article relating to the division of the powers of government, legislative, executive and judicial departments are required to be kept separate and distinct, so that neither may exercise the powers properly belonging to either of the others, nor may any person exercise the powers of more than one of them at the same time, subject to the significant qualification "except as hereinafter provided," and then follows in another place a provision granting the legislative, executive and judicial powers to the state corporation commission, in the regulation of public service corporations. In the original constitution of Virginia drafted by Jefferson there was no such exception, his idea being to keep these departments separate and distinct at all times and places.

Careful provisions are made for an appeal to the Supreme Court of Appeals from all decisions of the state corporation commission of a judicial nature, and the remedies through the courts as against wrongful executive or legislative action are preserved.

By other acts, Virginia authorizes the recording of deeds on certificates of acknowledgment before a justice of the peace, a commissioner in chancery of a court of record or a notary "in the Philippine Islands, Porto Rico or any territory or dependency of the United States."

The failure of an attorney at law to pay over or deliver to the person entitled thereto, within a reasonable time after demand, any money, security or other property, which has come into his hands as such attorney, is made a sufficient ground for revocation or suspension of his license.

Attorneys are given a lien for their fees in all actions sounding in tort or for unliquidated damages on contract, and the act makes void against such lien, except as evidence of the defendant's liability on the cause of action, all settlements made between the parties where written notice of a claim to such lien has been given by the attorney.

The code is amended in relation to giving bribes to and their acceptance by public officers. The code provided for the

case of a bribe given "corruptly" or accepted "corruptly." The amendment omits the word "corruptly," and makes it an offense to leave the state for the purpose of giving or accepting any gift or gratuity to or by a public officer to influence his action and raises the punishment to confinement in the penitentiary instead of jail, as heretofore, and also forfeits the office in case of acceptance of the gift or gratuity.

Various changes are made in the law regulating the transportation of bodies of persons who died of contagious diseases. The changes are intended to protect the public against the spread of disease.

Debts due nurses and to sanitariums or hospitals in last illness, not exceeding fifty dollars, are preferred after funeral

expenses.

An act permits children, where either parent was a slave, to inherit from the father, where the mother was recognized by the father as his wife and the child as his child.

To already existing cases of contempt of court for which summary punishment may be imposed by the court, there is added: "Obscene, contemptuous or insulting language addressed to a judge for or in respect of any act or proceeding had or to be had in such court, or like language used in his presence or intended for his hearing, for or in respect of such act or proceeding."

The time in which a decree for a divorce from bed and board may be changed to a divorce from the bond of matrimony, is reduced from five to three years after the first decree.

It is made a misdemeanor, punishable by fine and disbarment, for an attorney to print, publish, distribute or circulate any advertisement or printed matter offering to procure or aid in procuring any divorce, severance or annulment of any marriage or offering to engage or appear as attorney in any suit for alimony, divorce or dissolution of any marriage.

Another act provides for the taking of the deposition of the woman alleged to have been assaulted in a prosecution for rape in the presence of a judge, the commonwealth's attorney, the

prisoner and his counsel. No other persons can be present without the express permission of the judge except the officers taking the depositions.

Town councils and boards of supervisors are authorized to prohibit either absolutely or conditionally any railway company from transporting any excursion or picnic party to any point in the county or to any town which has not adequate police protection.

It is made a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine in jail, for a husband without just cause to desert or fail to provide for wife or minor children in necessitous circumstances.

All persons, firms and corporations employing large bodies of laborers are required to have them inspected at such times as the board of health of the county or corporation in which they are employed may require and to have them vaccinated when the examining officer requires it. The examination and vaccination to be at the expense of the employer.

Placing any sample of medicine on any premises without the permission of the occupant is made a misdemeanor.

Knowingly to use the name or picture of a person for advertising purposes or for the purpose of trade without his consent is made a misdemeanor, and such person is given the right to enjoin such use of his name or picture and to recover damages therefor.

All corporations operating sleeping, dining, palace, compartment and chair cars and their agents, conductors or employees are given the right to refuse to permit any person to enter or ride in such car whenever in their discretion it is advisable to do so.

A method is provided, by notice and motion before a justice or a court, for enforcing liens and reservations of title upon. personal property, securing the price thereof.

A tax of $200 is imposed upon gipsies and like strolling companies.

Another act provides for the establishment, proper construction and permanent improvement and repair of the public roads

and landings, bridges, causeways and wharves in the several counties of the state.

TERRITORY OF ALASKA.

The territory of Alaska has a governor and federal judges appointed by the President, but no legislature. During the year Congress passed acts amending and modifying the laws relating to municipal corporations in the territory, providing for the creation of municipal corporations by communities of 300 or more permanent inhabitants, fixing the qualifications of voters at municipal elections and providing for the appointment of road overseers and the establishment of road districts.

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

The government of the District of Columbia is vested by Congress in three commissioners, two of whom are appointed by the President from citizens of the District and confirmed by the Senate and the other from the Corps of Engineers of the United States Army. Congress makes all laws for the District, the commissioners having authority only to make police, building, plumbing and other regulations of a municipal nature. During the year Congress has passed laws applicable to the District of Columbia:

A law was enacted similar to the laws passed in Georgia and Kentucky making void the sale of stocks of goods or merchandise in bulk unless previous notice is given to all of the creditors of the seller.

No combustible or non-fireproof building to be used as a residence, apartment house, hotel, hospital or dormitory in the District can now be erected having more than five stories or raised to a height exceeding sixty feet.

The selling or removing from the District of personal property held on a written and conditional bill of sale is made punishable by a fine of not more than $100 or imprisonment for not more than ninety days.

Owners or managers of massage establishments in the District of Columbia shall pay a license of $25 per annum. It is made unlawful for any female to give or administer massage treatment or any bath to any person of the male sex or any person of the male sex to give massage treatment or any bath to any person of the female sex, subject to a fine upon conviction of not less than $40 nor more than $100 or imprisonment for not less than thirty days nor more than ninety days.

Quaker marriages are legalized in the District.

Another act provides for the summary arrest without warrant by any member of the metropolitan police or any other officer of the District authorized to make arrests of any insane person or persons of unsound mind found in any street, avenue, alley or other public highway or found in any public building or other public place within the District and makes it the duty of the officer making the arrest to file with the major or superintendent of the police force an affidavit to the effect that the party arrested is of unsound mind, incapable of taking care of himself, and if permitted to remain at large or to go unrestrained the rights of persons or of property will be jeopardized or the preservation of the public peace imperiled and the commission of crime rendered probable, and it further provides for the sending of notice to the husband, wife, or some near relative or friend whose address may be known or which upon reasonable inquiry may be ascertained. The purpose of this act is evidently to protect the Chief Executive and other public officers against cranks.

OKLAHOMA AND INDIAN TERRITORIES.

Oklahoma is a regularly organized territory after the American plan under an organic act of Congress similar in nearly every respect to the organic acts of the other territories from which states have been created. Her territorial legislature has not been in session during the year. Over this territory Congress has supreme legislative jurisdiction, if it deems proper to exercise it, and during the year has enacted laws