Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1910-02-23
The Legislature.


dsat pro tenn. E,hols, OF the Senate;
Speaker Bird, OF the House; Senators
Fletcher and Stupders and Delegates
Page. Cooke and Powers. The only
opinions expressed In The legislature
we're t. the effect that the railroad
should understand that kusiuess Is
meant. The feeling Is growing that the
officers of the railroad will not be averse
to Incorporation on the same baiis
With the other public servica corpora
tons Of the State. Tbs dst rminaIion
to give them an opportunity 10 do so Is
evident.
The most important Items Of business
of the day was the unanimous approval
given By the House 10 the joint reaelu-
ton approving an amendment to the
state constitution 30 that In future years
cities, If they so desire, may adopt
commission form OF government. There
Is nothing compulsory about this feature
as 1t merely allows local option on this
subject later on. This amendment must
20 before the legislature at its Eext ses-
sion before 1t Is submitted 10 vote OF
ths pto''e.
Both htues s'tsr disposlng Of all the
business which they desired to take up,
adj urned 10 memory Of George Wash
ipgtop. 1t was decided that the best
way to honor the Father OF His Country
was by attending to the business OF his
native state.
SENATE
Should the House agree With the Sem
ate the governor, the chairman OF the
Sat, Corporation Commission and tax
expert will compose the commission
which will examine the financial system
of this state, compare It with that oil
ether atates, review the practical work.
ings of the latter, aud u5mit to the next
general assembly q revised and compre'
hepsive form OF public lsxstion.
After many days Of debate the Senate
yesterday passed Whist was originally
known IS the King tax commission bill.
Later, when Its dishsyeled form appeared
from the committee room, 1t was known
So the finance committee substitute. b.
fore fral passage the Holland plan was
made substitute for the whole. Ssns-
TOR XIII g, as q matter of personal priv.
lege, stated to the Senate. that he wrote
no;hlf Of the bill sc passed excepting
the word "Wheress."
Favorable reports were received on
the following bills: To prohibit the
wearing of military uniforms by per-
sons not entitled 90 to do; to 6x the
tax on dogs; to authorize the sudllor
to cancel warrants of more than five
years standing, to fix the fee oil print,
ers; to dispense with fees to sherifs and
sergesnts for attendance on courtj to
compromise taxes in certain cases; to
continue In force the Gettysburg monu-
ment appropriation.
HOUSE.
For The second time the House REUSED
to allow school trustees to choose their
relatives as teachers.
After hanging Gre for yosrs the Ecuse
passed the Senate bill approprlstiDg
81, 300 for the relief Of the estate OF the
late j. E. Phillips, Of Richmond.
Forty bills, practically all OF them
local, we're reported. Among the few
general bills were
From The committee for courts OF
u,tice The bill requiring acceptance
oil interchangeable mllesge BY conduct
ors, favorably, and the bill to make
railroads keep stations open, unfavoi-
ably.
From the committee on finance The
amended bill taxing automobiles, along
the lines OF the Ssnste bill wit tax on
garages added; the delinquent tax bill.
From the committee on general laws !:
The cornmeal bill, amended so as to re-
quire the weight to be msrkedon pack
sges.
The House sgreed TO the Senate
amendments v the bills allowing the
assessment OF franchise tax on light,
hest, gas and power companies The
changes merely make the measures
emergency ones.
The Senate bill changing the time for
holding courts In many Of the cirtul's
Was largely amended and passed.
The bill requiring the listing OF esch
brand OF fertilizer and tax on same was
taken up out OF its order and vent y
Its eugrossment.
The bill allowing physicians II sell
drugs was passed without opposition.
The biggest sort of fight will comes
from the favorable report made vest
day on the bill allowing school trustees
10 be elected by the popular vote, A full
| membership OF the committee On schools
and colleges was not present, 1t is under
stood Many Of the members regard this
a. an unfortunate tendency to bring the
school system of the State back into the
mire OF politics. At conference yester-
day afternoon the patrons of the House
bill providing for testing OF seeds sold IN
this State, an agreement was reached
| which, it is believed, will insure the
already passed the House.
The following represents a days labor
on the part of what somebody called
Yesterday the House committee on
counties, cities and liquor legislation.
Bills on this subject were set for hear.
ing so as to dispose Of legislation along
this line. The debate was at all times in
terestiug and occasionally warm. The
committee met both In the morning and
afternoon Keyser bill allowing all drug
stores to sell liquor approved, amend
ments; South Boston and Houston
dispsnsary bills killed; Sydnor bill al
lowing counties to vote az unit on ga
| oon1 killed; Byrd bill providing that
profits of dispensaries shall go entirely
to the State is also dead; bill OF Judge
| Williams allowing town councils to pro,