Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1906-02-17
Legislative Notes.

Senator Machen Saturday offered
an amendment to the constitution
providing for the election of commits
sioners of revenue by the people, and
to permit them to succeed themselves.
Advocates of the two cent rate bill
which has been ordered to its engross-
ment in the house are jubilant
and assert that the passage OF the Dill
by the senate is practically assured
The men who have been leading the
60ht for the measure even express
with apparent sincerity the belief that
there will be only few dissenting
votes i'm the upper branch. They say
the fight is,won and that nothing re-
mains but the formalities.
Senators J. Lawrence Campbell ana
Saxon w. Holt Monday introduced
hill appropriating $1,000 for the pur-
nose of purchasing a silver service to
/ be presented by the State OF Virginia
to the battleship which bears the name
of the State. The governor, attorney
general, acknowledgement, president
of the senate and speaker OF the house
are named as the committee to select
the design and have suitable devices
| and inscriptions placed thereon, and
to make the presentation on behalt OF
| the State.
In the senate Wednesday the reply
of the state corporation commission
fo n Joint resolution inquiring as to
taxes assessed on corporations was re-
ceived. The resolution recites that
| tho denartmeut of commerce and Ia
bor of the United States fixes the
commercial value of railway properly
devoted to transportation in Virginia
Mt S211 .3l5, 900, while it is assessed AT
SEA, $50 900. The reply of the commits
SION is long. covering about twelve
typewriter pages. One OF It's most
Important features is table showing
that railway property in Virginia pays
more tax to the State per mile than III
any other Southern State except Loul-
siana.
The senate committee on privileges
and elections Wednesday ordered a
favorable report on the Early bill,
providing for the appointment OF
commissioners of the revenue by the
iudpes of the corporation courts in the
cities and Judges of circuit courts IL
Icornties. 1t is said that bill will nave
an easv course in the senate, and II Is
lbelieved that there will be few votes
lin opposition, save that OF the hepuo
llicans. There are some fifty or slXtN
Republicans in the Ninth congress
lional district who are holding the pc
s;h0ns of revenue officers. If the
Senate concurs in the action OF In'
house these Republicans VIII De oiS
placed by Democrats.
The Sadler bill, to increase the pay
of the members of the general assem-
| blv, has been favorably reported INT
| bill provides that members shall re
ceive lust double what they now re
ceive. which will bring the per diem
up to IS. The presiding officer of eacl
branch is to receive so day 10
actual service. Should the bill be
come a law, it will not affect TIT
T. present members of the legislature
Travelling libraries for the publ
schools will be provided if measur
introduced in the house becomes law
Bv the terms of the bill the librar,
board of the State is authorized to pun
chase and otherwise procure book
and equipment for the establishment
i of circulating libraries. The appro
+ priation asked is $1,000.
Speaker Cardwell has offered a bl
amending the act creating the stat
I Board of Fisheries so as to abolish Tn
n Office of chairman of the board and I
5 establish in its stead the office
commissioner of Fisheries" Th
proposed measure in no way change
i the Virginia oyster laws, but it make K
Il the salary of the commissioner S2,Ol
IS and that of the secretary of the boar
: 81, 500, instead of 81, 200 and $1,000, II
spectively, as now. 1t is the purpo;s
+ f those interested in the bill to MAX
n the board more efficient and to dig
e Nifty it into department Of the go
:. eminent. Authority to appoint III
commissioner is vested in the go'
If ernor. and the man selected must ;
Y a resident of Tidewater and famill;
n with the fish and oyster industr
Five persons, including the comm
" sioner, shall constitute the board.