Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1908-02-06
The Legislature.
sEsATB.


The senate yesterday made short work
of many bills that have heretofore been
reported and passed the other branch Of
the general assembly. and many were
amended and sent back to the house for
concurrence.
The Lassiter joint resolution request
ing the State Corporation Commission,
with the advice and assistance OF the
State Auditor aud Attorney General, to
prepare plan whereby the taxes on
public service corporations should be
levied alone for use Of the State, and
the taxes on all other personal property
for the use of counties, cities and towns,
was tsken up as the special order but
went over till today.
The bill repeating the act which pre-
hibits the psralleIing of the Richmond,
fredericksburg and Potomac railroad
was called up and Senator Sims was
recognized to continue his remarks in
support of unconditional repeal. Dur
ing the debate which followed: Senator
Keezsll remarked that, in his opinion,
'the revenues of the State will not be
affected to the extent of 10 cents by
passing the repeal bill.
The motion TO commit the bill and
substitute 10 the finance committee
was defeated. Pending further action
on the bill, the Senate adjourned.
A Joint resolution was offered by SEN
stor Sale, proposing an amendment to
section III ofsbe constitution, 80 as 10
permit the general assembly 10 estab-
lish board OF control for any civ N
The State having population Of %, 900
or over that may desire that form OF
government.
a committee OF minislera appeared
before the Senate committee on cauD-
ties, cities, and towns in advocacy OF
Senator Strode,s bill prohibiting Sun
day excursions.
HOUSE.
Mr.. Withers won victory 10 the
House when that body concurred With
the Senate in the passage of the L ssh
ter Wiihers road bill making il nanda-
tory upon the judges Of the State to COM
pei prisoners sentenced to the peniten-
liaiy fot a term not exceeding FIVE
years to work on the public roads. The
vote was II to Is.
Following the passage of the Senate
bill, the House took up House bill 80,
which provides that Jail prisoners shall
also be sentencedgto county road forces.
The matter went over till today.
Mr.. Featherston's bill making rsil-
road companies, Tia. lie for all fires cccur-
ring along their tracks was reported veg
lerday from the House committee on
courts OF justice. The bill also gives
the railroad company iDsursble right
on all property along their right Of way
The bill which puts penslty on any
liquor dealer who shall "knowiDgly sell
liquor to any idiot, lunatic or habitusl
drunksrd" was fayorsbly reported BY
the House committee on general laws.
Speaker Byrd91' bis bill proposes to
amend and re-enact section 40 of the
code Of Virgins, 1887, defining who are
coloTed persons and who are Indians.
The bill in full is as follows:
"Be it ensc,ed-by the general assem-
bly, Of Virginia that section 40 of the
code Of Virginia. 1887, be amended and
re-enacted to read as follows:
"Section 40. COlOred persons and
Indians defined. Every person having
LEA or moreioi negro blood shall be
deemed q colored person, and every per-
son not colored person, having one
fourth or more OF Indian blond shall be
deemed an INDIAN
The amendments In that LEA Is sub
sttuled for IA, In the present law. AL
ready the bill has The cooperation OF
many members Of the House who are
familiar with the famous Mcpherson
case, aud the case of Scott We. Raub.