Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1906-03-16

shareholders against stealing of oysters |
by crabbers and others. Petitions as to |
soft grabbing, pro and con, were sub
mitted by Mr.. Curlett to the Committee
on Chesapeake and Its Tributaries, and
no action advised as this bill Furnishing
thefts of oysters had already passed the
House. The bill reads: eff any person
take, steal or carry away, without per-
mission of the owner, oysters imbedded
or planted, oysters deposited by any
person making up a cargo for market,
or shells planted for formation of oyster
beds, shall be deemed guilty of the
larceny thereof, and upon conviction be
confined not less than one nor more
than six months in the county Jail, and
fined not less than fifty nor more than
one hundred dollars for each offence"
Another bill by Mr.. Curlett perfecting
the public school system.
To prohibit the use of drag boxes"
tubs, sacks or other receptacles for the
collecting and taking oysters from the
natural oyster rocks or beds when in the
use of the same they are dragged or
drawn over the natural rocks or beds,
and prescribing penalty for violation.
To require common carriers doing
business in this State to receive and re-
ceipt for all freights delivered to them
and to provide penalty for neglect or
refusal therefor.
Sentor Walkers bills to authorize the
board Of supervisors of Northumber-
land county to establish public ferries
across the Little Wicomico river and
Lodge creek.
To restrict and limit the operations of
money-lenders, and prohibiting usury.
CThis is the money shark" bill.)
Increasing the number of circuit courts
from twenty-four to Twenty-Five.
Increasing the salaries of supreme
court judges, commissioner of agricul-
ture, superintendent of public instruc-
ton and others.
Electing to the state board of educa-
ton men who are committed to the
single book list for the public schools of
the State.
Providing for an investigation of the
Virginia Military Institution, the vir-
ginia Polytechnic Institute and the
Eastern State hospital.
To provide for the improvement of
public highways and the working of
''jail birds" on them.
Bill to enforce the Gull law in the
Potomac river.
Providing for the establishment of
district high schools in the country
sections.
A Jim Crow car law, applying to all
street railways in the State.
A resolution amending the Constitu-
ton so as to allow commissioners of the
revenue to succeed themselves, if elect
ed by the people.
Cation Bill creating Bureau of In
surance. Col. Joseph Button, clerk of
the Senate, was elected Insurance Com
missioner at salary of So, 500.
The Congressional redistricting bill,
putting Newport News in the First
District.
Law allowing working Of patent tongs
in the waters of the Commonwealth,
exclusive of the James and Nanse-
mond rivers. License fee is So. This,
as all other bills of the legislature
that are not emergency bills, or time
specified, goes into operation three
months after the passage of the act.
The Finance Committees made liberal
appropriations, to the extent of about
SIS, 600, 900. Among the items were:
$40, 900 for a new State Police boat; in
creasing the appropriation for primary
schools from $500, 900 to $500, 600 an
nually, and the amount for pensions
from $500, 900 to $3.50, 900. They gave
jamestown 500, 900 for buildings and
entertainment and increased the appro-
priations to nearly all the educational
and elemosynary institutions of the
State. They are responsible for an
other thing, which is not only of
interest, but of benefit to the people
of Virginia, and that is the pass
age of bill beginning the retirement
of State bonds four years in advance of
the time stipulated in the contract with
the bond-holders. The measure was
recommended by Governor Swanson,
and earnestly advocated in both houses.
A joint resolution proposing amend
ment to section A of Article w, of the
Constitution. The resolution provides
that mo person employed on a salary
or retained as attorney by any public
service corporation, doing business ir
this State, shall be eligible to either
House Of the General Assembly," Afte,
passage it was humorously remarked
around the corridors that the Senate
would be depopulated should the people
vote for the amendment, Senators
Wickham, Mann and a number of othe,
able Senators being attorneys for rail
roads or other corporations.
The commissioners of the revenue bill
? to make their appointment by Circuit
Court judges, was passed by a bare
majority of two votes in the Senate. The
division was as follows:
Ayes-Anderson, Campbell, Chapman
Hartman, Hobbs, Holt, LYNN. Machen
Mann, Patteson, Phlegar, Rison, Sadler
Shackelford, Sims, st. Clair, Thomas
Walker, H. T. Wickham-I9.
Noes-Dickinson, Echols Fulton. Grear
Gunter, Keezell, Kerns, Lassiter. Noel
Roberts, Sale, Sears, Stands, STROBE
Tavenner, Turner, t. A. Wickham-l7
Increasing pay of members of the
Legislature to $500 for a regular session
of sixty days or more, and $3.50 70,
special session of thirty days or more
The vote on the bill was as follows: