The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1910-02-24
THE LEGISLATURE

The House Committee on Privileges
and Elections reported the Strobe state
wide prohibition bill. allowing the voters
Of the State to vote on the question Of
selling liquor in the State. with a rec
ommendation that it do not pass. This
is the first committee TO consider the
measure and it goes to the calendar for
reference to the Finance Committee of
the House. There was no amendment
70 the bill. The Temperance element is
much disappointed az the action Of the
committee.
Inc senate adopted the bill which
seeks TO place all the gas. water, light
and power companies of the State
under the control and direction of the
State Corporation Commission for pur-
pose of taxation.
| The bill making banks in every sec
ton of the State repositories for State
funds was amended in the house and
sent back to the senate for concurrence
and the bill was rejected.
The senate discussed the bill To make
the taxes on express companies s.
mile instead of So. Senator Folkes
offered amendment requiring a special
tax Of ten thousand dollars on each
company that engaged in the shipment
of liquors.
The House engrossed the Bell bill
providing for four years between local
option elections. after first adopting an
amendment making the law applicable
only to elections hereafter held. The
original bill applied to both past and
future elections.
The General Assembly passed a reso-
tuition directing the r. F. & Z. X. r.
to meet a conference committee of the
General Assembly to discuss the prop
oSition of the road surrendering its
present obsolete charter and obtaining
charter that COMFORTS TO the provis-
ions of the laws of the State and under
which the road viii be required TO pay
taxes.
The bill providing for tax commits
sion 10 revise and amend the tax and
assessment laws of the State passed
the Senate after long and stormy de
bate.
The pharmacy law was changed by the
house so as to require the State boaru
of pharmacy TO allow physicians in
country districts TO sell drugs to pa
tents
A joint resolution was offered by
Senator Halsey, reinviting Senator
General Assembly on Tuesday night.
income tax. The resolution was passed
0y vote Of - TO {, the Republicans
voting in the negative.
II he accepts the invitation of both
houses. Senator bailey, OF Texas, VIII
deliver his address on the income tax
before the House of Delegates next
Tuesday night
Both houses agreed TO the Joint reso-
luton offered BY Mr.. Page. providing
for a joint committee TO confer with
the officials of the K. F. & 2. X. r. As
constituted the committee is composed
of Gov. Mann, President Pro lem.
Echols, of the Senate; Speaker Byrd.
of the house: Senators r4eJcner an,
Saunders and Delegates Page, Cook
and Powers.
The Holland amendment, constituting
the governor. the chairman of the
State Corporation Commission, and an
expert, the tax commission was adopted
by vote of - TO T.
Approval was given by the house &
the joint resolution approving az
amendment to the State constitution
providing that in future cities. If they
so desire, may adopt a commission form
of government. There is nothing COM
pulsory about this feature. This amend
ment must go before the Legislature at
its next session before it is submitted
to vote of the people.
For the second time the house refused
to allow school trustees to choose rela-
tives for teachers.