
bill offered by Mr.. Withers, which pro-
vdes that councils Of towns and cities
shall appoint fire marshals, fixing their
whose duty it shall be to
send full information concerning every
fire to the State Firemen's Association.
The object of the bill is to make the
gathering of such statistics compulsory.
CONGRESSIONAL